Windows 7 - Dual Boot Question

I want to setup a dual-boot with Windows 7 1st and WinXP 2nd for a friend. But the complications are that his new computer has no pata drive capability, he has software on his old computer's pata hdd but doesn't have the installation discs and he can't afford to buy a new Sata hdd. He also wants to learn Windows 7 at his own pace while using WinXp for school and work.

To solve his problem, I can create a new partition on the new computer's hdd and I can clone his old pata hdd to the new partition.

The question is what steps should I take in order to be able to dual-boot?

Thanks in advance;

Stan

Have you cloned the XP onto new HD yet to see if it works? There might be complications with the PATA format. You always have the old computer to fall back to for XP.

If you get it up and performing as he wants, then follow Method One in this tutorial. Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and XP

It shows how to use Diskpart to create the second partition from XP. Or you can use a 3rd party partition manager like free Partition Wizard (the disk is great to have around).

Then boot from the Windows 7 DVD and use Custom Advanced drive tools to format before install. Windows 7 will create the dual Boot Menu.

Thanks, gregrocker. I forgot to mention that the new computer was a Dell desktop and came with Windows 7 already installed. Therefore, the 2nd partitiion will be for WinXP. The pata drive will be removed from the old computer and placed in an enclosure in order to clone it.

Method 2 or a variant seems to be the best way to complete the dual boot. Do you agree?

Stan

Yes if XP is installed last.

You might even try copying XP from external to second part using Partition manager like PWizard. It doesn't need the MBR copied.

If that PATA formatting isn't compatible then I am not sure even XP repair install will help, though that is required to get a copied/cloned XP running on different hardware.

I just did this last week after cloning XP to another machine using Acronis. Hope you have the XP installer to repair install; needs to be same version SP or slipstreamed, and same retail/OEM or they can be emulated with file edits.