windows 7 duel boot

Hi i want to put win7 on duel boot with xp, if i like win 7 can i just delete xp ? and then merge that deleted xp into 7 if you know what i mean? or will i have to format all over again and re -enstall 7. Plus drivers for 7 if i install them on partitioned it wont interfere with xp will it thanks. Just trying to save time and dont want to install 7 twice cheers

 

When you say delete xp and then merge are talking about the partitions?

If you do delete the xp partition and merge it, then you will still need to fix the 7 bootloader. Boot from the win7 disk and perform a startup repair to fix the bootloader, so the win7 bootloader will no longer think xp is installed. Or use a 3rd party bootloader changer like EasyBCD. You don't have to do this, but it will fix it up right so to speak.

 

Sure, if you have setup the OS to be independent. Avoid the "Microsoft Way".

http://www.goodells.net/multiboot/index.htm

 

Ok i used Paragon, it would not let me resize but it let me create a new logical one, It seemed to install fine, i allocated 54GB for Win 7. When i boot into XP i noticed the drive i renamed for win7 in there alongside C drive. When the Pc boots up, i can choose from windows 7 or earlier version etc, So i assume i have done this all ok. So if i want to claim back the 180GB that i have XP installed on how would i do that? assuming i like 7 enough to keep it. Would i have to re merge XP or something Any Step By step instructions thanks..

here is 2 pictures of what is inside each drive C drive being xp, L drive being 7

http://i36.tinypic.com/140lpcp.jpg

http://i38.tinypic.com/fd82dv.jpg

 

See "What's wrong with the Microsoft Way" in the link I posted.

 

I duel boot XPx86 and Vistax64. I don't duel boot like most people do though. I primarily use Vista and I rarely use XP. I have them installed on 2 different HDs. When I installed each one I unplugged the sata cable from the other OS drive so the one I was installing would not see it. They are totally independent. If I want to boot into XP then I either hit f8 at boot up, or go into my bios and change the first drive to boot from. I like it so much better this way than having them both on the vista boot loader. It works out a lot better when I do my backup images and restores. It would not be too practical if I booted into each one back and forth all the time, but I only boot into xp about once a month.

 

JohnnyDollar,

That method does work well for you. If ever you want to make boot changes more frequently, a good boot manager such as BING can be used, The OSs will still be independent and backup/restore will be just as you have chosen. BING can boot an OS from any HD.

 

Thanks for the suggestion, I'll take a look at it.

 

It looks very complicated, at first. But you will warm to it. If you wanted to have 10 WinXP, 10 Vista, 10 Win7, 10 Linux, etc, all on a single HD or multiple HDs, that is easily done. And they are all independent. No sharing boot files. You can delete any OS at any time you wish.

BING has a partition clone option so after you install Win7 (for example) you can just copy it 9 times and you have 10 bootable Win7 OS. Easy once you know how. BING is one of the cleverest pieces of software that I've used.

 

http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/kb/article.php?id=324

http://www.themudcrab.com/separatevistaxp.php

 

I have been using Acronis the last few years for my imaging. It looks as though I would have issues using the Acronis recovery manager at boot up with BootIt installed also, wouldn't you agree.

 

I haven't used Acronis recovery manager but you are probably correct. You can use any imaging app with BING.

 

If you want to dual or triple boot go to the experts on this site:
xxx.neosmart.net/forums

I used their software to triple boot my puter with Vista, XP Pro and PCLinuxOS.
Good Luck