New
#1
Win7, XP Dual boot- Install OS's to logical or primary partition? Pro
Win7, XP Dual boot- Install OS's to logical or primary partition? Pros and Cons
As many of you know here some versions of Win7 create a "100 /200mb System Reserved" partition which the Win7 installer installs the boot files to.
(Because of this Win7, XP don't "have to" be on a primary partition but instead can be installed to logical partitions.)
Q: What are the PRO's and CON's of installing to logical partitions, instead of primary - as it applies to these (2) OS's?
My concerns are reliability, accessibility to partition (OS) which may need manual editing to restore to working condition, being able to image, restore from images without issues via Acronis True Image mostly.
My other main concern is I'm looking to HIDE the "system reserved" partition in XP as is done by the Win7 OS so XP is on "C" instead of "D" as some programs freak out if they don't see "C", but D instead.
Currently I have:
System Reserved 200mb (System, Active-Primary)
Win7 on first logical (Boot, page,crash)
XP PRO SP2/3 on 2nd logical
DATA on Primary.
Was thinking about deleting all partitions (again) and getting rid of the 200mb system reserved partition as "some" programs in XP might not like being on "D:\"
(XP unlike Win7 "sees" the System reserved partition as "C:")
Scenario#2 - re-install as below:
XP PRO SP2/3 (1st Primary)- Win7, XP boot files
Win7 (2nd Primary)
DATA on Primary (or logical).
4th primary could be used to create a on-the-hard-disc "recovery" partition via something like Acronis Secure Zone.
I figured above would give XP it's "C", and Win7 and it's newer apps wouldn't complain about being on D..
Q: If boot files are on C (XP) partition is Win7 smart enough to "hide" the XP partition (EG not give it a drive letter) as it does with the "System Reserved partition?
.
Last edited by WeAreNotAlone; 15 Nov 2010 at 23:25.