Dual-booting questions..

I currently have Windows 7 H-P 64-Bit installed on my Sony laptop. I want to install Windows XP on the same computer, and don't want the two OSs to really have anything to do with each other.

I was planning to follow this article. However, it mentions that XP will delete all of my restore points once it boots up. Reading this article only shows how to stop it from within XP, assuming it has already deleted the points.

My question is, is there any way to install XP as a second OS, and not have it delete all my 7 restore points first time it turns on?

Many thanks.

Thank you!

I was actually hoping to have both 32-bit and 64-bit native environments on one machine, as when I run something 32-bit on 7 (Like Opera), it takes up a giant amount of RAM. So I was hoping to run those sorts of programs in XP, but take advantage of 64-bit programs in 7.

Perhaps the trick is to prevent Windows XP from seeing 7, at least temporarily. Maybe make it a hidden partition or something of the sort?

EDIT: I also forgot to mention that I don't have the Pro edition, so I can't use XP mode. I also have only 2GB RAM (the laptop's max), so I can't use it efficiently anyways.

I see. I was planning to use GParted to make it "hidden". Will that work?

Opera eats up about 500mb upwards when I am in x64, however when I am on my 32-bit machine, under the same workload, it eats about 200 or so mb. I'm not really sure why. I do have a spare XP license from a broken computer, so in the least I want to use it instead of having it lie dormant.

You don't have enough RAM to run 64 bit. Need at least 4gb.

Try IE8 which is finally perfect in Win7, has better features and is rock solid stable. I got rid of the others.

The best way to Dual Boot is on separate HD's unplugged during other OS install.

As you have a laptop, next best would be to start up WIn7 after XP install by marking it active and running Startup Repair x3, then use EasyBCD 2.0 from Win7 to Add XP: accept offered boot files, autocompletes, Save, Restart.

I never liked IE's interface, and isn't Adobe Flash Player still incompatible with x64 browsers on Windows?

Microsoft says 2GB ram is enough to run 64-bit, and indeed it runs fine when Opera doesn't eat up all the RAM.

I don't understand how that method fixes the deleting restore points problem? Could you clarify please.

I have never heard of any case where someone would run 64 bit Win7 with 2gb RAM. Others may differ.

Configuring Multi Boot from Win7 is easier. EasyBCD 2.0 works better. You don't have to install Net Framework 2.0.

The restore points issue was supposedly solved by MS in beta, but other issues can crop up with a Multi Boot on same HD.

Be sure to let us know how it works for you.

Oh, I see; so the issue is not part of Windows 7 release? That clears things up, thanks :)!