I'm getting a laptop with the proper video card for Second Life. I plan to install my old E-machines xp on an external hd and Linux on the internal hd. The laptop comes with Vista ( BOO - HISS ). Here are my steps that I think will work;

1. Make a backup of the os disk
2. make a system backup for the drivers
3. format internal hd
4. turn off and plug in external hd
5. install xp on to the external hd
6. turn off, disconnect external hd
7. restart and install Linux on internal hd

Is this possible? Me and duel boots don't get along. Or do I have to put xp on the external hd first? Please let me know if this will work or am I having a bad dream that will turn into a nightmare.

Thanks, fullwhitebeard

Yes, since the drives aren't going to be 'aware' of each other during either installation, and since both drives are going to have their own boot records, it should work fine.

And by the way, it's "DUAL", not "DUEL"...

Way too complicated (IMHO).

Dual boot is not a big deal, if you you follow a few simple rules....

In this case:
1. Install Windows first--on the internal HD. Give it maybe 15GB
2. Install Linux--also on another internal partition---10-15GB. Any mainstream Linux installer will automatically configure the dual-boot.
3. Use the rest of the drive for shared data.
4. Use the external for data and/or backup

Thanks TBOne. I wasn't sure if it was possible.
pixellany, Dual boot works until windows fixes screws up the boot loader. I sometimes had windows and no Linux, or Linux and no windows. Having them on separate drives and using the boot menu (f10) to pick the drive or letting it boot into linux for me this is the best way. If windows breaks I won't loose linux, and vice versa.

Fixing the boot-loader is trivial in either case.
If XP has been registered I doubt you can move it like that. The installer is unlikely to talk to an external disk - but might work if you have it first in the BIOS boot order. Never tried it.

And if you think Vista is slow, what is XP going to be like via USB ?.