While I substantially agree with XPUser, I must also add a few things:
1) Microsoft recommends installing the OLDEST OS FIRST, in Partition C: of Drive 0 (where you have Vista currently installed), then install each NEWER OS on the NEXT available HD/partition. (as in "3.1->9x->XP->Vista".)
2) Do NOT use HD utilities to format your bootable volumes (HD's/Partitions). ALWAYS use the built-in partitioning/formatting tools provided in the Windows installer.
3) To do this, you will HAVE to REMOVE Vista from Drive 0, Partition 1 (C:) by re-partitioning it, then installing XP "CLEAN" (after re-partitioning and formatting Drive 0). This means that you MUST back up any data or softare on Drive 0 you want to save BEFORE starting this adjustment, since partitioning is destructive to all the data on the HD.
3) To then install Vista on a secondary drive (or a secondary partition), it MUST be installed "CLEAN" in its own Primary partition (Windows allows a maximum of 4 primary partitions).
Sorry, but there is no "safe" way around this. Actually, it will save you a LOT of heartache to do it the "Microsoft way", I assure you. It will take a little more work, but the work will be CLEAR and EASY to do, and you can be assured of having a well-running dual-boot after this.
The one who responded to your post("XpUser") was definitely right in suggesting that your system memory is MUCH too weak to run Vista the way it should be run. I suggest that you upgrade memory to a MINIMUM of 2Gig. as well as add a new graphics card, with has a MINIMUM of 256MB of on-card VRAM, which is rated to be Vista Premium-compliant.
Donald McDaniel
orthocross@gmail.com
