partion windows 7 hard drive

2lexec · 01 Sep 2012

i know nowt about pc's

I have a new pc with windows 7 on it and it seems it will not run some of my old programs such as Corel Draw 6 and Visual Basic 5, both over 10 years old.

It has been suggested that I partion my hard drive and load windows xp, Corel Draw and Visual Basic as well as Office 2003 onto this new partion. I can then boot my pc from either windows 7 or XP.

This is not ideal but i could live with it.
Would it be possble to load these programs onto an external usb hard drive and run the programs off the other hard drive via a usb port?

Can this be done with out unloading the sofware already on my pc?
In geat detail how would I go about creating a partion and what are the dangers

thanks
2lexec

bigmck · 01 Sep 2012

2lexec said:

i know nowt about pc's

I have a new pc with windows 7 on it and it seems it will not run some of my old programs such as Corel Draw 6 and Visual Basic 5, both over 10 years old.

It has been suggested that I partion my hard drive and load windows xp, Corel Draw and Visual Basic as well as Office 2003 onto this new partion. I can then boot my pc from either windows 7 or XP.

This is not ideal but i could live with it.
Would it be possble to load these programs onto an external usb hard drive and run the programs off the other hard drive via a usb port?

Can this be done with out unloading the sofware already on my pc?
In geat detail how would I go about creating a partion and what are the dangers

thanks
2lexec

Win 7 will run Office 2003. I have it on mine. The other programs, I am not familiar with.

gregrocker · 01 Sep 2012

I believe you can install Office 2003 to Win7. I've done it myself.

You can also virtualize XP in Win7 using freeware like VMWare, Vitual Box or XP mode.

This is much easier than a Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and XP
since newer hardware often requires slipstreaming the SATA drivers into the XP CD, XP takes over the boot from Win7 and sometimes doesn't want to give it back without a struggle.

whs · 01 Sep 2012

1. Just a warning - before you start partitioning your disk, post a picture of your Disk Management. You may have 4 primary partition and thus no valid option to create an additional partition.

2. Dual booting XP is a real pain. Go with Greg's suggestion and run it from Virtual Box. That is easy and elegant.

3. There are options to run XP from a USB stick. But that is probably only valid if you have a fast USB3 stick and a USB3 port. Here is an example of a neat option.

2lexec · 01 Sep 2012

Thanks for the replies.
can I have office 2003 and 2007 on the pc at the same time?

This was a bit over my head, sorry.
You can also virtualize XP in Windows 7 using freeware like VMWare, Vitual Box or XP mode.
Can you explain a bit more please?

disc management, how do i find this? I have had a look but not found anything called disc management. I do seem to have a C and D drive.

thanks
2lexec

bigmck · 01 Sep 2012

2lexec said:

Thanks for the replies.
can I have office 2003 and 2007 on the pc at the same time?

thanks
2lexec

You do not need both 2003 and 2007. Install Office 2007 as it is the newer one. -- To find Disk Management, click on the round Windows button at the left bottom of your screen. Just above the button type == Disk Management == (without the equal marks) and hit enter. It will popup on your screen. Expand it so we can see all columns. Post a screenshot of it using your Snipping Tool. This tutorial will tell you how.
Screenshots and Files - Upload and Post in Seven Forums

Bare Foot Kid · 01 Sep 2012

I have installed Office 2003 on Windows 7 and it ran just fine.

2lexec · 01 Sep 2012

ok should have uploaded a word document with a screen shot.

office 2003 and do things that 2007 cant, hence needing both

bigmck · 01 Sep 2012

Not sure what you were trying to upload, but it didn't work. See the tutorial in my last message.

Alejandro85 · 01 Sep 2012

I have run VB 6 with little problems on Win7, however the installation if somewhat complicated in a few cases, but works and is fully functional, as well as the programs it builds.

Offce 2003 works perfectly too. But just a question, why want to use it if you already have 2007? Or why install 2007 is you're using 2003? Preferably, choose one and stick with that alone.

No idea about Corel Draw 6.