How would I dual-boot in this scenario?

If you are not ready to give up on repairing Win7 there are some other steps we can try. If you need to rescue files you can use Copy & Paste - in Windows Recovery Console

Actually I would leave the XP partition intact and install WIn7 after deleting System and C, creating new partition in that space using Drive Options in Step 6-7 of Clean Install Windows 7.

This gives the XP partition a fair chance at being configured into a Dual Boot menu as WIn7 does when installed last to a system with another OS. So why not, since that was the goal.

@greg: Same way as first one. Size is same as source ISO, 173 MB. No prompt, just straight to the error screen - clearly not able to boot from the DVD. I will note that, with previous ISOs, I was able to open them to see the contents with an Archive Manager. With the latest ISO, I get the error "NOT in ISO 9660 format". May explain something.

@whs: 1. I don't have a Windows 7 installation disc. This is PC that came with Windows pre-installed; no disk in the package... Additionally ,the 3 GB Windows 7 ISO from earlier does not have command prompt as a feature, only "Repair your computer", which doesn't work as established.

2. The 3 GB Windows 7 disc apparently allows for installation in some form. Perhaps I could install from it, after having cleared away the data (in a single partition, such as the C/OS partition, right?) with Partition Wizard?

3. As the Ubuntu Live CD does not work for whatever reason, could you name a bootable utility that would allow me to manipulate my data and move it to the external HD? Such a utility would preferably be Linux-compatible - Wine can only stretch so far, in some cases.

In the meantime, I will try a Windows XP Ultimate Boot CD or Hiren's BootCD.

Apparently you missed my last post as I explained how to copy out your data using the Win7 DVD, then use the Custom install Drive options to delete System and C, create a new partition there and install Win7. Since it's being installed last it should configure a Dual Boot menu with XP which was the point of your original post.

I asked you also how you burned these disks. If you didn't use ImgBurn at 4x speed I would try burning DVD again as I've never seen it now have the Repair console when booted.

Didn't see your latest posting there, Greg. That might be the best option - step 2, that is. I will see whether Hiren's BootCD software can clone C (which has lots of data I'd rather not lose) to the external, which will have to be cleared of the XP image. Should I clone System as well? My presumption is that I should not.

To be clear:

1. Clone C to external.
2. Delete C partition and System.
3. ???

Step 3 is to get XP running somehow - perhaps while in the Hiren's BootCD environment? Please advise.

EDIT: As for the burned Windows 7 ISOs, well look - the first file, the 3 GB one that you linked to in the first place, worked fine (except of course for the failure to detect compatibility). I don't see why the second ISO would have failed to burn properly. I used a default Ubuntu disk-writer/burner, whatever it is.

I asked you also how you burned these disks. If you didn't use ImgBurn at 4x speed I would try burning DVD again as I've never seen it now have the Repair console when booted.

Alright, I will try it in the morning. ImgBurn seems to be running in Wine, will have to judge how it burns. I recall that the Linux software burned the image in question at 3.5-4.7x, though this was the same figure as for the 3GB W7 Disk. I don't see why this burn would be a failure. Seems to me the source file may have something wrong with it, if anything is the case. I will defer to your judgement, however.

Then download another source file and burn the disk with ImgBurn at 4x speed.

Some mixed news: I got the two ISOs onto a flash drive, and a friend with a burner and a W7 machine burned them both onto separate disks for me using ImgBurb.

1. The small ISO you gave me could only burn at 2.4x, though the setting was 4x. Whether this has any bearing on the fact that it still failed to boot on my machine, I can't say.

2. The large ISO apparently burned at at an average of 3.6x. It gives me the same compatibility error.

3. I tried both of these disks twice: once after setting System to Active and rebuilding MBR, next after inactivating everything, rebuilding MBR, and setting C active (whs' protocol).

4. At some point, it must be acknowledged that the fault does not lie with me but either in the files themselves or in the afflicted machine (though I am at fault for farking up my machine).

As I do not wish to be perceived as derelict or insubordinate in my conduct any longer, please confirm that these steps are the ones I should follow next:

1. Use data recovery boot software (i.e. Hiren's BootCD) to copy or clone C to my external HD.
2. Delete C and System on the afflicted machine.
3. Use the DVD carrying the big ISO to install Windows 7 onto a partition or into unallocated space.
4 and on. ???

One addition: when I boot either the big-ISO Windows repair, or the Partition Wizard, I get a flicker of the ISOLINUX copyright screen. Could something catastrophic have happened when the Ubuntu Live CD was bugging out yesterday? Could it be behind the failure of the compatibility check?

Can Hiren's Boot Cd boot and run on the PC?

If so copy out your data using Hiren's XP browser. The files should be there to copy out.

The boot into Hiren's Partition Wizard or other Disk utility to Quick Wipe the HD to clear the boot sector of code. Unplug all other HD's first and keep them unplugged until Win7 is reinstalled.

If the Win7 installer DVD is burned correctly it should autostart to Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 which steps are the same for retail, and assure you'll get and keep a perfect install if you use only the tools and methods given.

During install create your Win7 partition in steps 6,7 of Clean Install Windows 7 leaving space for XP if you still want to try imaging it over.

Once Win7 is installed, boot back into the DVD again to make sure you can access and use the System Recovery Options

Since I've not heard before of anyone not being allowed to open the PC case which is their own property, contact your PC maker Tech Support to ask them if it does in fact affect their warranty to add another HD to your property. This will be interesting for us to know as well since it sounds like something from the XP era or a parallel universe. Courts have basically smacked down ANY attempt by OEMs to tell owners how they can use their property.

My understanding, then, is that I should just wipe the hard drive entirely? Or is that not a function of a Quick Wipe? "Leaving space for XP", at least, implies a full wipe.

Since I've not heard before of anyone not being allowed to open the PC case which is their own property, contact your PC maker Tech Support to ask them if it does in fact affect their warranty to add another HD to your property. This will be interesting for us to know as well since it sounds like something from the XP era or a parallel universe. Courts have basically smacked down ANY attempt by OEMs to tell owners how they can use their property.

I will give them a call once W7 is in full working order, but ultimately, whatever their response may be, it seems better to simply follow the imaging process now that I have a better understanding of the procedure. I don't think anyone here would like to become embroiled in a "Hardware Issues" thread.

Copying or cloning over the entire C partition, is there anything I should delete once it is on the external HD, such as the Windows folder?