dual boot the same os

[maccaquacker]

hi there

simple question really, i need to troubleshoot a problem I have on a laptop of mine and would like to know if it is possible to dual boot two versions of the same OS (the OEM Win7 x64 Home Premium that came with it, and a Win7 x64 ultimate retail disk I have)

is the process the same as it would be for installing two differing OSes as I have done many times on other machines

 

[indianacarnie]

I don't see why not. Haven't done it before myself (and haven't really heard of anyone who has to tell you the truth) but as long as you'll be installing as a dual boot it should work.

 

[Kaktussoft]

hi there

simple question really, i need to troubleshoot a problem I have on a laptop of mine and would like to know if it is possible to dual boot two versions of the same OS (the OEM Win7 x64 Home Premium that came with it, and a Win7 x64 ultimate retail disk I have)

is the process the same as it would be for installing two differing OSes as I have done many times on other machines

Please post screenshot of disk management with all fields visible. Then I give you instructions how to proceed. I want to know what the bootmenu partition is and what the WIN7 partition is (can be the same).

Steps to do are mainly:

1. shrink a partition so at least 40GB contiguous unallocated space is on disk
2. Install from win7 install DVD. Install to the unallocated space.

Bootmenu will be modified so you have new win7 as well in bootmenu. And win7 will be installed in the unallocated space of course.

What problem are you trying to troubleshoot?

 

[maccaquacker]

discovered my other issue, 4 primary partitions, im not massively bothered about the restore one so im assuming that can go and quite possibly HP tools?

 

[Kaktussoft]

discovered my other issue, 4 primary partitions, im not massively bothered about the restore one so im assuming that can go and quite possibly HP tools?

you can delete RECOVERY AND and/or HP_TOOLS. But only if you know how to reinstall win7 (and you do). On back of pc/laptop is the COA sticker with your license. Maybe HP_TOOLS has some stuff you want to keep(?)

Or you can mark C ACTIVE (so it has the boot manager and bootmenu). Actually it hasn't yet. So do a "startup repair" from win7 install dvd. Do it 3 times with boots in between!
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/681-startup-repair.html

Or you can make C a logical partition. Shrink it and create another logical partition in the unallocated space. You can convert C to logical partition using Partition Wizard Free download Magic Partition Manager Software, partition magic alternative, free partition magic, partition magic Windows 7 and server partition software - Partition Wizard Online the HOME edition is free. How to set partition as Logical with partition manager? Partition Wizard help.

You decide what to do.

 

[maccaquacker]

pretty sure I know the answer, but deleting those two unnecessary partitions won't affect my current OEM install?

 

[Kaktussoft]

pretty sure I know the answer, but deleting those two unnecessary partitions won't affect my current OEM install?

Ssytem boots from the 200MB partition. It has the bootmenu. In bootmenu is an entry that loads win7 form what is called C now.

Open http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/783-elevated-command-prompt.html

bcdedit/enum all>bcd.txt

Post bcd.txt (probably in c:\windows\system32)

Afterwards you may delete bcd.txt