I recently bought a laptop to use when I am away from home.  It came with VISTA os and I was assured it was compatible with Windows XP.  However I find this is not particularly so.  I have a few programs that I use extensively that will not run on VISTA, not even if i use the “compatibility wizard”.  I am considering putting in a dual boot so that I can continue to use XP.  However, I do not know how to do this.  Can anyone help me ? ? ?Hi matt here
i think you have to sreat a partion on the disk you can do this when you go through the setup process once it is loaded on when you power up you can choose which Os to boot from if i am wrong then i bow down to the person who corrects me
all the best
cheers
matt
jim.mar, you might want to go and read the post i have "Bill & AUTHENTIFICATION" just a bit lower in this forum. Comtrex has given some in depth info on this subject (as well as other forum members) . If there are additional concerns vis-a-vis it being a laptop as opposed to a desktop i don't know--but i suspect there may be.Others will undoubtedly address that aspect. Good luck, truenorthScrap my last post just tried it on a practice hdd and could not create the partition
sorry for miss leading you
cheers matt What programs ? ?
Perhaps this can be solved another way...
You would be able to dual-boot a laptop but usually HDD space is at a premium on laptop drives....
This needs to be considered as XP would need around 15 to 20G to be comfortable.Thanks for the comeback guys.    Looks like I have to load the older version (Windows XP) first then I can dual boot Vista.  However, my machiine came with Vista and I don't want to fool with reformatting  my HD.   I have plenty of HD.  Two drives at 100 Gb ea.  And they are already partitioned to two Partions ea.    I learned alot from your posting tho, truenorth.  Thank you.  (You too comtrex).   
  I have also discovered another aspect of VISTA that I hate.   It no longer suppports the HELP files of a lot of software on the market, even if you use the "Compatibilty Wizard" when you ae loading.   Thanks a lot "Microsoft".   Buyer beware (of VISTA")  when you are buying software.  I am almost 80 years old, I don't need to be fighting new operating systems and their nuances for the rest of my life.   I have gone thru BASIC, PRODOS, WINDOWS 3.1, 95, 98, & XP and now its VISTA.         I suppose I can have my machine re-loaded for XP but I a little afraid to mess with it.  Thanks for putting up with my whining gals (&/or) gals.   Any  ideas would be appreciated.   I agree that Vista is hardly an IMPROVEMENT, but they have product to sell.

Be sure that XP drivers are available for that particular laptop before you go back, if you do.  Supply as much info on the machine involved and exactly how those drives/partitions are set up...

There are ways to add XP after the fact but it involves much more work and more information to do it properly.GX_MAN Thanks, I'll do that'
PATIO:  Thanks for your comeback,    OKAY  the machine is as follows
HP dv9000  20467 Mb ram
OS Windows Vista Home premium  32 bit
Hard drive 0:  100 Gbytes;   86 Gbytes used for OS and programs,     10 Gbytes used for "Restore Vista".  Factory installed
Hard drive 1:  100 Gbytes;   54 Gbytes used for personal data and user applications.    40 G bytes used to store MUSIC files.
Hard drive 2 (External 120 G bytes):  75 Gbytes used for full operating back up,     40 Gbytes used to back up music files.

When I bought the machine, hard drive 0 had allready been partitioned and set up.
Hard drive 1 was EMPTY and I partitioned it and set it up as is now.  Hard drive 2 (Ext.) has been used as back up for several years.

I hope this is the info that you were looking for.   Thanks again guys.      JIMwhat vid card d oyou have sound card get everest home edition and post a report that will give us all the info we needjim ,

I hope there is no great sense of urgency here...2 of the methods i've read up on i have not personally tested so i don't want to send you down the wrong road.
I know i had an excellent guide here on this but it must be on one of my shop machines instead.
I'll get back as soon as i have it... go here to make sure your computer components are vista capatible.. if you havent done so already