Win7 and XP dual boot questions

Hi everyone.

This is my first time to do a build from ground up. I did skim through the installation threads but I cant seem to find ones that reflect my situation. I hope I can seek help here Im going for Home Premium 64 and XP pro SP1.

Which is better to install first, Win7 or XP? Will there be any benefit/consequences for installing which one first?

I have a 1TB HDD but I'm not sure how to allocate it. As of now heres how I intend to do: 100gb for Win7, 100gb for XP, 400gb Win7 apps, 400gb XP apps. I'm doing this in the assumption that one of the OS will 'hide' the others partition so I thought if I did the above, both OS can be happy or something. But should I bother this at all?

When to do the partitioning? During XP or Win7 install?

I cant foresee all the problems as of now, but Im taking steps so I can minimize my chances of botching up the installation. I might ask some more later on.

Thanks everyone... or anyone

I have been dual booting for the past few weeks. I'm not sure if there are any benefits to installing any particular OS first. I guess it just depends on what you would rather have run your boot controller from.

I had 7 installed first, then Windows XP added to a second partition. The only hiccup i encountered was having to run a repair install from the 7 disc to repair the boot loader. It only took about 10 minutes to fix, and all has been well since.

I'm not quite sure if I understood your question about each OS hiding the other OS's system partitions. I'm pretty sure they will all be visible in both 7 and XP.

Here's a useful tutorial to guide you along the way if you were unsure how to set up the dual boot.
Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and XP[2]=General Tips

Thanks Electrotune,

I read somewhere recently when one guy installed dual OS's, his Win7 (or was it his XP?) folder was accessible but empty when viewed in XP(or vice-versa). After reading that my paranoid switch went off. I can't find the thread anymore and nobody seems to be complaining about XP and win7 sharing folders together. Does that mean I can allocate the 1TB HDD this way?:

c:\Win7 = 100gb
d:\XP = 100gb
e:\data or storage = 800gb

I've checked your link above and it shows the installation prompts for manipulating partitions. Supposing I create 2 partitions for both OS's during Win7 install, will XP recognize this partition made by Win7?

Oh, by the way Electrotune, did you have problems with the AHCP/SATA when installing the XP? I'm already intending to slipstream the drivers, SP3 and others inside my XP SP1 just for that. Would you advice otherwise?

Thanks!

Have a read of those tutorials:
Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and XP
SATA Drivers - Load in Windows XP Setup on Dual Boot
SATA Drivers - Slipstream into Windows XP CD

Use EasyBCD 2.0 in Win 7 & Win XP.
EasyBCD 2.0 Beta Builds - The NeoSmart Forums

A bit more reading.
BCDEDIT - How to Use - Page 7 - Windows 7 Forums
https://www.sevenforums.com/installat...wont-boot.html
https://www.sevenforums.com/installat...ndows-7-a.html
https://www.sevenforums.com/installat...dual-boot.html
https://www.sevenforums.com/installat...ndows-7-a.html

Thanks Theog and Night Hawk!

I started another thread just now and it hit me. My ODD is SATA. So does that mean I cant even install XP in the first place?! I only read problems installing XP on SATA HDD, but not ODDs used to read the installer itself. No floppy drives btw... Yikes?

Fermion said:

Thanks Theog and Night Hawk!

I started another thread just now and it hit me. My ODD is SATA. So does that mean I cant even install XP in the first place?! I only read problems installing XP on SATA HDD, but not ODDs used to read the installer itself. No floppy drives btw... Yikes?

Best done with a floppy, but you do this:

SATA Drivers - Slipstream into Windows XP CD

https://www.sevenforums.com/installat...checklist.html
I would only slipstream the Sata Drivers.
SP1
SP2
All the drivers for hardware, Win XP & Win7