Windows XP forum: Moving an existing XP install and programs to a new computer

will not work properly.

The proper method is to get a new copy (OEM or Retail, your choice) and install it on the new computer. Since you want a dual boot you would want to install XP first as otherwise you will need to edit the BCD.

All programs will also need to be freshly installed but data files are easily transferred.

There are other ways to accommodate 2 operating systems and keep them completely independent. When I did this in the past, I installed each OS on separate hard drives with only one drive in the box at a time. I preferred to just change the drive through the BIOS as I tended to use one OS 90+% of the time anyway. My MB BIOS allowed me to hit F8 for a boot menu easily enough and I didn't need to swap the boot order each time I wanted to change it. Another method is outlined here.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/289022

It allows a pause to select the boot partition of choice. I never used this method.

on your install of 2 operating systems on one computer a little further? I've posted exactly this scenario in the Win 7 forum seeking answers on how to do it. I'll also be using one OS, Win 7, 90+% of the time, but still have a need to have XP MCE OS. I'd like to do this using a new retail/OEM copy of Windows XP MCE, a new Win 7 Home Premium 64-bit and a new computer to do it all on. Virtual PC and XP Mode in higher versions of Win 7 won't do what I need. These versions are meant for productivity programs and such from XP and that is not my issue. I have other software/hardware that run in XP and are not able to be ran by the Win 7 XP Mode or virtual options.

Thanks,

Mike