Windows 7 and XP

Odyssey

Odyssey

Odyssey

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27 Jan 2009
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57
Hey everyone, I've currently got windows 7 installed as my main OS. I want to install XP again, on a seperate partition, just incase I need it, for trouble shooting etc.

I wanted to get some advice from anyone who is already doing or knows how to do what I want with my setup. I'm bassically planning to partition my hard drives inthe following way:

500gb - A:/ 30gb for windows 7
B:/ 20gb for XP
C:/ 450gb for programs, documents and music

1000gb - E:/ 5gb page file
F:/ 995gb for videos files

500gb IDE drive - backup for documents, save games, music and drivers

Basically, is it possible to have the programs installed once in my c drive and have them installed in both operating system? And are the partition drives for the operating systems big enough?
 
should be the other way round really windows 7 is in beta and should not be used as a main OS. personally i would have just used xp with windows 7 running from a VM

but in order answer to your question no it is not possible as far as im aware as it would create registry issues.

the partitions are plenty big enough for the OS lol the xp cd is under 725 mb

also why a 5gb page file the os would create this for you on the os disc?
 
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I appreciate that windows 7 is not a good idea for a main OS. But so far it's been pretty solid and I don't rely on it for work or anything. Hopefully I can run it until it is released and then I can just reinstall then. But for now I want to put XP back on and instal some basic programs.

Seems a shame I will have to install the programs twice! Thanks for your input
 
pffft. vista was the beta for win7

'some' programs might run if you just point whichever version of windows you using at the exe for it.
 
PCDave said:
i would have just used xp with windows 7 running from a VM
Click to expand...

I tried this, it doesnt work well, VM just doesnt provide the power you need.

To the OP you will need to reinstall the programs on every OS to recreate the registry values.

My mate came up with an idea where you install the programs to a third drive or partition. You do this on both OS, but only have one copy of the files installed on the third drive.

Not sure if it actually works, guess it depends where the programs write their data to. Even with this far fetched idea, you still have to sit there and install them, its really a space saving idea.
 
When I installed windows 7 I tried to drag the XP program file folders from a backup of my my XP install on the the windows 7 install and run the exe, it didn't work! But I did try installing a few games including steam, then close them and overwrite the root folder with my original XP folder with the patches, mods and save files and then retried and it worked. Just wasn't sure about accessing the same program root folder from different os though.

Maybe it would work if I installed xp, move the installed windows 7 program folder to a backup drive. Install the program again and then overwrite the files with the backed up files. This would then create the registry for the install for xp, whilst maintaining the windows 7 install. What do you think?
 
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Yeah, I just prefer to be able to open my programs or games in either os and carry on without having to setup preferences / load save games etc
 
It really depends on the program. Some programs will work like that, where others need to be installed in order to create the necessary registry keys, so they won't. Things like MS Office won't work, but with lots of simpler software it should be possible.

pffft. vista was the beta for win7
Click to expand...

Silly comment. Does that mean 2000 was the beta for XP?
 
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