Windows 7: Installing XP and Win7 Ultimate on SSD

Hi,
I'm in the process of buying a SSD to install my OS on. I am getting a 60 GB one.
What I was going to do is Install Windows 7 Ultimate and my programms like Lightroom and Photoshop also Office and then keep any images and files from the software on a spinning drive. After purchasing the drive I decided it might be an idea to also have Win XP Pro on as some of my hardware like scanner does not have a driver for Windows 7. Will I get all this on the 60 GB SSD or should I have got a larger one.

Alan

Hello Alan282, welcome to Seven Forums!



Have a look at this excellent tutorial at the link below, it out-lines the method to use to move some of the larger folders/files during the install of Windows 7 to save space.

Be sure to post back with any further questions you may have and to keep us informed.


User Profiles - Create and Move During Windows 7 Installation

60 GB will be used up pretty quick. You might have a problem getting Win 7, XP, Photoshop and Office all on that. Install Win 7 see how much you have left. Then XP and see where you are on space. You might have to put the remaining programs somewhere else.

I would use the SSD for Windows 7 and its programs only. Install XP on a first partition on your other HD, placing both OS's User folders on another partition. User Folders - Change Default Location

Unplug the other HD when you do these installs, set the target HD as first HD to boot in BIOS setup.

After install, plug back in the other HD and boot it's OS via the one-time BIOS Boot Menu which every computer and mobo has:
Asus - F8
HP/Compaq - Esc
Sony - F2
Acer - F2
Gateway - F10
eMachnes - F10
Toshiba - F12
Dell - F12
IBM/Lenovo - the blue Thinkvantage button

No way I would do that. XP does not support Trim and will make a mess of the SSD slowing down the write speed by 50%.

Hi there

If you run the XP as a Virtual Machine -- IMO a better idea since you only want to run it for say your scanner etc -- then you don't need a separate partition and your XP Virtual Hard drive can be pretty small --around 5 GB and your VM only needs to be defined with a maximum of 512 MB RAM. Another advantage is that the VM can be started and stopped without shutting down your Windows 7 system.

Run vmware player or vbox -- both FREE for creating your Virtual Machine.

60 GB WILL be enough for the OS / photoshop etc -- I currently have ALL these applications and my C drive has used 25 GB out of 45 GB allocated to it.

The only problem I see with 60 GB is that you don't have room for expansion should you need it but if its MUCH cheaper then it will be OK.

It isn't much point having a larger one say 120 GB if you aren't going to use the extra space. If you DO get the larger drive of course you can allocate PHOTOSHOP Scratch disk space on SSD's and this WILL be a good idea.

Another advantage of having XP as a Virtual machine is that you don't run into TRIM performance problems on the SSD (XP doesn't support TRIM -- but as the I/O is handled by the HOST for the VM no probs).

Cheers
jimbo

Thanks all for your input. Well I stuck with the 60 GB SSD I did try installing Windows 7 and XP with my other programs but did not have enough room for everything. I noticed the HD that had the OS on before still has the system 10MB partition and it won't let me get rid of it.

One other thing was I supposed to partition the SSD if so what size would I need to make it. I am thinking of reinstalling it again on the SSD, do I just do format on it.

There was some really good ideas on how to do a install on the SSD especially like the idea of moving my User Profile as they grow in size all the time.
Virtual Machine sounds good to run my scanner too, is it easy to do?.

Once again thanks for all your help.

Alan

Hello again Alan.



It's always better to start with a completely clean slate to install Windows to; if there's nothing on the SSD you want to save, have a look at this tutorial at the link below; unless you want the default 100MB "System Reserved" boot partition use Step Two #1 to create a partition to install Windows 7 to and be sure to post back with any further questions you may have and to keep us informed.


SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation