This is a question that I have also posted in the CH, mainly due to the fact that is generally busier. I also did a topic search here and elswhere which led me to much info on how to do set up etc, but not too much in terms of how well it works, which is what I am really looking for. I do not intend to do the setting up myself. If anyone here can help it would be much appreciated............



Anybody using dual boot systems here ? I was planning on keeping my trusty old XP 32 bit system and buying a new W7 64bit to run alongside it as I have VST's that I use all the time that are 32bit only that I have been told "may or may not work" in 64bit and some other stuff that I use all the time that I presume needs XP as they will not even install/work on my Vista 32 laptop . I've made the assumption here that there some kind of readily available /reasonably priced gadget to enable me to switch the monitors between systems without unplugging them each time.

However, as it now seems like my DAW needs reasonably major surgery, I have to decide whether to stick to plan A (ie just rebuild it as XP32 and proceed with plan A) or go a stage further and build a W7 64 system with a dual boot so I can still have XP32 within that.

Some may say now is the time to embrace 64bit and ditch the old stuff that can't be made to work, but that isn't gonna happen, so does anyone have any experience of dual boot systems ? What are the pitfalls etc... ? How does it actually work when you switch on ? (yes I am that much of an ignoramus !) Does it ask which OS you want or does it default to one and then you have to re-boot onto the other ? A little research has told me that it is better to have seperate HD's for each OS, which would be fine, but again, how does that work when you power up?

I'm also assuming here that it is possibe to open a cwp created in 64bt system on the 32 bit, do my 32 bit stuff, bounce it to audio, save and then still be good to go in 64bit. (the files are all stored on an extrnal HD which could be plugged in to either system as req'd). I'm also assuming that 64bit system will be able to open existing 32 bit projects ? All this is with 8.53PE BTW, but maybe X2 as an when.

Part of me is already saying...don't go there, fix the other one up then buy the new 64bit system as you planned and just have both, but I'm a "if it ain't broke, don't fix it type" so I probably would say that. Trouble is that it is broke, so I have to decide how to fix it......




EDIT: Thanks again to those who responded.

there is absolutely no reason for dual boot.
no reason for XP

Win 7 64 wil run both 64 and 32 bit programs that simple..
using a bit bridge program like VS Pro or Bbridge solves and issues.

jcschild


there is absolutely no reason for dual boot.
no reason for XP

Win 7 64 wil run both 64 and 32 bit programs that simple..
using a bit bridge program like VS Pro or Bbridge solves and issues.

Thanks for replying, but unfortunately it isn't that simple at all. As I said,  I have software that I use all the time that will not install/work on my Vista 32 laptop, yet is fine in XP, so it seems that XP is a requirement. Will that install/work on W7 ? I have no way of knowing, but I am inclined to doubt it. I have read that there is an XP mode in W7 - is that what this is for, or is it just an appearance thing ?

time to get rid of the old.. the hassle of going back and forth is not owrth keeping the older software.
no xp mode will not work for that at least not acceptable enough for audio use, i can barely get an old check printing software to work right.

I run a dual boot setup and it works with no issues.

It's been so long since I set it up that I can't even remember how I did it, but I'm pretty sure I just installed XP first and then set-up Windows 7 after.  It only needed doing once.

I don't use it for any DAW stuff anymore but I have a couple of audio apps that I keep maintained because I've been involved in beta-testing a few things.  I use it for other non-Audio legacy content-creation stuff that doesn't work too well on W7.  For DAW work though I'm 100% W7 now.

I've never had trouble running a dual boot but as always YMMV, but other than for my few specialist requirements I don't think I'd bother with it anymore.

jcschild


time to get rid of the old.. the hassle of going back and forth is not owrth keeping the older software.
no xp mode will not work for that at least not acceptable enough for audio use, i can barely get an old check printing software to work right.

Thanks again, but as I said in the OP that's not going to happen. I wouldn't be going back and forth all the time - as you say SONAR 32 and 64 will both work on 64bit OS, so DAW wise there would be no need. The fact remains that for non-SONAR stuff I need XP, so on those occasions when I am doing other stuff, I would simply boot up XP for that. What I am trying to establish here is the pros and cons of dual boot v  seperate PC's.

Thanks for the info re XP mode - I thought that would be the case.

Jonbouy


I run a dual boot setup and it works with no issues.

It's been so long since I set it up that I can't even remember how I did it, but I'm pretty sure I just installed XP first and then set-up Windows 7 after.  It only needed doing once.

I don't use it for any DAW stuff anymore but I have a couple of audio apps that I keep maintained because I've been involved in beta-testing a few things.  I use it for other non-Audio legacy content-creation stuff that doesn't work too well on W7.  For DAW work though I'm 100% W7 now.

I've never had trouble running a dual boot but as always YMMV, but other than for my few specialist requirements I don't think I'd bother with it anymore.

Thanks JB - I was just about to PM you as Bapu said you were the man to ask.  Do you have both OS on the same HD or on separate ones ?

I have a 0.5 Gb drive with both OS's on.

The point being is that only one partition is in use at any one time so there's no performance hit from just using a single drive.

This might help simplify the Boot creation process too.

http://neosmart.net/EasyBCD/

Although there's plenty of info out there as you say on how to get it working.

Jonbouy


I have a 0.5 Gb drive with both OS's on.

The point being is that only one partition is in use at any one time so there's no performance hit from just using a single drive.

According to what I've just been reading, there does seem to be some potential issues re restore points though (one overwriting the other) ? Would this still be the case with seperate drives ?