user accounts ok

I am about to install Vista as an upgrade to WinXP.
My question is will it affect the user accounts in any way? Will I and the other family members using the PC be able to log in OK and use all their files etc no problem?
Also, on a similar note, will program installation settings remain OK or will the upgrade require me to reinstall everything?
Jon

STOP - DO NOT UPGRADE!
Think about it. Vista is Beta 2 and while I think it's terrific, there are some problems with the operating system. That's why Microsoft released it as a Beta. They want to find and fix the problems that end users experience.
You really should install Vista on a spare computer or on a separate partition. Here's my setup.
http://home.cfl.rr.com/jbmsbink/VistaInstall.jpg
You'll notice that I have a 721MB C drive partition. That's where 98SE, XP Pro and Vista "dump" files automatically. There is no operating system on my C drive.
HTH
Joe
"DJjay" wrote in message

I am about to install Vista as an upgrade to WinXP.
My question is will it affect the user accounts in any way? Will I and the other family members using the PC be able to log in OK and use all their files etc no problem?
Also, on a similar note, will program installation settings remain OK or will the upgrade require me to reinstall everything?
Jon

So, if I partition my disk, will I be able to clean install Vista Beta and use both systems, ie WinXP for day to day operations, and Vista to try it out. Will they interfere with eachother?
If I partition, how much room will I need in the Vista partition?
And finally, can I get a selectable boot option screen at startup?

You will need to partition your hard drive with at least three partitions. You C drive should be about 700 MB. XP should be on your second partition (D) and Vista on your third partition (E).
Take a look at the screenshot I provided a link to.
http://home.cfl.rr.com/jbmsbink/VistaInstall.jpg
You will need at least 15GB for the Vista partition according to Microsoft.
You will get a selectable boot screen when Windows Starts. It will say Earlier Windows and Windows. Earlier is XP and Windows is Vista.
I have been using a triple boot including Vista for three days now, and I get no interference with 98SE or XP Pro from Vista. Again, I do not have an operating system of any kind on my C drive.
Joe
"DJjay" wrote in message

So, if I partition my disk, will I be able to clean install Vista Beta and use both systems, ie WinXP for day to day operations, and Vista to try it out. Will they interfere with eachother?
If I partition, how much room will I need in the Vista partition?
And finally, can I get a selectable boot option screen at startup?

Why 3 partitions?
Why not have WinXP on C drive, where it currently, and install Vista on D? All documents etc can stay on C along with WinXP. Or is this not advisable?

I am certainly no expert, but I have been using multi-boot PCs for several years now including 98SE / XP Pro / Suse Linux 10. Because of multiple operating systems, I do not place any operating systems on my C drive.
Right now I have 98SE / XP Pro / Vista Beta 2 Build 5384.
When I first tried a multi-boot system, I had and operating system on my C drive and that caused problems. It was years ago, and I don't remember the specifics, but I found out through trial and error that it is best not to have an operating system on your C drive in a multi-boot environment.
Right now my C drive is about 700 MB and as I said, there is no operating system on it. It simply holds files that 98SE / XP / Vista automatically "dump" there. Even Suse Linux 10 placed the GRUB boot loader on my C drive.
One other thing - you'll notice that my C drive is FAT32. That's because I also have Windows 98SE on this PC. If I did not have 98SE installed, my C drive would be formatted NTFS.
Joe
"DJjay" wrote in message

Why 3 partitions?
Why not have WinXP on C drive, where it currently, and install Vista on D? All documents etc can stay on C along with WinXP. Or is this not advisable?

You will be able to install Vista on a separate partition. What you may not be able to do is uninstall it without repairing the boot setup for XP. Do you have a Windows XP CD or does your computer have a restore to factory procedure? When you want to remove Vista Beta and return your system to XP only you may have boot from the Windows XP CD and repair the boot files from the recovery console. If you are not 100% sure of the answers do not install Vista on this computer. Your family members will not be happy if they lose their data. Read and understand the Beta disclaimer before installing Vista. Also make sure you understand the removal process before installing Vista.
-- Kerry Brown MS-MVP - Windows Shell/User
"DJjay" wrote in message

So, if I partition my disk, will I be able to clean install Vista Beta and use both systems, ie WinXP for day to day operations, and Vista to try it out. Will they interfere with eachother?
If I partition, how much room will I need in the Vista partition?
And finally, can I get a selectable boot option screen at startup?

Because Microsoft programmers are madly in love with the C drive. Even if you install into another drive, Vista will still write or modify files on the C drive.
"DJjay" wrote:

Why 3 partitions?
Why not have WinXP on C drive, where it currently, and install Vista on D? All documents etc can stay on C along with WinXP. Or is this not advisable?

I am about to install Vista as an upgrade to WinXP.
My question is will it affect the user accounts in any way? Will I and the other family members using the PC be able to log in OK and use all their files etc no problem?
Also, on a similar note, will program installation settings remain OK or will the upgrade require me to reinstall everything?
Jon

don't do it. Vista is still a beta, and there is a chance your computer won't even start after the upgrade. you and the other family members might be able to log in Ok, but don't count on it. your files probably won't be destroyed, but again, don't count on it. some of your programs will need to be re-installed, others will need to be repaired, and some won't work at all.
"DJjay" wrote:

I am about to install Vista as an upgrade to WinXP.
My question is will it affect the user accounts in any way? Will I and the other family members using the PC be able to log in OK and use all their files etc no problem?
Also, on a similar note, will program installation settings remain OK or will the upgrade require me to reinstall everything?
Jon

Jon:
It sounds like you're going to install Vista on a PRODUCTION machine. (One that you rely on to perform key functions.)
Such a machine is NOT a suggested target for BETA software.
-- ------------------------------------------ Donny Broome http://www.broomeman.com/tech/ ------------------------------------------
"DJjay" wrote in message

I am about to install Vista as an upgrade to WinXP.
My question is will it affect the user accounts in any way? Will I and the other family members using the PC be able to log in OK and use all their files etc no problem?
Also, on a similar note, will program installation settings remain OK or will the upgrade require me to reinstall everything?
Jon

"DJjay" wrote in message

I am about to install Vista as an upgrade to WinXP.
My question is will it affect the user accounts in any way? Will I and the other family members using the PC be able to log in OK and use all their files etc no problem?
Also, on a similar note, will program installation settings remain OK or will the upgrade require me to reinstall everything?
Jon

As the others have stated, this is definitely not recommended on your every day computer. A beta program can be very unpredictable. Not to mention that some of the hardware and software programs on the machine may not be supported in Vista.
Wait until the public release of the final version or get yourself a different computer to test the beta.
-- Ronnie Vernon Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User

It's a pain without a hard drive switch but, do what I do and buy a second hard drive to run the Vista beta and switch the hard drives back when you're not testing the beta. I use a Trios hard drive switch to switch between hard drives.

Why don't you buy a couple of 5.25" caddies, set both hard disks to cable select and you will be able to swap them around simply, after switching off, of course.
"Richard" wrote:

It's a pain without a hard drive switch but, do what I do and buy a second hard drive to run the Vista beta and switch the hard drives back when you're not testing the beta. I use a Trios hard drive switch to switch between hard drives.