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Win 7/Win XP/Ubuntu Linux Tri-boot
Win 7/Win XP/Ubuntu Linux Tri-boot
I have a PC that is currently a dual boot between Windows 7 Ultimate and Ubuntu Linux 8.04 (Hardy Heron). The two operating systems are on separate physical drives. Ubunutu is on the PC’s original 250 gig drive (the primary) and Win 7 is on a 1 TB Seagate internal drive that I added later (the slave).
I already discussed dual booting with Ubuntu and Win 7 on a Linux forum. I installed each OS completely independently of the other. I installed Ubuntu first without the other drive installed. I later disconnected the 250 GB primary drive and installed Windows 7 to the 1 TB drive as if Ubuntu were not even present on the PC. Later I reconnected and edited a file known as menu.lst in Ubuntu’s feature known as “Grub”. Grub looks at the file and gives me the choice of Windows 7 or Ubuntu when I boot up.
Now it’s a long story, but I need to add Windows XP to my choices. I’m told on the Ubuntu forum that I can temporarily disconnect the Ubuntu drive and set up XP on the 1 TB drive as a dual boot with Bootloader handling the choice between Win 7 and XP. The idea is to get it running right and later reconnect the Ubuntu drive. Grub will give me the choice between Ubuntu and Windows; then if I choose Windows, Bootloader will give me the choice between Win 7 and XP. I could live with that.
So the Ubuntu drive is disconnected. We don’t have to worry about that in this thread. If I have any trouble with Grub, I’ll address it on the Linux board.
I’ve found Sevenforums’ guide to setting up a Win 7/Win XP dual boot:
Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and XP
I notice in the instructions, it says you need to load SATA drivers during the XP install if you have a SATA drive because otherwise the XP install program will not find the drive you want to install XP on if 7 is already installed. However, I began XP’s install program, and it appears to be finding my drives just fine. I’ve partitioned 80 gig for XP with a utility known as EaseUS Partitioner and labeled it Drive X in Win 7. The Win XP installer found it just fine, as it did my C drive. Here’s what I’m seeing:
It’s the drive that the XP installer has labeled G: Partition2. “Win XP” is the label I gave it in the partition utility. You’ll see directly above it Partition1 that 7 is installed on, the one I want to keep 7 on. I can also see that the XP installer has found my thumb drives. “Drive I: Partition1 (Toshiba)” is one. If need be I could use that to store the SATA drivers. (The instructions talk about storing those drivers on a floppy. What’s a floppy? My PC does not have a floppy drive.)
So what’s the verdict? Am I okay to proceed with the install of XP without bothering with SATA drivers or do I need to make them accessible on my Toshiba thumb drive? My DVD drive is occupied by my XP install disk.