Windows 7: Partition Questions

Hey!

You guys may or may not know me, I haven't been here in a while!

Anyways I've used windows xp happily for years, but I want to make the switch from windows 7 being in a slow, sluggish, crappy virtual pc to being setup as a dual boot. I've never set this up before so I have a few questions.

Firstly I've been trying to use gparted, but its not working. I know how set up an iso for burning and all, thats not the problem. Yes my computer is set to boot from cd first, I know that! But I don't understand why its not working.. Anyways for those that have used it, I've heard that you keep all your files on the hard disc when partitioning? Is this a load of crap? Or do you really? And if I can't get this to work what other program should I use?

Secondly whats the best way to back everything up. I did a complete backup using the backup utility, but at the end it said something about it could make an ASR because I don't have a Floppy Disc. I read online that all that does is help me boot the computer right into the backup incase something major goes wrong. If I ignore this then I will just have to install XP again and then back everything up?

Thanks muchly for the help!

did you read the tutorials section? I think there is a guide just for you in the D section. Starts with "Dual boot Windows XP and Windows 7" or something like that. If you have enough space, you can shrink your XP partition in order to create a Windows 7 partition. Then you just install Windows 7 on it.

[by Lanthus20;229220]Hey!

You guys may or may not know me, I haven't been here in a while!
No, I do not know you but that makes no diff to me.

Anyways I've used windows xp happily for years, but I want to make the switch from windows 7 being in a slow, sluggish, crappy virtual pc to being setup as a dual boot. I've never set this up before so I have a few questions.

Firstly I've been trying to use gparted, but its not working.
I change all my partitions - increase or decrease by Acronis Disk Suite I know how set up an iso for burning and all, thats not the problem. Yes my computer is set to boot from cd first, I know that! But I don't understand why its not working
...First the CD-DVD must be bootable for it to work.
...second open the CD or DVD using Ultraiso and it will tell you if bootable or not. Anyways for those that have used it, I've heard that you keep all your files on the hard disc when partitioning? Is this a load of crap? Or do you really? And if I can't get this to work what other program should I use?

Secondly whats the best way to back everything up.
I use Acronis True Home Image to make my Backups.) I did a complete backup using the backup utility, but at the end it said something about it could make an ASR because I don't have a Floppy Disc. I read online that all that does is help me boot the computer right into the backup incase something major goes wrong. If I ignore this then I will just have to install XP again and then back everything up?
Really you should make a complete backup first, then you would not have to install (yuk puke) XP again.

Thanks muchly for the help!

Any time , I do hope this helps.

Thanks for all the help! I finished it and am now running windows 7!!