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Installing a second OS on partition

Last response: in Windows 7
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I have studied that tutorial before, but it does not answer my question.
To start with, my HP machine comes preinstalled W7, with 3 primary partitions (Status in brackets):
*:SYSTEM (Active & Boot) Primary
C:HP (System) Primary
D:Factory-Image (None) Primary

I believe I can only have 3 primary partitions on one drive, and I am wondering whether I can install OS on my fourth partition without making it primary.
Windows 7 Expert

You can have four primary partitions on a disk, so if you were to resize, say, your C: partition you could create another primary and install XP on it. Be aware that you will have to jump through a few hoops to get both OSes running if you install XP after 7.

An alternative, considering the current cost of hard drives, is to buy a second cheap disk for XP (but that won't work if your computer is a laptop!).
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Ijack said:
You can have four primary partitions on a disk, so if you were to resize, say, your C: partition you could create another primary and install XP on it. Be aware that you will have to jump through a few hoops to get both OSes running if you install XP after 7.

An alternative, considering the current cost of hard drives, is to buy a second cheap disk for XP (but that won't work if your computer is a laptop!).
Ijack said:
You can have four primary partitions on a disk, so if you were to resize, say, your C: partition you could create another primary and install XP on it. Be aware that you will have to jump through a few hoops to get both OSes running if you install XP after 7.

An alternative, considering the current cost of hard drives, is to buy a second cheap disk for XP (but that won't work if your computer is a laptop!).
Yes, I agree with you on that, and already bought a second HDD, but it came without a power cable, and now I am waiting for the cable to arrive. Meanwhile I was getting antsy to try and play around with partitioning, just to fill in time. :kaola: 

arjunp2085 said:
If you install Windows XP you will have to reconfigure the windows 7 boot configuration... " (worst case scenario will have to reinstall windows 7 altogether"


If you are using windows 7 Home premium and need windows XP for some backward compatibility

Try Virtual XP or XP mode (runs within windows 7)

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/download.as...
You must have Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise, or Ultimate to run Windows XP Mode.

hello
i first installed windows 7 ultimate in one drive & windows xp(sp-3) in another drive.
i have two operating system now but it does not show any option to switch one another when it boots/starts at the beginging??so how to solve the problem??

tausif_buet said:
hello
i first installed windows 7 ultimate in one drive & windows xp(sp-3) in another drive.
i have two operating system now but it does not show any option to switch one another when it boots/starts at the beginging??so how to solve the problem??


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