Windows 7: [ASK]installing windows vista & seven in same partition

hi guys, i want to ask,,

before i used windows vista home basic, then i install again windows 7 professional (the one i use now)

but when i install the windows 7, i'm install it at the same partition with the windows vista..

i want to ask how to make it dual boot.. can it??

if cannot, can i delete the windows.old folder?? i mean, is it safe if i delete the folder windows.old (that contain my vista)??

Hi.

Yes it can, and this will show you how - Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and Vista

It is safe to delete, but just make sure you have backed up all your personal files first.

Windows.old Folder - Delete

If you installed Windows 7 on the previous Vista partition, then it overwrote Vista and placed Vista's files in windows.old.

In order to have a dual boot with Vista now, you will have to reinstall Vista to a new second partition.

Follow the steps given in tutorial linked above by FZ21Z.

You might also want to save the windows.old C:windows>system32>drivers file so you can browse there from the Device Manager after Vista reinstall if there are any missing drivers. Other drivers and apps can be found on the Support Downloads webpage for your computer model, the Adobe (flash, reader) and Java (runtime, free Ofc Suite) websites.

If you want to install both the OSs in the same partition, you may do it using vmware or virtual box. But to have a dual boot, th etwo Oss are to be installed in two different partitions.

yes guys, i mean i want to make my notebook dual boot but i already install both OS at the same partition.. now i'm using windows 7, the vista file at windows.old folder.. so, can i make it dual boot?? if i must install vista again, i don't have the CD with me.. because this vista is belong to the notebook when i bought.. so any solution??

1)This is the MS page that tells you how to restore vista from vista.old

How to restore a computer to a previous Windows installation after you install Windows Vista

You'll need to have a vista dvd but you should be able to use the Anytime upgrade disk or the Vista recovery disk which can be downloaded. It used to be there at the neosmart site.

2) If your computer came with vista preinstalled, you can also try downloading a vista install disk (beware of malware, though), then use the COA (sticker) key to activate. You'll have to call MS for that.

good advice, but dont forget to partition the drive first so you can dual boot

At first, download Partition Wizard to make a new partition, then go through the guidance of How to restore a Windows 7-based computer to a previous Windows installation by using the Windows.old folder , as Bill2 suggested, and you will need a Windows Vista Recovery Disc .

When vista is restored, run wnidows 7 installation disk from vista, and choose the new partition to install it ( you may read this also : Repair Install ; the installation process will be the same, except you are to install win 7 in a separate partition in your case.

After installation, dual boot menu will be created automatically.

The only thing I can add to these excellent suggestions:

After recovering Vista using windows.old folder, try first using Disk Management to shrink Vista partition as this is the safest way to shrink and will not fail whereas there is a slight chance of failure using a 3rd party Partition manager.

If it will not shrink enough, use Partition Wizard bootable CD for added safety. Back up your files first.

Hopefully Disk Management will shrink Vista partition sufficiently to make a suitably sized Windows 7 partition, which you can Create using Disk Mgmt, format and then install Windows 7 there by running DVD from Vista or booting the DVD.