Multi-booting XP and Windows 8 help

[Tyrone1996]

Hi folks. Recently finished by first PC build and works great, however I'm having quite some trouble installing Windows 8 on another partition. I've successfully installed XP which is working great, but Windows 8 refuses to install on another partition, coming up with a pop up saying it cannot install here as there is already a MBR Partition table there, and that it needs a GPT disc.

Now, I've tried installing it by wiping XP completley, leving all the HDD space for W8, and installs a bit better, I can reach its start screen. But I was hoping to have them both on the same HDD.

Is there a way to get around this at all? I have heard of partitioning software, perhaps that may do the trick.

Thanks for reading.

[Geek-9pm]

I do it. You must use perforate partitions.
Here is a layout I have used. You need at least 160GB drive to be piratical.

10 GB unused .  50 GB primary  50 GB primary

The remainder of the disc is an extended partition with one or more logical drives.
I first install Windows XP on a primary partition, but not  the unused space.

Next I install l Windows 7 or 8 on other large partition.

That should work for you.   

[Tyrone1996]

What do you mean by perforate partitioning?

I should probably say that my Windows 8 is an OEM version and is 64 bit. My XP CD is Service Pack 3 32bit, and my HDD is 1TB.

[Allan]

What the *censored* is a perforate partition??

[Geek-9pm]

Sorry 
I meant to say distinct basic primary partitions. Not dynamic partitions. The simple partitions must divide the disc physically.
You can use a free partition manager to do this.
Unfortunately, some of these have a steep learning curve. Make a bad choice and you loose what your have. But you should be able to use the disk management tools in Windows 7 or 8 to "shrink" a partition. Used correctly, you don't loose programs or  data.

Again, I recommended two e primary partitions  and the rest can be logical in the extended. If possible, leave some free space at the start of the disc. But that may not be needed.

I hope I can help you. 

[soybean]

Here is a layout I have used. You need at least 160GB drive to be piratical.

Are you saying some hard drives are pirates?  Can you identify those rascals?  I want to steer clear of them.   

Seriously, what is a piratical drive? 

[Geek-9pm]

Are you saying some hard drives are pirates?  Can you identify those rascals?  I want to steer clear of them.   

Seriously, what is a piratical drive?

Just one picture found.

The Piratical Drive-by: Dirk Flinthart
November 24, 2010   
http://www.angelaslatter.com/the-piratical-drive-by-dirk-flinthart/

[patio]

All this nonsense aside Tyrone...is there an option for adding a 2nd HDD ? ?

This would be the cleanest solution...all you do is select which drive you want at boot time via the BIOS...
Let us know.

[SuperDave]

I have a dual-boot machine with XP on the C drive, Windows 8 on the D drive and lots of storage on the E drive. XP has to go on first then Win8 goes on another partition of the same drive.