How To: Install Windows 7 on an XP or Vista Machine

Some of you may already know how to do this, but here's a quick how-to on using Windows 7 while keeping your XP or Vista installation intact:

Download Windows 7
The latest version, RC1, will be available to the public on May 5 (via microsoft.com). If you can't wait that long though, you can try one of those "unsanctioned" copies. Be careful!

The download is a 2.35GB ISO file. You'll need a utility like ImgBurn or Totally Free Burner to properly burn it on a DVD.

Set Aside a Partition
Windows 7 requires at minimum a 16GB partition to work properly (though if you have lots of space, I suggest you set aside least 20GB or even 32GB just to be sure). If you've got only one hard disk with only one partition allocated, you can either:

-Download GParted Live CD (100MB ISO), burn onto a CD (using the tools mentioned above), and boot from it to repartition your hard disk.

-Create a new partition using Vista's Disk Management tool. Go to your desktop, press Windows+R, type "Diskmgmt.msc", and press Enter.

If you've already got two partitions on your hard disk, or use more than one hard disk, you can just choose where to install Windows 7. Back-up all data before installing Windows 7, just to be sure.

Install Windows 7
Boot from the Windows 7 DVD you burned, and make sure to select the partition you set aside for Windows7. Let Windows 7 install, and provide any info when prompted for it.

That's it!
Your boot menu should now have a "Windows 7" option. Enjoy!

Sources: Lifehacker & The Gadget Blog

If I already has a Windows XP and Vista, can I just replace the Vista without messing up the partition stuff?
Can I just format the Vista partition and install the Seven without any other software to make it works?

Or you can simply use your 7 .iso disc to upgrade your Vista install to 7. Then you won't have to reinstall your programs.

Hmmm, that's something I want to try. I know it's possible to do that, just wondering if the auto boot menu Windows 7 creates will still show itself if 7 is on a slave drive. I think you can make the 40GB drive the first boot device in your BIOS.

And RC expires this June 10, 2010 unfortunately. Starting that date, the computer will automatically shut down every two hours

How's 7 running on that old computer?

Also, I don't understand completely: you just upgraded from Windows XP on your HTPC?

Gparted didn't work for me, gave an error and didn't finish. So I tried it on my IDE data drive, said it worked, booted up XP, but I only see the 1 partition on my computer, but using Computer Management/Disc Managment, it shows the two partitions it shows as JDogg2 (F 192gb NTFS, and 40gb Unallocated, any ideas?.

EDIT:I got it, had to right click and press new partition .

They can repair the boot manager using the Win 7 installation disc.

Because the XP partition that was originall there doesn't understand how to boot 7, and they didn't tell 7 that XP is there. So 7 doesn't know to look.

Boot to the install disc. Click install. On the second screen, in the lower left is an option to "Repair". Select that and let it run.

AKM880: Very true!

Scotteq: Have you had to use the repair option? So far on my end no.

ac3144: Let us know if Scotteq's solution fixes things!

When ever I install another OS either one of the OS's i.e XP or W7 are gone from the Boot Menu. What I do is install a main OS i.e XP then IN XP I just insert the 7 disk and install from right there. Works great.