Well I'm getting sick of slow load time and long reboot times when games lock up.

Anyone know if the following is possible or how to go about it?

I'm thinking of getting an SSD and Windows7 just to have a lean and clean install that is only EVER used for gaming. I want to leave the current Windows XP disk for the wife to normally boot off and do her email and guff.

Anyone know how you can set things up to default to the XP boot disk but get a timed out option of selecting an alternate disk (the nice clean fast SSD) to boot off for gaming fun time?

Okay, this guide may have my answer

Beginners Guides: Dual OS Installation of WindowsXP 32-bit/64-bit
http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=1910

I might just do a dual install of my 32bit XP OS but the new one on the SSD will be minimalist and clean and kept just be my use with games so the wifes guff stays with the old tired slow XP install.

Just need to select a 120G SSD and see what diff it all makes with both OS installs still on the same system.

Anyone know the low down on the best bang for buck 120G SSD?

Most 120G ssd's are around the $250 mark.

285MB/s read, 275MB/s write

or

for $375 get one of these

http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=210_902_903_1147&products_id=14966

540MB/s read, 480MB/s write.

review...sorry the review is for the 700MB/s read&write but over $700

as long as xp is in the system it is easy to install win 7. but the other way around is a nightmare. win 7 is a dream to use compared to xp.

Cheers guys, I might just order one of the following some time. Reinstall a lean and mean XP OS and maybe later change that to a Windows7 OS install. Then when i do get around to building a new system some time I can just move this disk into that.

Corsair Force Series 120GB SSD2.5 MLC SSD, 285/275MB/Sec, SATA II, SandForce controller

you should really try out win7 youll never look back its sooooooooooooooo goooooooooood

Yeah, I've got Win7 on my i7 laptop and it is good. But to keep things simple I'll do a quick XP install first. I might order the SSD tonight, I'll see if I order Win7 at the same time

May as well order Win7 tonight as well.
Is Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit much more of a problem to install than 32bit?
What do most folks have installed?

Win 7 Home Premium 64bit is what I use mate.

And hell, if I can figure it out - then any noob can do it

It's easy as pie mate, exactly the same as installing any Windows OS.

Good luck and have fun!