Clean install over dual boot XP's with Ubuntu

Your problem is not Windows, it is installing Linux.

Did some research, and from what I have read, Windows 7, installed after XP will add XP to it's boot manager. It will not recognize Linux. However, if XP and Windows 7 are already installed, installing Linux (Ubuntu) last, it will recognize both Windows and add them to it's grub (boot loader). This would leave it as I have it now with 2 XP's installed. It first goes to the Linux bootloader which has the Windows selection on it. Selecting Windows from here, takes you to the Windows boot loader where you can select either of my XP's. Seeing that Windows does NOT recognize Linux, but Linux DOES recognize Windows, that the problem isn't Linux, it is Windows. Obviously this is why gregrocker advised that I have to disconnect the drive with Linux and install Win 7 on the drive with XP. I can then reconnect the Linux drive and boot it from the BIOS Load Key, rather than have it, more conveniently, in the boot menus? Am I wrong?

You can only do that before installing Linux, not after.
You have already install linux.

theog,

That is my problem. I can install Ubuntu last and it will handle previous boots of both Windows, if already installed. Windows however, will not handle existing Windows and Linux installs, if installed last. This is my frustration with Windows, not recognizing both my existing XP and existing Ubuntu and handling the boot up menus on both, where Ubuntu will. Consequently, Ubuntu has to be installed last, in order to have all 3 included in a boot menu sequence. Windows totally ignores anything but other Windows.

I would gladly uninstall Ubuntu, install Win 7 over my alt. XP, and then reinstall Ubuntu, however I have highly customized Linux to include a LAMP (Apache, Linux, MySql) as a backup to my LAMP on my working XP (C:), along with so may other customizations, that it would require a frustrating amount of time to recreate.

Having used Windows from 3.1 to XP, I want to stay with Windows customizing newer versions first towards a working OS, while also testing Ubuntu, but if I cannot readily just replace an existing version of Windows, or install a newer version, without messing up my Ubuntu, I cannot continue with Windows, until that option is included.

I run a Linux PC, but I would never dual boot Linux, as it does so much damage to windows.
Windows will not damage Linux.

theog,

You run a Linux PC. Do you also have Windows with dual boot? If so, how do you boot Linux? I assume that when booting up, the Windows boot.ini (Manager for Win7), appears first to boot into either Windows. Then I also assume something separate is used to boot Linux? Gregrocker mentioned a one-time special BIOS key can be used (other than the one to enter the BIOS). Never knew this was available, but found mine is the F8 key. Not sure how to utilize this key though.

Anyway, would appreciate your suggestions on getting my system setup for Windows XP/Win7 and Ubuntu. My main drive if 500GB, which contains my working XP (C:). My second drive is 120GB which contains my alternate XP and Ubuntu. I have 430GB free on my main drive.

As Gregrocker suggested, would you install Win7 on my main drive (along with my working XP (C:)), to set up Win7 boot Manager with my working XP? I read somewhere that Win7 takes over the C: partition, which if true, I have no idea what this would do to my working XP OS, currently using C:? Should I uninstall my secondary XP first on my 2nd drive so that the Win7 install doesn't see it, or probably just disconnect that drive anyway so it doesn't see Ubuntu either?

Anyway, any thoughts on how you would handle this, would really be appreciated.

Thanks again,

theog said:

I run a Linux PC, but I would never dual boot Linux, as it does so much damage to windows.
Windows will not damage Linux.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314458

First, don't want to remove Linux, and second don't want to install XP, but Win7 along with an existing XP. That link wasn't much help. Also, didn't say anything about booting Linux, if Windows dual boot also installed. Never mind, will search elsewhere...

gregrocker,
I have done a lot more research, and now understand better what you were saying in your #9 comment. I was totally confused before this. If I can confirm what you said....
1. I have over 400GB of room on my master hard drive that now contains my working XP (C:), so obviously this is plenty of room for Win7?
2. As the MBR first loads GRUB, if I disconnect the slave drive (with Ubuntu and XP(2)), and then install Win 7 on a partition on the master drive, it will rewrite the MBR to dual boot just my working XP and the new Win7, eliminating GRUB from the MBR?
3. Then reconnecting the slave drive with Ununtu and XP(2), I can then load Ubuntu by hitting my BIOS key (I assume this is my F8 BBS key) during boot (instead of my DEL key to load the BIOS). I can then uninstall my XP(2), freeing up that space on my slave drive?

If all of this is correct, can you confirm just how the BIOS key works? I did try it and it displayed a selectable list of all the partitions. I assume that I just select the partition with Ubuntu, and it will "Find" and load GRUB where I can then load Ubuntu? Considering GRUB will still have the Windows selection on it (for boot.ini), I assume it will no longer "see" the new Win7 boot manager, as it did XP's boot.ini? I assume I should remove this entry on GRUB, or at least change the default on GRUB to Ubuntu (instead of the Windows selection as it is now set for)?

I really appreciate your input on this, as I am very anxious on not messing up my PC, especially my working XP that I use heavily.

Regards,

gregrocker,
To my reply above, it just came to me. If I disconnect my slave drive with Ubuntu, that I will not be able to boot to Windows, through GRUB which I assume is on the Ubuntu partition? To load Win7, should I instead boot up with the Win7 install CD, where I can then install it to a partition on the master drive? I don't think it would be good to boot up to XP first and then disconnect the slave drive with the PC running, or order to install Win7, from within XP??