Changing primary partitions to logical

[DeaconFrost]

You can, but you'll need to do some extra work and use a third party tool to handle the booting, as the newer OS is already on the system.

I'm also making an assumption that the XP disc is only 32 bit, meaning it will give you absolutely nothing over your current install, so why bother?

It I can make an assumption/observation....it seems like you are just digging yourself into a deeper hole of a convoluted system here without knowing what or why you are jumping in. That usually leads to data loss and/or a non-booting system.

If it was me, I'd do one of two things. I'd leave Windows 7 x86 installed as the only OS, and spend my efforts organizing all the partitions and consolidating them. Or, I'd back up my data by getting an external drive, wipe the whole thing clean and installing one OS, preferably Windows 7 x64, cleanly, with a normal drive/partition structure, and be done with it.

 

[benja8151]

Yeah, but with Partition Wizard i can't create partition. It says there aren't any free slots or something like that.

 

[DeaconFrost]

It's when you start doing multi-boots that it is often better to format ahead of time.

I never have way back when I considered dual booting a valid solution. In fact, I'd say it works better using the unallocated space, as it will be very clear where the second OS should be installed. The boot files can and will be written to the drive with the existing OS, regardless.

 

[debugged]

Installing XP after you have Windows 7 installed is more trouble than installing another Windows 7, so don't rush into it, but there are good tutorials for it.

 

[DeaconFrost]

Yeah, but with Partition Wizard i can't create partition. It says there aren't any free slots or something like that.

Again, that's why I'd back up my data...but you probably would need to delete a partition so you can start to reclaim the space. You have four partitions already, if I remember correctly, I think that's a limit of some kind. I personally never have more than two total on the same physical drive. That's why I made the comment about over-partitioning in my first reply. You also don't want to be messing around with partitioning, even with quality software like Partition Wizard, without having your data backed up.

 

[gregrocker]

As you are already have four Primary partitions you cannot add another without converting the Disk to Dynamic which you should not do. So deleting the 1gb partition leaves you three Primary which will then automatically create the fourth as a Logical Extended suitable for a second install and any future sub-partitions you want to add.

Save a backup image of the 1gb OEM factory partition (or give it a letter in Disk Mgmt to see what is in there and back it up) in case the file(s) there is something you want restored later. These are normally factory utilities which have much better versions built into Win7, and are not needed.

Then rightclick the 1gb partition to Delete it.

Now rightclick the large Unallocated Space to Create a Logical extended partition there for your new install and any other sub-partitions you want to add. The installer will update the boot files on the System Reserved partition as long as it remains the only one (correctly) marked Active.

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[benja8151]

@DeaconFrost

OK, I will now explain why I need an another OS-the reason is very stupid actually and probably not worth going trough all taht procedures. It's something wrong with the internet on my currently installed Windows, because everytime I play an online game, it just lags and eventually crashes because of high ping (at first it's low but then is very high for some time) and internet crashes too. I don't know the reason (maybe it's firewall or I don't know what), but I thought if I try to run the game on another OS without 3rd party firewall, it would work. I tried with virtualization in VirtualBOX, but there wasn't enough RAM and graphical memory. Now, I'm slowly leaning towards complete reinstall of Windows 7, but it will wait for a little time.

 

[debugged]

The boot files can and will be written to the drive with the existing OS, regardless.

The boot files in this case are in system reserve, so just the information in them will just be updated.
This would be a simple install, if it weren't for the license key issues, except for the "logical" unallocated space which doesn't make sense and should be checked out first.

 

[DeaconFrost]

Yes, gaming in a VM is the only real "drawback" at this point. It's getting better...but not what it could be. There a couple of things that come to mind. First, does the game have any updates or patches? Do you have the latest network card drivers loaded? You mention a third-party firewall, so have you disabled/removed that to see if the game runs as it should? How is your regular web-borwsing and downloading of files....does that all go as expected? Do you connect directly to your service provider's modem, or do you have a home router in between?

By the way, that isn't a stupid reason at all. If it is a game you really want to play, then I can see why you'd want to get it resolved. I would just hate to see you dig into a deeper whole where your OS wouldn't run at all, or you'd lose some data in the process.

 

[DeaconFrost]

The boot files in this case are in system reserve, so just the information in them will just be updated.

Except, if XP would go on first, there'd be no system reserved area. That was a neat little invention of Windows 7. I also don't ever have a System Reserved area on my Windows 7 installs (on purpose).

 

[debugged]

Yeah, but with Partition Wizard i can't create partition. It says there aren't any free slots or something like that.

Then it's not unallocated space, because you would be able to create a logical partition if it were. So you have to go back where you started with Arc and creating some free space first.

 

[debugged]

The boot files in this case are in system reserve, so just the information in them will just be updated.

Except, if XP would go on first, there'd be no system reserved area. That was a neat little invention of Windows 7. I also don't ever have a System Reserved area on my Windows 7 installs (on purpose).

First of all, sorry I can't keep up with your keyboarding and posting, so I'll have to come in a bit late, but I wan't to respond to a couple of your comments if you have the patience!
This may not be on topic, as it's not clear if the OP wants to install XP but you can certainly have a system reserve partition with XP: mark the system reserve active and put XP on a logical partition. You can't do that with Windows installation procedures, but you can by formatting in advance with PW.

 

[debugged]

You have four partitions already, if I remember correctly, I think that's a limit of some kind.

The limit is 4 Primary, but you can have 20+ Logical as well (that will give the Deacon nightmares...)

You also don't want to be messing around with partitioning, even with quality software like Partition Wizard, without having your data backed up.

Amen to that.