I have a laptop with Win xp installed at purchase. I purchased a Win 7 Pro disk that I would like to install and have a dual boot system. I've read up on how to download a program to make a new partition. The instructions that came with the Win 7 OEM install disk states that this disk will wipe out everything on my hard drive including the previous operating system (a clean wipe). How can I keep my xp OS from being lost. The Win 7 disc also says it will replace my system key with the new one.I have a new cloned hard drive installed and still have my old hard drive handy.The only disk I have for the xp is the recovery disk. I would appreciate anyone's advice. Thanks
dual boot w/windows 7
- Thread starter Parkie_05
- Start date
Solution
- Mar 16, 2013
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Booting from the Windows 7 install disk should allow you to resize and create a new partition. When the install routine gets to the 'Where?', select Advanced. Resize and create as needed
Install Windows 7 to that new partition.
It won't wipe the other partitions, nor will it affect the XP key.
Install Windows 7 to that new partition.
It won't wipe the other partitions, nor will it affect the XP key.
Tom Tancredi
Judicious
- May 9, 2013
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Honestly you should avoid Dual Windows Boots, unles syou use a boot manager but even then that is still high risk. Problem is Windows like to be fully in control, that there is only *1* OS ever on the PC. The way to get around it is a VirtualBox (Sandbox) OS instead. Run VirtualBox to create a image file of the install and everything like a real PC but resides inside that 'windowed sandbox'. This avoids all the issues and instantly restore when something goes wrong.
Problems from Dual boot: BootManager gets hosed up and confused on 'Which Windows' is the Boot one, so it screws up and suddenly you either lose a whole 'drive' or worse the system says BootMGr Missing and trying to repair it 'kills' the other Windows.
Problems from Dual boot: BootManager gets hosed up and confused on 'Which Windows' is the Boot one, so it screws up and suddenly you either lose a whole 'drive' or worse the system says BootMGr Missing and trying to repair it 'kills' the other Windows.
Thanks a million,your advice was short and to the point, will try in a few days. While waiting for a reply I read "alberthrocks"post from Dec 30, 2013 about setting up a dual boot. After reading, I could almost do it blindfolded. A very good instructor!
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