Question regarding dual boot xp and windows 7

Barno · 30 May 2009 at 12:32

I'm planning on dual booting windows 7 and xp. I've got a new hdd and I was told by someone on the forums to install xp first. Could someone explain the reason for this and also point me in the direction of a decent guide to dual booting xp and 7.

Thanks.

miniyazz · 30 May 2009 at 12:48

Dual boots just work better and more easily going from oldest OS to newest OS. Install XP then 7, you'll have little faffing to do to get them both to work; install the other way round and you'll have to repair the 7 installation and all sorts to get them both working.
Can't help you with a guide, not done it with win7.

theheyes · 30 May 2009 at 13:40

Windows 7 is more aware of XP than XP is aware of Windows 7. If you have the choice I would install XP first.

If you do it this way, the bootloader will simply ask you which OS you would like to load when you start your computer.

zzzJonny · 30 May 2009 at 15:37

If you do XP first, be warned it totally messed me up when I tried removing XP, even after trying to repair bootloaders and such. Ended up reinstalling 7.

johnerz · 30 May 2009 at 23:40

An alternative is to install on seperate hdd and change the boot order in the bios, a mess about I know, but its only an alternative (works for me)