windows vista beta 2 query

Is it possible to dual boot between Windows Vista Beta 2 and Windows XP professional using NTFS file system or do both partitions need to be FAT32 formatted? Alternatively, would it be recommended to use a separate hard disk for both client operating systems?
What version of Windows Vista is reflected by the beta 2 i.e. is it the Ultimate edition, Business, Enterprise or Home. Would 512 MB of RAM be sufficent to run the beta software. Is it possible to install the Beta 2 software on a external USB hard drive.
I would appreciate if anybody out there can answer these queries as I intend installing this beta software soon.
Thanks,
Martin

Martin I installed on a 2 gig memory Dell 2.88Mhz processor. I put in a separate drive. Dual boot both NTFS. This installs the Ultimate version. More at: http://www.mxdesign.net/blogger/2006/06/vista-lives.html
-- Larry
"Martin Healy" wrote in message

Is it possible to dual boot between Windows Vista Beta 2 and Windows XP professional using NTFS file system or do both partitions need to be FAT32 formatted? Alternatively, would it be recommended to use a separate hard disk for both client operating systems?
What version of Windows Vista is reflected by the beta 2 i.e. is it the Ultimate edition, Business, Enterprise or Home. Would 512 MB of RAM be sufficent to run the beta software. Is it possible to install the Beta 2 software on a external USB hard drive.
I would appreciate if anybody out there can answer these queries as I intend installing this beta software soon.
Thanks,
Martin

Martin Healy wrote:

Is it possible to dual boot between Windows Vista Beta 2 and Windows XP professional using NTFS file system or do both partitions need to be FAT32 formatted?

Yes it's possible to dual boot. Vista will only install on a NTFS partition. If you install Vista on the same partition as XP you will not be able to dual boot or roll back to XP. You need to install Vista on it's own partition or a different hard drive in order to dual boot.

Alternatively, would it be recommended to use a separate hard disk for both client operating systems?

Yes that is a better option.

What version of Windows Vista is reflected by the beta 2 i.e. is it the Ultimate edition, Business, Enterprise or Home.

All the versions are on the DVD. It depends on the key you use which version is installed. The key you received for the CPP program is for the Ultimate Edition so that is what you will be installing.

Would 512 MB of RAM be sufficent to run the beta software.

It will run. It will be slow. 1 GB is really the minimum for any use other than just a quick test drive.

Is it possible to install the Beta 2 software on a external USB hard drive.

No

I would appreciate if anybody out there can answer these queries as I intend installing this beta software soon.

Do your self a favour and read the following link very carefully.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/preview.mspx
I know you've already seen this screen in order to download Vista but read it again and make sure you understand all the implications of installing Vista. If you install Vista you may lose your XP installation and your all your files. It may be hard if not impossible to get rid of Vista and return to XP only unless you are very careful about how you set up Vista. Vista Beta 2 will quit working next May. You will have to erase it and start again with a newer version. You will not be able to upgrade it. And the most important of all - DO NOT INSTALL ANY BETA SOFTWARE ON A PRODUCTION MACHINE.
-- Kerry MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User