NT and XP OK together ??

[Grumper]

I have a computer with win XP installed as the primary OS, can I partition this HDD and install NT on the same HDD.

[Paul Komski]

NT can get a bit complicated depending on the version and the SP's installed. There's a bit of MS spiel at http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/techinfo/administration/management/mltiboot.asp#D

So the least problematic way would be to install NT first onto a not too large and first physical partition on FAT having either previously partitioned the drive or having left the remainder of the drive with unallocated space.

Then install WinXP as a new and not as an upgrade option into your prepared partition for it or into the unallocated space.

Doing things this way should setup the dual-boot menu for you.

You can add WinNT after WinXP but you should hide the WinXP partition while you do this and also WinNT is best on the first partition on the drive, which would mean repartitioning that HDD first or putting it on a second drive altogether.

Using boot managers is another possibility but I would suggest starting over and installing NT first and get it up and running and then add WinXP.