Windows 7: Dual Boot both windows 7 in same hard disk different partition

Hi everyone, I just created dual boot with both Windows 7 home edition and Windows 7 Professional 64-bit. Both windows also original license. I want to use another Windows 7 for testing purpose, but I don`t want to use virtual machine. After I installed the Windows 7 Professional, I able to see another partition windows 7 from My Computer. Is there any way to hide another partition from My Computer or disallow to access to it? If one of my Windows 7 got virus will it affect to another Windows 7 as it can access to another Windows partition?

Can you post a screen shot of Disk management?

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There's no good reason to hide the other OS partition, although it is done in Disk Mgmt by removing it's drive letter from view.

But it won't protect it any more or less, and the convenience of being able to transfer files makes it silly not to keep it accessible.

Any other reason?

Thanks for u all reply. The screen shoot as below. E: partition is for another windows 7.


I just want to keep it safe from virus as 1 of the OS is used for testing and easy to get virus.

If you wanted to hide the other OS then in Disk Mgmt you'd remove the drive letter E. But there's no good reason to do that unless it makes you feel better.

Be aware you have the boot files for both OS's on the Recovery partition, probably because that's how your OEM keeps it bootable too.

But if you don't want Recovery, ever want to recover its space and rely just on Recovery disks, or want to get rid of the bloated factory install altogether, we can show you how to absorb the System boot files into C, or even construct the 100mb System Reserved boot partition.

Or even better you can Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 while deleting all partitions except your new install which will then be configured during reinstall as a Dual Boot.

If you've already reinstalled to the first partition then you should test if Recovery will boot as it is very likely it won't after reinstall, so you can recover its space and the Windows 7 boot files into C if you want.

Well the best safeguard for that is to have a good antivirus and don`t download any garbage and scan everything before you open it.

But that is an excellent question and I don`t see why a virus won`t run rampat on any partition on your drive.

Is it good to keep the factory recovery as it can change back to factory mode anytime? is there anyway to protect another partition away from virus/,malware?

I saw some videos on how people uses backtrack to backdoor on windows. I`m bit concern on way to prevent it as well. As I thinking to use another Windows to try out all the software.

It`s totally up to you, personally I would wipe the drive and reinstall windows as soon as I got the pc home, but that`s just me. And you could also void a warranty by doing it.

Actually, I would pull the drive, put it in the drawer, buy a new one and install windows on it.

You should be using that unallocated 180 GB to backup your data if you have nowhere else to store it. Just a suggestion.

I would leave your recovery partition alone if you`re not tech savvy. It could save you in the future and it`s only 13 Gigs.

Why would another Windows allow you to try out any other software? I don't follow you. All versions are the same with a few extra expensive features unlocked in the upper versions which most consumers don't need.

I asked you if you have reinstalled the Windows 7 which came with the PC, as if you did the Recovery Partition might not run. But if you're unsure you should keep it in place. I would however try to generate my Recovery Disks if you haven't already, since you'll then know for sure the partition works and have a second backup method.

But keep in mind that the factory preinstalled Windows 7 is an inferior install crippled by the sponsored bloatware and duplicate utilities which interfere with and throttle Windows 7 from its native state. So that's why I showed you how to Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 if you decide you'd like the best install of all.

In my opinion the fears you've expressed are otherwise superstitious. It's good to know you're concerned and vigilant, but instead of coming up with plans to hide partitions from viruses, and install another OS version to use non-existant "software" you imagine it contains, why don't you ask us first?

This is what most tech enthusiasts do.

Doing a Clean Reinstall can only void your 1 year tech support warranty for as long as you have a Clean Reinstall, and only if you tell them that you did so which you do not need to do to get support. The support is also not that good and you'll get much better help here.

An OEM cannot void the hardware warranty as courts have repeatedly ruled. If you had to send it back for repairs you can always put the factory image back on it via the Recovery Disks or a backup image we recommend you make and save.

Excellent advice !!