I have a the retail version of Vista Ultimate and MS provide both 32bit and 64bit in the retail pack can I use both on the same PC?

I understand that games play better on 64 bit. At the moment I have 32 bit installed on my C drive which is 500gig how do I install the 64bit? Would it be better to have a partition in my C drive if so how do I make a partition and how do I boot into the edition I want?

I have a G drive free of 112 gig do I install it on that and if I do how do I access that at boot up or can can I get into it once I have booted up on the 32 bit?

Hi gang, I have been in toutch with MS help desk they inform me that I can run both 64bit and 32bit retail editions on one licence they are going to get a technician to contact me to tell me how to install, should any one else have the retail version of Vista Ultimate :and not sure how to install both I will post instructions on this thread.

Google has a few guides:

http://www.google.com/search?sourcei...ot+vista+32+64

You will need to find different drivers for each OS.

Also I know of no game today with the exception of the original Half Life 2 that runs in 64 bit.

All other Source and Valve games revert to 32 on a 64 OS.

BioShock as well.

64 bit has simply not caught on with software writers.

Hi Jephree, I have a spare 150 gig G drive with nothing on how would I be able to put the 64gig Vista on that? There is another game called Crysis it is I understand made 64 bit comparable which I have ordered from a online supplier.

As I have put in a 8800gt video card I thought I might use to its best ability. This all new to me as I haven't as yet played on a PC or a games machine. As yet I haven't heard from MS but I expect they will take a few days to answer my enquiry. At my age not sure I will get o with it.

Crysis is the one I haven't tried yet.

I run dual 8800's on a XP 64 bit but again all the games I have all load down into X86 which is 32 bit.

Anyway what you suggest would be the easiest in many respects.

The problem with multiple operating systems on one hard drive is this:

Besides the partitions that hold the operating systems a separate boot partition (sector) is created.

The second OS installed will overwrite the boot sector thus removing the link to the first OS.

In order to rectify this one then needs to go back and rewrite the boot sector.

One can also purchase a boot loading program.

But if you install different operating systems to different hard drives then each hard drive would have its own boot sector.

The only thing you need now is how to choose which drive to boot. I do this via my BIOS but again you can purchase a boot manager.

One tip here is while installing the second OS to the second drive disconnect the first one to eliminate any risk of corruption or mistake.

Thanks for all your help Jephree I will let you know how I get on.