Dual boot question windows 7

As long as Win7 is marked System Active then you're good to format XP partition.

Do you want to resize Win7 into the space where XP was so it is in the preferred lower HD address closer to where the disk reader parks?

"Do you want to resize Windows 7 into the space where XP was so it is in the preferred lower HD address closer to where the disk reader parks?"

Is it recommended to do so?

Only by perfectionists. You'll be fine just formatting XP.

How I would do that?

Since you stated at the beginning that you wanted to keep XP partition to format for data, I didn't offer you the option to use free Partition Wizard bootable CD to Mark Win7 Active, then Delete XP and Resize Win7 into its space.

PW has very cool slider bars you can use on Resizing function which will let you resize into the deleted XP space, then make a space to the right for another partition if that's what you want out of this.
Partition Wizard : Use the Bootable CD

You can do this now if you want, however be aware that Resizing over the boot sector may require running Startup Repair up to 3 separate times again.

Well, I decided to just format it. It will be used for storage of nothing crucial, just cartoons (which are anyway stored on DVD) to watch for my boy.
Everything solved, thanks a lot. You guys rock! Almost looking forward having the next w7 problem to come to you again because of the huge learning factor you are providing.

Glad to help, Michael.

Suggest you save externally a Win7 backup image so you never have to reinstall again - just reimage the HD (or a replacement) in 15 minutes using DVD or Repair CD and the stored image: Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup