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Dual boot Windows 7 & Xp? Suggestions?
Hello, I'm new to the forum. I used Macs for years, now I using a Dell D630 Latitude laptop running Windows 7, so I'm a beginner with Windows OSs. I recently upgraded the primary hard drive from a 120 GB to a 400GB West. Dig. and changed the OS from XP to Windows 7, so I have an extra hd I could use with either an optical drive slot caddy or in a 2nd primary hd slot caddy or with USB/Firewire connection. I would like to be able to dual boot Windows 7 and XP because I have some applications that run best with XP. I been reading on different forums about dual booting and there seem to be a few options available, but I'm not sure which is the safest and most reliable for a novice like myself. The options I'm considering are as follows: 1) Repartition the primary 400GB hd using EASEUS software, load XP in the new partition and use EASYBCD software for any boot issues, 2) buy an optical drive caddy, mount the old 120GB hd in it, install XP on it and use it as a 2nd hd, 3) buy, instead, another primary hd slot caddy, mount old 120GB hd in it, swap the 400GB hd with the 120GB hd, boot, install and use XP that way 4) use old 120GB hd with USB/Firewire connection and try and boot & load XP to it.
Sorry for the long entry or if I'm incorrect or unclear, but I just wanted to lay out the options I know of. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.
Thanks