Can I install Win XP on a 4th logical/extended partition?


  1. connect4
    Posts : 2
    Win 7 Professional 64bit
       New #1

    Can I install Win XP on a 4th logical/extended partition?


    Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and XP (Guide)

    I have Win 7 installed (64 bit) on a Dell Laptop w/ 3 primary partitions
    1. OEM Partition- 102MB
    2. System, Active (Dell Recovery)- 14GB
    3. Boot, Page file, Crash dump (Win 7)

    I will create a 4th logical partition (Bcuz of Win 7 limitations), and install XP on it and follow the guide Option 2. Would this work? Any problems down the road?

    Thanks
    Last edited by connect4; 03 Feb 2012 at 16:39.
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  3. gregrocker
    Posts : 50,642
       New #2

    It's possible it will install and write the System boot files to the Active partition, since a Logical partition cannot be marked Active. It will also take over the boot requiring repair of Win7 to add XP using EasyBCD - more trouble than it's worth.

    I would instead use free Partition Wizard to create a fourth Primary partition after shrinking the Win7 partition in Disk Mgmt. If you use PW to Resize 7, then use the boot CD which like Disk Mgmt will not fail.
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  4. connect4
    Posts : 2
    Win 7 Professional 64bit
    Thread Starter
       New #3

    gregrocker said:
    It's possible it will install and write the System boot files to the Active partition, since a Logical partition cannot be marked Active. It will also take over the boot requiring repair of Win7 to add XP using EasyBCD - more trouble than it's worth.

    I would instead use free Partition Wizard to create a fourth Primary partition after shrinking the Win7 partition in Disk Mgmt. If you use PW to Resize 7, then use the boot CD which like Disk Mgmt will not fail.
    Installing XP After Vista or 7 - EasyBCD - NeoSmart Technologies Wiki

    I was actually going to keep partition #2 as active (EasyBCD Tutorial), so I would have to repair win 7 and add XP using EasyBCD either way, so it shouldn't make any difference in this case? (Whether 4th partition is logical or primary)
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  6. theog
    Posts : 11,408
    ME/XP/Vista/Win7
       New #4

    First check for all the Win XP drivers for your hardware on the manufacturer's web site.
    If your Win XP CD, does not support your Sata Controller, you will need to load drivers to uses at F6.
    Load Sata Controller drivers with a floppy disk is the best way.

    SATA Drivers - Load in Windows XP Setup on Dual Boot
    OR
    SATA Drivers - Slipstream into Windows XP CD
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  7. gregrocker
    Posts : 50,642
       New #5

    Yes I'd keep Recovery Active since your OEM set it up that way so the hotkey will work if need arises to run Recovery from boot. Be sure to make your OEM Recovery Disks anyway as a secondary backup.

    On second thought I would leave the partition unformatted after shrinking in Disk Mgmt then full format it NTFS using the XP CD to see what it wants for install - no need to do it yourself, and you want the XP formatting anyway.
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