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.
 
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.
 
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.
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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?
 
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.
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By load, you mean restart and boot into XP? What happens if it doesnt give me an option to dual boot?
 
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?
 
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.

 
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.
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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:(
 
FoxEye said:
Windows 7 new installer needs to be able to see your old Windows install or else it will not allow your upgrade key to work.

So either you leave your old drive in, and Windows sees XP, or you do the following:

1. install 7 with no key.
2. install 7 again with your upgrade key.

The 2nd time the installer sees your first install, and your upgrade key will work. Because the installer checks for a previous install before giving you the option of formatting your drives/ partitions, you can safely use the installer to wipe out your first win7 install before installing it again.

The whole reason for needing to install twice is just so the 2nd time you have an OS on the disk for the installer to see. That's if you choose to remove the first disk.
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So if I dont remove the disc with XP on it, what happens then. Sorry about sounding like a idiot. This is all new to me.
 
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Ok, this is the screen I got when I bought it. Not sure what you can make from it buts its confusing me a lot!
 
So, one last time. If I keep my XP drive plugged in, it will ask me for a key, if I unplug it, i'll need to install 7 twice.
 
Actually I have the ISO downloaded which is meant for XP and Vista 32bit users. Could I use that to install from? Plus how do I burn it so I can install from a DVD?
 
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