Installing new OS, conflict with old OS?

radar19

radar19

radar19

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Right now I have XP 32bit installed on my 160Gb drive, but I'm looking to install W7 64bit on a new 640Gb drive. Will this cause issues because I will have 2 OS's.
 
nope, as long as they are installed on different partitions then it should all be ok.

http://apcmag.com/how_to_dual_boot_windows_xp_and_windows_7_xp_installed_first.htm

this is a link to a guide on if you wanna mess with the bootloader (the bit where you choose which OS you want to load.)

Also dont be suprised from Windows 7 side if you cant see the XP partition, its meant to be like that; im not sure if you can see W7 from the XP booted side. Easiest way to share data between the 2 is to make a 3rd partition on the 2nd disc and store all the files you would want to access from both OS.
 
So you want to dual boot?

Why not use windows7 and wipe the disk with xp on? You could use it for music/photos or anything you want.
 
stulid said:
So you want to dual boot?

Why not use windows7 and wipe the disk with xp on? You could use it for music/photos or anything you want.
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Only trouble is, I havent backed up my data from my 160Gb drive yet. I want to transfer it to the 640Gb drive then install W7 with XP on the 160Gb drive.
 
Unplug the old drive

Install the new drive with windows7 on,

Reconnect the old one so windows7 assigns it as drive D: and then drag to the new drive what you want to keep.

Format old drive and use for storage.

You ideally want windows on the new/much faster drive, just for a better experience.
 
stulid said:
Unplug the old drive

Install the new drive with windows7 on,

Reconnect the old one so windows7 assigns it as drive D: and then drag to the new drive what you want to keep.

Format old drive and use for storage.

You ideally want windows on the new/much faster drive, just for a better experience.
Click to expand...


So, I'll need to install the motherboard drivers and such again right? Will it default the 640Gb drive default to master if I unplug the 160Gb drive right?
 
Yes, just pull the power conector out of the old one.

Fit new drive, install windows 7, install drivers.

Reconnect old one, it may or may not give you the choice of dual boot when you restart.

Load windows7 and you will see that Its C: the old drive will be D:

Load xp and it is C: new drive will be D:

Boot into windows7 and keep what you want from the old one/format it.
 
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stulid said:
Yes, just pull the power conector out of the old one.

Fit new drive, install windows 7, install drivers.

Reconnect old one, it may or may not give you the choice of dual boot when you restart.

Load windows7 and you will see that the old drive will be D:

Load xp and new drive will be D:

Boot into windows7 and keep what you want from the old one/format it.
Click to expand...


By load, you mean restart and boot into XP? What happens if it doesnt give me an option to dual boot?
 
Make sure bios boot sequence has the new drive as first boot device, disable all other options it will load windows7. Make old drive the first boot device and it will go straight to xp.

But I'm sure you should get dual boot option

I did a little edit above to make it clearer.
 
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I think I'm starting to get it now.

If I boot into 7, my old 160Gb drive will be seen as drive D, if I boot into XP, my new 640Gb drive will be seen as D. Correct?
 
radar19 said:
I think I'm starting to get it now.

If I boot into 7, my old 160Gb drive will be seen as drive D, if I boot into XP, my new 640Gb drive will be seen as D. Correct?
Click to expand...

Yes.

But I'm sure you wont use xp after using W7. That's why I think you should wipe it
 
There's really no reason to format/wipe your old drive (except licensing reasons, if you bought win7 upgrade).

Although you may find you prefer using 7 and have no desire to go back to XP, keeping XP around until you're 100% certain you won't use it again might be a sensible thing to do.

Plus you have a backup OS in case either of your drives goes kaput!
 
And like I said just pull the power from the old drive when installing windows7 then you can't possibly wipe the old disk.
 
Now for the confusing part. I got W7 through the student deal they were doing a little while ago. When I bought it, I ticked the option to have a "disc kit" sent to me. This is the disc I got. Can I install W7 as a fresh install on my new drive from this disc? I have downloaded the ISO file as while from the site. dont really want to use the ISO as my DVD drive is acting up.

 
Looks like an upgrade, so install fresh, and I think it asks for your xp install key during install.
 
Yes, with the caveat that Windows Installer has to be able to see your old version of Windows.

If you remove your old drive, the installer will not see your old version of windows, and the key you have will not work.

Then you'll have to install 7 twice. Once with no key, then a 2nd time with your upgrade key. Both clean installs. The 2nd time the installer will detect a valid OS on the drive, and your upgrade key will work.
 
FoxEye said:
Yes, with the caveat that Windows Installer has to be able to see your old version of Windows.

If you remove your old drive, the installer will not see your old version of windows, and the key you have will not work.

Then you'll have to install 7 twice. Once with no key, then a 2nd time with your upgrade key. Both clean installs. The 2nd time the installer will detect a valid OS on the drive, and your upgrade key will work.
Click to expand...


I dont have my XP key as I'm using a friends copy he got from his work place. So if I remove the drive I have install 7 twice? Does it work with no key? I'm even more confused now:(
 
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