Adding a SSD to XP Machine and loading W7 Dual boot

[Greykiller]

Did a search of the forums and could not see this question answered.

I have a copy of Win7 ultimate. I have a pc with multiple hard drives, running xp. I have a 32 Gig SSD (OC).

What I want to do is put Win7 on the SSD, and then run dual boot so that I can still use the XP operating system.

What procedure should I follow for this situation?

Technical level is fairly high but am new to trying a dual boot.

TIA!

 

[RiverCamp]

This is what i did. Maybe it will help. I installed 2 HDD's C: and D: Then installed win 7 on the C:/ and then installed XP on the D:/ . There are a few steps to take after the install of XP, so you can dual boot. I would use the SSD for drive C:/ Windows 7. You can always add a 3rd bigger HDD for games and apps. This may not be what you want to do, but i thought it may help.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello Greykiller, welcome to Seven Forums!





Have a look at the info below, be sure to post back with any further questions and to keep us informed.

   Information

The easiest way to do away with boot issues between 2 separate Windows OSs is to use the BIOS one time boot menu to select which OS to boot at system startup.

If you have 2 separate Hard Disk Drives (HDD) and have one or the other installed to one HDD and you want to install the other; disconnect the HDD with the first OS installed on it and leave the HDD you want to install the second OS to connected.

Install the OS to the connected HDD and when complete and the system is booting good, power down and reconnect the second HDD with the first OS on it.

This way the OSs will boot independently of each other and there will be no boot conflicts between the 2 separate OSs to have to sort later.

​

 

[Greykiller]

Rubbing eyes in disbelief

Is this post really saying I would have to move a cable from one hard drive to the next to use the other operating system?

Come on...

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

No, first you have the BIOS set to boot the HDD / OS you want as default and if you want to start the other OS you use the BIOS one-time boot menu to select that HDD / OS to start when the PC is started.

Here is the one-time boot menu that I get at system start-up, each motherboard has an individual hot-key to tap during start-up to access a similar menu.


Mine is to continually tap the F8 key at start-up.

click to enlarge

​

 

[whs]

What Bare Foot Kid recommends is the very best approach. I am running Vista and Windows7 side by side with that approach since a year on a couple of systems. Nothing easier and more trouble free.
Switching between the systems via the BIOS boot sequence is childs play and very fast. Do not fall into the trap of a real double boot with all the problems that can occur - especially with the MBR.

 

[Greykiller]

No, first you have the BIOS set to boot the HDD / OS you want as default and if you want to start the other OS you use the BIOS one-time boot menu to select that HDD / OS to start when the PC is started.

Here is the one-time boot menu that I get at system start-up, each motherboard has an individual hot-key to tap during start-up to access a similar menu.


Mine is to continually tap the F8 key at start-up.

click to enlarge
View attachment 100904
​

So I go into the boot sequence and select the XP drive to boot...that will not do anything to the Win7 drive? I thought there was some issue with XP doing something to the Win7 mbr...

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Please read this again, you install the second Operating System (OS) to the second Hard Disk Drive (HDD/SSD) with the first OS / HDD disconnected.

Doing the second install this way does away with ALL the common boot issues.

Hello Greykiller, welcome to Seven Forums!

Have a look at the info below, be sure to post back with any further questions and to keep us informed.

   Information

The easiest way to do away with boot issues between 2 separate Windows OSs is to use the BIOS one time boot menu to select which OS to boot at system startup.

If you have 2 separate Hard Disk Drives (HDD) and have one or the other installed to one HDD and you want to install the other; disconnect the HDD with the first OS installed on it and leave the HDD you want to install the second OS to connected.

Install the OS to the connected HDD and when complete and the system is booting good, power down and reconnect the second HDD with the first OS on it.

This way the OSs will boot independently of each other and there will be no boot conflicts between the 2 separate OSs to have to sort later.

​

 

[Greykiller]

This is what i did. Maybe it will help. I installed 2 HDD's C: and D: Then installed win 7 on the C:/ and then installed XP on the D:/ . There are a few steps to take after the install of XP, so you can dual boot. I would use the SSD for drive C:/ Windows 7. You can always add a 3rd bigger HDD for games and apps. This may not be what you want to do, but i thought it may help.

I have XP on C already.
D and E are my Burners
F,G,H,I,J,K and M are storage drives.

So, I am thinking that I map d to N, then install the SSD as D. Unhook C, load Win7 on D, then choose my boot drive by going thru boot sequence.

Better than my last solution. I actually set up my hard drives on switches--I could choose between Linux, XP and Vista simply by toggling the switches on the machine, and then powering up.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Same out-come, you were "connecting" which HDD to boot; this is much easier, you use the PC BIOS to select which OS to boot.

... first you have the BIOS set to boot the HDD / OS you want as default and if you want to start the other OS you use the BIOS one-time boot menu to select that HDD / OS to start when the PC is started.

 

[gregrocker]

Besides BIOS boot method given, consider placing your User folders on one of the storage partitions since you only have a 30gb SSD: User Folders - Change Default Location

Then install programs onto the same SSD as Win7. Save your backup image to another data drive so if Win7 becomes irreparable or HD fails, you can reimage Win7 in 15 minutes and your User files are waiting in their own storage "vault."

 

[Robert Day]

I realise this a v old thread but it does cover what I plan to do almost exactly.

OK, I understand the idea of

* disconnect existing drives
* add SSD
* install Win 7 on SSD (presumably has to be a primary partition)
* reconnect existing drives
* choose OS to boot to via BIOS menu

What concerns me is what happens to drive letters?

If I boot to Win 7 then the drive mappings don't matter since it's a fresh install.

If I boot to XP will it have mapped the SSD to the end of the current letters? I currently have many partitions on each disk so I have

Disk 1 - C, D, E, F
Disk 2 - G, H, I , J
DVD - K
USB HD (when connected) - L

I presume the SSD would get either M (if USB is connected) or L (if it is not)? Is this correct? Just worried about my drive lettering getting messed up (with consequent consequences for the XP install) and looking for reassurance.

Thanks
Robert

 

[gregrocker]

If you do this correctly and don't install Win7 from XP, the drive letter will always be C on the OS you're booted into. This is intentional and causes no problems at all. The letter taken by the unbooted OS is not a concern.

Just be sure to unplug all other HD's during new install in DISK0, afterwards plug back in other HD's, set preferred OS HD as first HD to boot in BIOS setup. To trigger other HD to boot use one-time BIOS Boot Menu.