installing windows 7 ultimate

[brianzion]

hi all
just a general question on windows ultimate, can i install this edition on another drive while keeping my existing windows 7 home edition on the original drive? what i was going to do was disconnect my hard drive with the win 7 home on and just connect the drive i wish to have ultimate installed on and be able to have a choice to boot between operating systems while i transfer files etc over to ultimate. would i encounter problems if i wish to keep both operating systems on my pc? its a bought full retail edition (ultimate). the win 7 home was installed from factory.

 

[seavixen32]

Yes, there is no reason why you can't do what you suggest.

You don't say which files you are going to transfer to the Ultimate drive, but be aware you can't transfer applications - they will have to be installed again.

Once you've got both systems installed, you can then configure the BIOS to choose which drive is the first boot device.

Use the BCD Editor to rename the operting systems if need be.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2676-bcdedit-how-use.html

 

[brianzion]

yes i understand that i wont be moving applications just files music, pics, word documents just been looking at this Microsoft Install more than one operating system (multiboot)

 

[brianzion]

http://goo.gl/qL320

To install Windows on a separate partition or hard disk

Before installing Windows, be sure to disable all antivirus software and back up your files to an external hard disk, a CD, a DVD, a USB flash drive, or a network folder. Also, find your 25-character Windows product key. You can find it on the installation disc holder inside the Windows package—or in a confirmation e‑mail if you purchased and downloaded Windows 7 online. For detailed instructions about installing Windows 7, see Installing and reinstalling Windows 7.

Turn on your computer so that your current version of Windows starts normally, and then do one of the following:

If you downloaded Windows 7, browse to the installation file you downloaded, and then double-click it (often identified as an Application file under the Type column).

If you have a Windows 7 installation disc, insert the disc into your computer. Setup should start automatically. If it doesn't, click the Start button, click Computer, double-click your DVD drive to open the Windows 7 installation disc, and then double-click setup.exe.

If you've downloaded Windows 7 onto a USB flash drive, insert the drive into your computer. Setup should start automatically. If it doesn't, click the Start button, click Computer, double-click the drive, and then double-click setup.exe.

On the Install Windows menu, click Install now.

On the Get important updates for installation page, we recommend getting the latest updates to help ensure a successful installation and to help protect your computer against security threats. You must be connected to the Internet to receive installation updates. This page might not appear if your computer is not connected to the Internet.

On the Please read the license terms page, if you accept the license terms, click I accept the license terms.

On the Which type of installation do you want? page, click Custom.

On the Where do you want to install Windows? page, select the partition or disk where you want to install the new Windows operating system.

Be sure to install Windows on a different partition from the one where the earlier version of Windows is installed.

Click Next to begin the installation. You might see a compatibility report.

 

[brianzion]

so on reading that from Microsoft i don't have to unplug my drives?

 

[seavixen32]

To install Windows on a separate partition or hard disk

Before installing Windows, be sure to disable all antivirus software and back up your files to an external hard disk, a CD, a DVD, a USB flash drive, or a network folder. Also, find your 25-character Windows product key. You can find it on the installation disc holder inside the Windows package—or in a confirmation e‑mail if you purchased and downloaded Windows 7 online. For detailed instructions about installing Windows 7, see Installing and reinstalling Windows 7.

Turn on your computer so that your current version of Windows starts normally, and then do one of the following:

If you downloaded Windows 7, browse to the installation file you downloaded, and then double-click it (often identified as an Application file under the Type column).

If you have a Windows 7 installation disc, insert the disc into your computer. Setup should start automatically. If it doesn't, click the Start button, click Computer, double-click your DVD drive to open the Windows 7 installation disc, and then double-click setup.exe.

If you've downloaded Windows 7 onto a USB flash drive, insert the drive into your computer. Setup should start automatically. If it doesn't, click the Start button, click Computer, double-click the drive, and then double-click setup.exe.

On the Install Windows menu, click Install now.

On the Get important updates for installation page, we recommend getting the latest updates to help ensure a successful installation and to help protect your computer against security threats. You must be connected to the Internet to receive installation updates. This page might not appear if your computer is not connected to the Internet.

On the Please read the license terms page, if you accept the license terms, click I accept the license terms.

On the Which type of installation do you want? page, click Custom.

On the Where do you want to install Windows? page, select the partition or disk where you want to install the new Windows operating system.

Be sure to install Windows on a different partition from the one where the earlier version of Windows is installed.

Click Next to begin the installation. You might see a compatibility report.

If you use this method you wouldn't have to disconnect either drive because it walks you through installing on separate partitions on the SAME drive.

I thought you wanted to use separate hard drives. If so, you can disconnect the Home Premium drive while you install Ultimate.

If you leave both drives connected during the installation, you will need to choose which OS boots up from the on-screen boot menu as both systems will share the same system reserved partition.

If you disconnect either drive while the other is being set up you can configure the BIOS to boot whichever system you want to boot first as each system will have its own boot record.

 

[brianzion]

i do want to use different drives in reading this "On the Where do you want to install Windows? page, select the partition or disk where you want to install the new Windows operating system." it states disc so im led to believe i do not have to disconnect any drive? just want to be sure. when i install Linux distros i always disconnect the other drives so grub does not install, so i can manually boot from choice.

 

[seavixen32]

As mentioned in my previous comment, you don't have to disconnect any drives if you don't want to.

It mentions partition or disk - partition meaning partitions on the same drive, disk meaning a separate hard drive.

It just means you will have to select which system boots first when you boot up your computer rather than configuring the BIOS to do that job.

 

[brianzion]

As mentioned in my previous comment, you don't have to disconnect any drives if you don't want to.

It just means you will have to select which system boots first when you boot up your computer rather than configuring the BIOS to do that job.

yes i see thanks for your input and help i will order the ultimate this week (cant turn this offer down>> £50 genuine retail dvd 32 and 64 bit) and will post back with how i got on

 

[seavixen32]

You're welcome.

You haven't said where you are buying your copy of Ultimate, but beware as the price you're paying is cheap. If you are using e-Bay, you stand a good chance of getting ripped off.

If you want to be certain of getting the genuine article you could always use Microsoft's Windows Anytime Upgrade. It is more expensive, but you get a genuine product key, support from Microsoft if needed and you won't need to dual boot.

http://emea.microsoftstore.com/UK/en-GB/Microsoft/Windows/Windows-7/Windows-Anytime-Upgrade

 

[brianzion]

thanks for your advice the disk is from a retailer and i have checked out from other buyers feedback all are positive on the purchase and they have genuine keys

 

[seavixen32]

OK, hope things go well for you.

 

[gregrocker]

It depends on whether you want Win7 to configure a Dual Boot menu as it will when installed while another Win7 is on the same or another HD. This interlocks the HD's by placing the boot files on the original OS partition and requires surgery to remove it later to write the System boot files to the newer OS. Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times

If you unplug the old Win7 during install of the new one, after install you would set the preferred to boot first in BIOS setup, then use the one-time BIOS Boot Menu key to trigger the other OS HD to boot when needed. This keeps the HD's independent so either can come and go as you please.

Adapt these steps to get a perfect install: Reinstalling Windows 7

 

[brianzion]

thanks gregrocker what i would prefer is to have win 7 ultimate to boot auto and if i wanted to change boot to win 7 home, i would hit the keyboard key to boot selection.

 

[gregrocker]

Check now to see that you have the one-time BIOS Boot Menu (BBS) key by looking on first boot screen - I'm not sure Packard Bell's all have one.

If not leave both HD's plugged and let Windows config the Dual Boot.

If so, when you unplug old Win7 to install new one, set the target HD as first HD to boot in BIOS setup (after DVD Drive).

After install when you plug back in the original OS HD, leave it as it is in BIOS setup but use the one-time BIOS Boot Menu key to boot the old Win7.

 

[brianzion]

i have access to the boot menu ok with this bios on the machine. i am thinking now if i left both drives plugged in when i install ultimate and let windows configure bootup, when i require to boot win 7 home do i have to change the settings every time in the boot menu in msconfig in ultimate?

 

[gregrocker]

If both are left plugged in then Windows installer will configure a Dual Boot menu which will show up right after BIOS POST for you to choose which OS to boot into.

The default OS and timeout on this menu can be adjusted at Computer>Properties>Advanced>Startup tab, or one or the other OS's can also be hidden.

To get through the Boot Menu menu quickly I set the preferred OS to boot the default OS in 5-10 seconds because if I want to boot the non-default I will usually know it and be ready.

This will place the System Active boot files on the old OS partition, so if you want to remove that HD later you'll need to mark Ultimate Active in Disk Mgmt, then boot the Win7 DVD Repair console or Repair CD to Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times until Ultimate boots on its own and shows the System Active flags on its partition.

 

[DeaconFrost]

I may have misunderstood, but what's the reason you'd want to install two copies of the same OS?

 

[brianzion]

thanks for the advice. so i will be able to run win 7 home and win 7 ultimate ok on the same machine using separate drives with these methods ?

 

[brianzion]

@deaconfrost

im getting win 7 ultimate for a good price and my first thought was to just transfer files from win 7 home to win 7 ultimate then do away with win 7 home. but was thinking can i use both?