Question on preparing 2 hard drives for dual-boot

Hi,
I just have a question regarding installation of Windows 7 to dual boot with XP.
Am planning on doing a clean install on two new SATA hard drives. Will first attach one drive and partition and format it when I install XP.
Should I then go ahead and attach the second drive and partition and format it using XP before I start my installation of Windows 7?
Or, would it be better to attach the second drive and then partition and format it when I install Windows 7?

Am thinking that the second approach would be better.

By the way, this forum is a great resource. Thanks to those who set it up and participate here.

Ahab said:

Am thinking that the second approach would be better.

Yes that is what I would do.

sup3rsprt said:

Ahab said:

Am thinking that the second approach would be better.

Yes that is what I would do.

This is how I would do it. Just remeber to either disconnect your first drive, or select the right one in your bios before setting to boot from CD. It's just easier to disconnect the first drive IMO. Fabe

The approach that allows 7 to partition and format the second drive has the advantages of providing the 100MB recovery partition and automatically setting up the dual boot (which both processes will do).

thefabe said:

sup3rsprt said:

Ahab said:

Am thinking that the second approach would be better.

Yes that is what I would do.

This is how I would do it. Just remeber to either disconnect your first drive, or select the right one in your bios before setting to boot from CD. It's just easier to disconnect the first drive IMO. Fabe

Wouldn't I need to have the first drive connected for Windows 7 to set up correctly for a dual-boot?

Ex_Brit said:

Yes and a hint...install Windows 7 while logged into XP using the Advanced option that the installer will offer. That way you'll be sure to preserve drive letters the way you want them and the dual boot will be assured.

I never would have thought of that. Thanks for the tip.

Does Windows 7 carry anything over from XP when done that way, or is it the same as doing a clean install?

Ex_Brit said:

Ahab said:

Ex_Brit said:

Yes and a hint...install Windows 7 while logged into XP using the Advanced option that the installer will offer. That way you'll be sure to preserve drive letters the way you want them and the dual boot will be assured.

I never would have thought of that. Thanks for the tip.

Does Windows 7 carry anything over from XP when done that way, or is it the same as doing a clean install?

To your previous question - both drives would have to be installed of course.

No nothing of XP would be carried over. It's exactly the same as a clean install except this way you stop Windows from reassigning strange drive letters to everything in Windows 7...more or less. Optical drives may have to be re-lettered, but that's easy enough and always happens anyway.

Thanks. I'll give it a try when I get Windows 7 on Thursday.