How do I dual boot XP- WIN 7 without a dvd drive?

If you got the iso extract it to a usb key... Thats about it. Just have to make sure your PC bios has the option to boot from smart media/usb drive. STill might have to do some fancy partition footwork depending on how your partitions are currently configured.

usb bootable is based on the bios of the motherboard you are using, AND extracting the ISO image properly to said usb drive. Partition stuff is all different for every application/pc setup, not sure what you have setup and it sounds like you are on the edge of the cliff with that part so take a step back. If you install over top, it will not be happy, but may work. Usually you wont lose stuff.
With your setup though why do you want to install it? why not do it in a virtual pc desktop if you are wanting to just check it out? Its beta anyway so you have to uninstall it in 180 days. You can download microsoft virtual pc for free and install windows 7 to it straight from the iso image.

My words are in caps above.
If you havent installed dozens of OS's on dozens of different computers, don't do it. Find a friend that can help.
Why are you wanting to install it anyways?
You would be better off unplugging your hard drive and finding a cheap 80gb one to test with windows 7. Find a DVD reader for $20 and have at it. Depends on what you feel your time is worth. I would have bought an old hard drive and dvd drive by now.

hey again, thanks techdeuce
and now also Knotknut

my primary objective is just to try the new os

i am not very experienced in these matters, but really cant resist the temptation to try something fresh

-i tried ubuntu with limited success, the graphics drivers didnt support my very old intel integrated mobo

oh well, I will look in to further ways of creating a bootable drive
and will use gparted to create the partition

in case you are interested... i was following the instructions (link below) but got pretty lost at step 5 and forward....

the website:

http://www.blogsdna.com/2016/how-t [...] so-dvd.htm

thanks again!!

ok,

i got really far... but am stuck.

i got my pc bios to boot from the usb and I followed all the instructions...

but when it boots from the usb, all i get is a black screen with a blinking character line.

i believe the problem lies in the files i copied to the usb- should i copy an .iso file to the final usb, or should I copy the mounted files to the usb (ie the files that make the iso)??

thanks again!!!!!

Are you trying to run the OS on the USB drive? That is not possible. YOu need to create a local partition and install it there.

If you are trying to install the OS from the USB drive - Understand that transfer rates aren't going to be nearly as fast as a disc. Let it run for a while and do it;s thing.

Put the USB away. Copy and paste all the extracted files on your partition.
Double click on the new drive E: or whatever the new partition is, it opens, big blank window, paste all the extracted ISO files there, double click on the "Setup-Windows Installer" icon. Follow directions.

It works for me. It works on this PC. Did not corrupt XP.

It will F-Up your XP if you install it on the wrong partition.

Rule #1...Back up your files before making any changes

Yes, Dual Boot. You will have a menu at boot. Will say"Older version of Windows"
or "Windows 7". If you dont make a choice in the given time limit you will default boot to W7.

Install is straight forward. Know what drive letter your new partition is.

Hi,
I ran the Windows 7 install from within Windows. I also selected my partition from within windows. I seemed to install all the files and rebooted. I can't tell you if it needed dvd access at reboot or not I don't think so. Running the installer from with in windows allowed it to automatically set up the multiboot menu. It probably would have done so anyways but I can't say for sure.

hmmm crazy. i tried to boot from usb for the longest time my bios seems to support it and i swear i followed usb booting procedure to a t. i even tried that hp boot program with no luck. my usb would flash but it would always come up with disk failure. tried ntfs fat 32 mmm bootsect options acitve partition yada yada. no luck. and i feel like im pretty experienced with windows. i mean i know how to install it run daemon tools virtual disks. all that good stuff. i give my self 8 out of 10. i also read that not all usb thumb drives could be made to boot. but theres nothing in the boxes that say whether their bootable or not. so i gave up on that. with my xp already partitioned i put vista iso and extracted its contents to my d: and proceded to upgrade but there was nothing on there that gave me a choice if i wanted to install to d:.. o i had no dvd drive by the way. ive installed numereous installation of windows before. im cheap and dont like to spend. so it seems vista didnt have that option it just decided to upgrade my xp. so now im about to try install windows 7 the same way by putting it on my d: partition and running from desktop. if it gives me a choice to put it on my d: i will complete the installation but i swear i dont remember such a thing in vista.