Windows 7 installation doubt, plz clear it.

[yash]

Hello friends,
I am planning to install Windows 7. I have 5 partitions in my hard drive. C and D are having WinXP. And another partitions for data. And ya, one more for Ubuntu. Now I want to install Windows 7 in C which is currently having WinXP. I want to do a clean install. So all the data will be deleted from C. But the problem is that, my boot.ini file is in that partition. So when I would clean install Win7 in C, and then reboot, the Win XP in D won't show, as the older boot.ini would be replaced by Win7's.

So my doubt is can I just move my boot.ini file to my D drive ? And do I need to move any other files along with the boot.ini ? And if moving the file is solution then, will I be able to choose between Win7 (C drive), Win XP (D drive) and the last Ubuntu option ? or is there any other solution/method ?
I don't know the solution to the problem. help my friends. I want to see all my OSe's at the time of booting and choose any one of them. And I am least concerned about the Ubuntu option. I don't mind even if it gets formatted. But I want my D drive's XP to be safe. I want that I get atleast two options to choose between C drives all new Win7 and D drives XP.

 

[Tews]

Hi, and welcome to the forums!

Before you attempt the installation, I would look at Brinks tutorial on setting up a dual boot machine with Windows XP -=> here

Let us know if you need further help..http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/8057-dual-boot-installation-windows-7-xp.html?ltr=D

 

[yash]

@Tews. Thanks for the tutorial. Well my doubt is still not solved. What I want to know is that will my computer ask me to choose the OS as it does not. Right now, my OS asks me 3 choices. Out of which two are XP's and one is Ubuntu. As I am having ubuntu , right now the booting process will be handled by the GRUB (correct me if i am wrong).. And when I install Win7, the GRUB will be replaced by the Win7's booting method. So what I want to know is that will I be able to see the other OS of my D drive ? And if no, then what should I do so that it shows the XP of D drive and if possible, even the Ubuntu ? Or do I need to install Easy BCD in Win7 ?

 

[Coolness]

No, if you install win 7 in C, you will not be able to see win xp, or ubuntu. The easiest way is to first install the windows(s) and then ubuntu, which will then install GRUB, and thus give you the choice of the 3 OS's. If you dont want to format anything, it will get very difficult, as you will have to install win7, then install GRUB. Check out this tutorial on that: How to install Grub from a live Ubuntu cd. - Ubuntu Forums

 

[gregrocker]

You need to uninstall the GRUB before installing Win7, then reinstall afterwards.

I would delete and format Ubuntu, make sure no drives except XP are marked active (data ideally should be Logical) then install Win7 to primary formatted partition. As last installed OS it should correctly configure the Dual Boot Menu updating the MBR in XP.

Now spend some time with Win7 to see its performance in that setting. Decide later if you really want the trouble of Ubuntu reinstall. Follow tutorials from Ubuntu to correctly configure GRUB to take control of boot menu.

If you have any questions during process, post back here a screenshot of your full Disk management map using Snipping tool in Start Menu, attach file using paper clip in reply box.

 

[Coolness]

You need to uninstall the GRUB before installing Win7, then reinstall afterwards.

I would delete and format Ubuntu, make sure no drives except XP are marked active (data ideally should be Logical) then install Win7 to primary formatted partition. As last installed OS it should correctly configure the Dual Boot Menu updating the MBR in XP.

Now spend some time with Win7 to see its performance in that setting. Decide later if you really want the trouble of Ubuntu reinstall. Follow tutorials from Ubuntu to correctly configure GRUB to take control of boot menu.

If you have any questions during process, post back here a screenshot of your full Disk management map using Snipping tool in Start Menu, attach file using paper clip in reply box.

No you dont have to uninstall GRUB when installing win 7. When you install Windows, it will automatically hide the GRUB/replace it with MBR. If you first formatted the ubuntu partiton, you can after installing Windows(s) install ubuntu back very easily.
And i disapprove the way you practically told him to get rid of Ubuntu.
Peace
And Happy Xmas!

 

[gregrocker]

You need to uninstall the GRUB before installing Win7, then reinstall afterwards.

I would delete and format Ubuntu, make sure no drives except XP are marked active (data ideally should be Logical) then install Win7 to primary formatted partition. As last installed OS it should correctly configure the Dual Boot Menu updating the MBR in XP.

Now spend some time with Win7 to see its performance in that setting. Decide later if you really want the trouble of Ubuntu reinstall. Follow tutorials from Ubuntu to correctly configure GRUB to take control of boot menu.

If you have any questions during process, post back here a screenshot of your full Disk management map using Snipping tool in Start Menu, attach file using paper clip in reply box.

No you dont have to uninstall GRUB when installing win 7. When you install Windows, it will automatically hide the GRUB/replace it with MBR. If you first formatted the ubuntu partiton, you can after installing Windows(s) install ubuntu back very easily.
And i disapprove the way you practically told him to get rid of Ubuntu.
Peace
And Happy Xmas!

Sorry, this is a Win7 Installers forum and some of us tend to give short shrift to hurdles to smooth installation of Win7. Ubuntu and RAID are two that present problems here every day.

I had about enough time to read the top Google result on Ubuntu dual booting which gave me the information I passed along above. Thank you for correcting it.

And a peaceful Happy holidaze backatcha

 

[Coolness]

You need to uninstall the GRUB before installing Win7, then reinstall afterwards.

I would delete and format Ubuntu, make sure no drives except XP are marked active (data ideally should be Logical) then install Win7 to primary formatted partition. As last installed OS it should correctly configure the Dual Boot Menu updating the MBR in XP.

Now spend some time with Win7 to see its performance in that setting. Decide later if you really want the trouble of Ubuntu reinstall. Follow tutorials from Ubuntu to correctly configure GRUB to take control of boot menu.

If you have any questions during process, post back here a screenshot of your full Disk management map using Snipping tool in Start Menu, attach file using paper clip in reply box.

No you dont have to uninstall GRUB when installing win 7. When you install Windows, it will automatically hide the GRUB/replace it with MBR. If you first formatted the ubuntu partiton, you can after installing Windows(s) install ubuntu back very easily.
And i disapprove the way you practically told him to get rid of Ubuntu.
Peace
And Happy Xmas!

Sorry, this is a Win7 Installers forum and there tends to be short shrift given to hurdles to smooth installation of Win7. Ubuntu and RAID are two that present problems here every day.

I had about enough time to read the top Google result on Ubuntu dual booting which gave me the information I passed along above. Thank you for correcting it.

And a peaceful Happy holidaze backatcha

No problem man. You have quite the reputation over here as being the best in installation problems, am i correct? You must like anwser a hundred posts a day, so i dont blame you.
peace, see ya.

 

[yash]

Hello friends,
I installed win7 and then I couldn't find any entries at boot time. It directly gets into win7. :-(
I also installed Easy BCD hoping it would get me back the entries to my drive D's XP. But now when i boot it shows me Microsoft windows entry (the one which i entered in EasyBCD) and another entry of win7. Win7 works perfectly, but the another entry of D's XP doesn't work. It shows me a blank screen and before that it gives a msg 4 a few seconds saying "C:\boot.ini invalid". And then a blank screen.

What should i do now? And suggestions so that i can boot back to my D drives winXP and also the C drives all new Win7?

 

[yash]

Also note that my new win7 partition is now NTFS. Previously it was FAT. And all other partitions, except Ubuntu (obvious), are FAT including the D drives winXP.

 

[Tews]

NTFS is the default files system for Windows 7

 

[yash]

@tews. Ya ok it's the default for win7. But my dear friend now m more concerned about the solution 2 my problem.

 

[Coolness]

@tews. Ya ok it's the default for win7. But my dear friend now m more concerned about the solution 2 my problem.

As i said, if you now install ubuntu, all your problems will go away. So, chob chob, go install!

 

[yash]

@tews. Ya ok it's the default for win7. But my dear friend now m more concerned about the solution 2 my problem.

As i said, if you now install ubuntu, all your problems will go away. So, chob chob, go install!

ok so u say that i install ubuntu again in the same partition where it is currently installed. I hope it solves my problem. Hope it recognises all other OSes i.e. C drives win7 & D's XP.

 

[Coolness]

@tews. Ya ok it's the default for win7. But my dear friend now m more concerned about the solution 2 my problem.

As i said, if you now install ubuntu, all your problems will go away. So, chob chob, go install!

ok so u say that i install ubuntu again in the same partition where it is currently installed. I hope it solves my problem. Hope it recognises all other OSes i.e. C drives win7 & D's XP.

Thats correct. Post uf theres any problems

 

[gregrocker]

If you are still trying to add XP partitions which might have been blocked from correct Boot Menu config by the GRUB, try EasyBCD 2.0 beta which is automated. View attachment 43500

Add the XP partitions on the Add/Remove tab. It will prompt to add boot files which you should accept.

There is also an Ubuntu tab in the Add/Remove tab but I'm not sure how it works.

 

[yash]

Now this my disk management screen shot. the 15GB partition is the Ubuntu. and the other two are unsued one's of a few MB's. Don't know what are they for. And now m trying to install ubuntu again in the 15 GB partition as suggested by @coolness.

I posted this as any of the members can get some idea and give some another suggestions if possible. Otherwise the last resort is to replace the ubuntu again.

And ya, Merry Christmas guys.... Enjoy.... And thank u all those who have helped me..... Waiting for some finaly inputs from u guys....

 

[yash]

If you are still trying to add XP partitions which might have been blocked from correct Boot Menu config by the GRUM, try EasyBCD 2.0 beta which is automated. View attachment 43500

Add the XP partitions on the Add/Remove tab. It will prompt to add boot files which you should accept.

There is also an Ubuntu tab in the Add/Remove tab but I'm not sure how it works.

@gregrocker. Thank u dear friend. EasyBCD 2.0 beta did the thing. I got my D drives winXP back. The earlier stable version of EasyBCD didn't do this automatically. I was just thinking of reinstalling ubuntu to get my all entries back. But before that i tried this new beta version and it did it. However, i haven't tried to add Ubuntu,but i think it'll do it. And even if it doesn't, i don't care 4 it.

And my thanks to @coolness & @tews too. I owe a treat to all of u. Thanks 4 the inputs.

 

[Coolness]

If you are still trying to add XP partitions which might have been blocked from correct Boot Menu config by the GRUM, try EasyBCD 2.0 beta which is automated. View attachment 43500

Add the XP partitions on the Add/Remove tab. It will prompt to add boot files which you should accept.

There is also an Ubuntu tab in the Add/Remove tab but I'm not sure how it works.

@gregrocker. Thank u dear friend. EasyBCD 2.0 beta did the thing. I got my D drives winXP back. The earlier stable version of EasyBCD didn't do this automatically. I was just thinking of reinstalling ubuntu to get my all entries back. But before that i tried this new beta version and it did it. However, i haven't tried to add Ubuntu,but i think it'll do it. And even if it doesn't, i don't care 4 it.

And my thanks to @coolness & @tews too. I owe a treat to all of u. Thanks 4 the inputs.

Youre welcome m8, and i hope you install and use ubuntu, cause open-source software FTW

 

[gregrocker]

If you are still trying to add XP partitions which might have been blocked from correct Boot Menu config by the GRUB, try EasyBCD 2.0 beta which is automated. View attachment 43500

Add the XP partitions on the Add/Remove tab. It will prompt to add boot files which you should accept.

There is also an Ubuntu tab in the Add/Remove tab but I'm not sure how it works.

@gregrocker. Thank u dear friend. EasyBCD 2.0 beta did the thing. I got my D drives winXP back. The earlier stable version of EasyBCD didn't do this automatically. I was just thinking of reinstalling ubuntu to get my all entries back. But before that i tried this new beta version and it did it. However, i haven't tried to add Ubuntu,but i think it'll do it. And even if it doesn't, i don't care 4 it.

And my thanks to @coolness & @tews too. I owe a treat to all of u. Thanks 4 the inputs.

May I suggest you create a Win7 backup image (stored externally) before attempting to add Ubuntu using EasyBCD as I have no idea how it will work.

Then you have an easy path back to the working Multi-boot you have now. In fact, keeping a Backup Image of your ideal installation means you never have to reinstall again and have the ability to recover in 15 minutes.