Multi boot – is it worth having a tiny C drive for boot files only?

[Cuervo]

I have a dual boot with XP & Win7 RC1 (XP = partition 0, Win7 = partition 1, Data = partition 2) and when I used the Win7 backup utility it needed to backup the whole of the XP partition as well as Win7 because presumably there are some system files on there that are required.

I am now going to install XP and Win7 retail on a new HDD so wondered if it is worth creating a tiny partition 0 that will hold the boot files which then means that Win7 won’t need to include the XP partition when it makes a backup.
So the new setup would be:

Part 0 – Boot files – 100MB
Part 1 – XP – 100GB
Part 2 – Win7 – 100GB
Part 3 – Data – 1.x TB

Are there any downsides to doing it this way and do I need to do this to overcome the Win7 backup issue or is there another way?

[Singh400]

No, I think it is a waste of time doing that. I would just stick with:

• Partiton #1 --> Windows XP
• Partiton #2 --> Windows 7
• Partiton #3 --> Data

IIRC Windows 7 creates a small hidden partition to hold boot/system files anyway.

Can I ask why you need to keep XP and have you thought about using Windows XP Mode in Windows 7?

[Cuervo]

IIRC Windows 7 creates a small hidden partition to hold boot/system files anyway.

I don’t believe that is true as when I look at my drive using Disk Management there is no hidden partition showing.

[Singh400]

I don’t believe that is true as when I look at my drive using Disk Management there is no hidden partition showing.

Unless you installed Windows 7 differently, by default a hidden system partition is made.

[Fraz]

Save yourself the trouble, and just don't bother with XP

[watercooled]

Singh400 is correct: Windows 7 does make a 100MB partition, by default at least but it isn't assigned a drive letter so it won't show up in My Computer. Personally, I'd put Windows 7 at the edge (start) of the drive rather that XP as that part of the disk is faster and I'm assuming 7 is your main OS. Also depending on what you need XP for you could run it in a VM (or XP mode if you have 7 pro or higher).

[Fraz]

Personally, I'd put Windows 7 at the centre of the drive ... as that part of the disk is faster

Someone needs to re-take rotational mechanics 101.

[CaptainCrash]

I have a dual boot with XP & Win7 RC1 (XP = partition 0, Win7 = partition 1, Data = partition 2) and when I used the Win7 backup utility it needed to backup the whole of the XP partition as well as Win7 because presumably there are some system files on there that are required.

I am now going to install XP and Win7 retail on a new HDD so wondered if it is worth creating a tiny partition 0 that will hold the boot files which then means that Win7 won’t need to include the XP partition when it makes a backup.
So the new setup would be:

Part 0 – Boot files – 100MB
Part 1 – XP – 100GB
Part 2 – Win7 – 100GB
Part 3 – Data – 1.x TB

Are there any downsides to doing it this way and do I need to do this to overcome the Win7 backup issue or is there another way?

Win 7 will automatically create the 100MB boot partition on a blank hard drive, but if there's a pre-existing formatted partition *at the start of the drive* it will omit this step and create a folder called \RECOVERY in that partition instead. I guess in your case this would be your XP partition, hence why Win 7 wants to image the whole thing, in order to preserve your boot/recovery files.

I think the way you'd need to get around this on a new drive is:

1. Install XP first (you'd want to do this anyway, to avoid dual-boot complications). Create *three* partitions during XP setup (100GB/100GB/800GB, assuming a 1TB drive), delete the first one completely leaving 100GB empty space at the "front" of the drive, then install XP to the second partition (the third will be your shared data volume).

2. Run 7 setup, create a new partition in the empty space, install 7 to that (it should also create the 100MB boot/recovery partition at the beginning of this space).

I should add I've never actually tried this, so no guarantees, but I *think* it should work... at least with a blank hard drive you've only wasted a bit of time if it all goes pear-shaped.

Alternatively, you could make life much easier and run XP in a VM, unless you need the performance of a native hardware installation for some reason...

[watercooled]

Someone needs to re-take rotational mechanics 101.

D'oh! I meant the edge of the disk of course, but I did say the start which is correct. Edited to save confusion...

And I agree with CaptainCrash about the partitioning etc - that's the way I'd do it.

[Singh400]

Alternatively, you could make life much easier and run XP in a VM, unless you need the performance of a native hardware installation for some reason...

Ding ding ding. We have a winner. Windows XP Mode is the way forward here.

[Cuervo]

Unless you installed Windows 7 differently, by default a hidden system partition is made.

I have a multi-partition setup so I don’t have the hidden Win7 partition which ‘Disk Management’ confirms. It’s good to know about that though for future reference.

Personally, I'd put Windows 7 at the edge (start) of the drive rather that XP as that part of the disk is faster and I'm assuming 7 is your main OS.

The difference in performance between the first and second 60GB chunks of the drive will be negligible so I’m not going to let that unduly influence my decision.

[watercooled]

People seem to have overlooked/missed what I mentioned earlier (post 6)...

Also depending on what you need XP for you could run it in a VM (or XP mode if you have 7 pro or higher).

[Cuervo]

People seem to have overlooked/missed what I mentioned earlier (post 6)...

I ignored it because it doesn’t address the question that I asked but thanks for the suggestion anyway.

[watercooled]

Sorry that wasn't meant for you.

[Cuervo]

I think the way you'd need to get around this on a new drive is:

1. Install XP first (you'd want to do this anyway, to avoid dual-boot complications). Create *three* partitions during XP setup (100GB/100GB/800GB, assuming a 1TB drive), delete the first one completely leaving 100GB empty space at the "front" of the drive, then install XP to the second partition (the third will be your shared data volume).

2. Run 7 setup, create a new partition in the empty space, install 7 to that (it should also create the 100MB boot/recovery partition at the beginning of this space).

Thanks for the suggestion, it seems sound in theory and will probably give it a go tomorrow.