Have windows 7 installed, want to install XP on sep drive. Suggestions?

[starbuck]

Have been running windows 7 as my main OS since beta came out and like it. There are things that don't work on it though like my PVR350 TV card and some other progs.
I have a second hard drive in my PC and am thinking about installing 32bit XP on it so I can use it for incompatible programs and windows 7 other times.

Never run a dual boot before. I've heard that if I install XP on my second drive, I should then get a boot menu to choose which OS I want to use. Is this true?

I've also heard about problems with the boot manager getting deleted occasionally with this method which leaves you unable to boot. Would it be better to use a program like vistabootpro?

Any tips/hints on dual booting?

[Singh400]

Normally the best route to a multi boot setup is to install the oldest to newest to ensure maximum compatibility. Seeing as you want to install XP after you've install Windows 7, you already broken the golden rule and got yourself into an awkward situation.

Here's what I would do, if I had no other option*:

1) Install XP as normal
2) The XP setup routine will wipe the Windows 7 Bootlader (this is bad)
3) You now need to re-install the Windows 7 bootloader using the DVD. (Repair options)
4) Hopefully the Windows 7 bootloader will pick up windows 7 and XP and delete XP's boot loader to replace it with it's own (good)

Of course, doing something like that has tons of risk. There's a more detailed guide here. (Just treat 7 as Vista).

*Personally, I would avoid all that hassle and just nuke everything and start again. Good luck!

[latrosicarius]

Well, he said he wants to install it on a separate drive, so you dont have to worry about all that.

• Just UNPLUG the Windows7 drive
• Plug in the drive u want to install XP on
• Install it on there
• Once done, plug both drives in
• On bootup, press DEL or F10 or whichever key gets into BIOS
• Go to Boot Priority section
• Re-order your drives so the XP drive is first or the Win7 drive is first, depending on which OS u want to boot into
• F10 to save settings and reboot, and the drive you selected with first priority will be booted

[watercooled]

I'm not really sure how you'd do it but you could use a bootloader like grub to simplify the booting process so you don't have to go into BIOS every time you want to switch OS. I'll have a check for you and post when I find out....

From what I've read you can use it for any OSes. The Wiki article is worth reading if you have the time, especially the 'Installation' section. You can download grub here: http://www.gnu.org/software/grub/

[lodore]

the eaisest way is to just install xp as normal and then use easybcd reinstall the vista bootloader and add the entrite that are needed.
all you do is tell it what OS and what drive letter is it on. then simply click on save.
when your start your pc you will have a choose of the two OS's
you can name them whatever you want.

[Zadock]

I've done something like this recently and I did it the way Singh suggested, so for me its a tried and tested method. Easy BCD is meant to be very good though.

[Singh400]

Well, he said he wants to install it on a separate drive, so you dont have to worry about all that.

I'm pretty sure he does. He wants the ability to boot into either OS. Which is done via the OS bootloader.

[latrosicarius]

I'm pretty sure he does. He wants the ability to boot into either OS. Which is done via the OS bootloader.

or by re-ordering boot drive priority in the bios, which takes 5 seconds. By not having to worry about "all that", I of course mean the hassle of finding the CD and reinstalling the vista bootloader.

[Singh400]

or by re-ordering boot drive priority in the bios, which takes 5 seconds. By not having to worry about "all that", I of course mean the hassle of finding the CD and reinstalling the vista bootloader.

Yes, but then you have to phaff about in the BIOS. Where as if you do it the proper and correct way, no phaffing about needed.