7 64-bit on second hard drive

[division72]

I currently have two hard drives in my machine, a 160GB drive with Vista 32-bit Home Premium and a 320GB drive with 7 RC 64-bit. I am waiting for my 7 upgrade disc to arrive, but would like some clarification. I intend to install the 64-bit version of 7 on my 320GB drive, replacing the RC version. As far as I can understand, I need to be booted into my Vista installation to allow me to install 7, and, using a custom installation, I can install it on my 320GB drive rather then the Vista drive. My query is whether my 32-bit Vista will allow me to install the 64-bit 7, or will it only let me install the 32-bit?

I also believe that this installation will give me a dual-boot system. If I then get rid of my Vista installation will this muck up the dual boot?

 

[Perrybucsdad]

Division, my recommendation would be as follows. Place the DVD in your drive and reboot the machine. All it to boot the DVD and during the install process, do a clean install and select the drive that you want x64 7 to be installed. It's always best to install clean and from boot up.

Also, I don't think Vista 32bit will allow you to boot the 64bit as it will tell you it is not compatible. That's fine as you want to do it from boot up and avoid any strange artifacts that may be lurking in memory.

Oh, and welcome to the forum!!

 

[DeaconFrost]

It should work, but the question is why? Too many people are still clining to the dual boot days, and insisting on making this overly-complicated. K.I.S.S.

With that system, load Windows 7 natively, and in the rare event there some unique reason you still need Vista....run it in a VM. I have Vista virtualized in a less system, and it runs beautifully.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Do we even know for a fact that the upgrade disc will allow an installation of any kind onto your 320 gig hard drive in this case?? Or will you be restricted to choosing the drive with Vista?

What if your 320 gig drive had nothing on it but data--would the 320 gig drive be shown as an available destination for a Windows 7 clean install with the upgrade disc, given that Vista is not on that 320 gig HD?

 

[zigzag3143]

Ignatz

No one knows for sure till the 22nd. We all suspect most things will be the same as vista but some have already been changed.

en

 

[DeaconFrost]

Exactly, and that's why I'd caution anyone considering buying an upgrade version right now. You can still run the RTM from Microsoft for a while, so let's get to the 22nd and find out for sure. You can rest assured that come Oct 22nd, many computing websites will be all over this issue, with full reports, even if Microsoft doesn't give specific rules.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Zig:

Yeah, that's what I figured and feared. I am mildly surprised that we have no authoritative word yet and that no copies of the retail upgrade disc have slipped out yet--it is only 15 days till D-Day.

Hasn't anyone running the RC attempted to install onto a machine with 2 internal drives?? Do they recall whether or not the second drive was listed as a possible target? I want to install onto a second drive that has data only--my primary drive has Vista.

 

[DeaconFrost]

It will be an option, but I'm going to give you a warning. If that target drive has your data on it....back it up first, before you do anything else.

 

[zigzag3143]

Zig:

Yeah, that's what I figured and feared. I am mildly surprised that we have no authoritative word yet and that no copies of the retail upgrade disc have slipped out yet--it is only 15 days till D-Day.

Hasn't anyone running the RC attempted to install onto a machine with 2 internal drives?? Do they recall whether or not the second drive was listed as a possible target? I want to install onto a second drive that has data only--my primary drive has Vista.

the RC 2nd drive works, im running that now.

 

[Perrybucsdad]

Same here (at least with full install). If you remember from previous MS installs, it will list all your partitions, drives to choose as a target. Now, for the million $$ question we will just have to wait and see. +100 for what Frost said though about backing up any data you may have. I had a friend do a clean install on his drive thinking he would only delete the c:\windows folder... he didn't realize it wiped it clean.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Deacon:

Do you have any particular reason to believe internal drive 2 will be an option?? Best guess based on prior MS OS releases, insider info, or rank hope? I have always clean installed to a drive with an OS and can't recall available choices.

Re backups: my intent is to buy a new 1.5 TB backup drive in the next week or 2 and make fresh data backups to it. Then reinstall my current backup drive and use it as a Win 7 destination, overwriting all data on it. Then reinstall new backup drive. My current Vista drive has OS and data partitions (C and D).

4 alternative extreme strategies if needed:

Image Vista from current C to drive 2, then clean install 7 to C on drive 2.

Transfer entire Vista system drive (C and D) to drive 2 with Acronis, then clean install 7 to C on drive 2.

Clean install 7 to current Vista C, then transfer entire 7 system (C and D) to drive 2 with Acronis.

Clean install 7 to current Vista C, make an image of it with Acronis, then restore that image to drive 2.

Ideally, I avoid these extreme strategies and just clean install directly to drive 2. I'd prefer to avoid imaging apps.

 

[Perrybucsdad]

IG, It always gives you a choice. If I have some time tonight I'll do a VC on my PC and put XP on that and will get a screen shot for you.

 

[DeaconFrost]

Do you have any particular reason to believe internal drive 2 will be an option??

Why wouldn't they be? Are you seeing or hearing somewhere that you suddenly don't get a choice of where to install your OS? Any version of Windows will show all available drives, if it can see the drive controller. Windows 7 uses the same installer as Vista, and will show all available drives, formatted or not. Why do you think so many people who try setting up a multi-boot system create another thread asking how to recover their data, after they click on the wrong drive? You've always had a choice, and still do.

 

[Dave76]

Zig:

Yeah, that's what I figured and feared. I am mildly surprised that we have no authoritative word yet and that no copies of the retail upgrade disc have slipped out yet--it is only 15 days till D-Day.

Hasn't anyone running the RC attempted to install onto a machine with 2 internal drives?? Do they recall whether or not the second drive was listed as a possible target? I want to install onto a second drive that has data only--my primary drive has Vista.

Yes, I installed Win7RC on my second HD. It will ask you which partition from all the partitions, including two or more physical hard drives, that you want to install on.