Two OS in one drive,,?

[IamLEGEND]

If you install any Windows on Disk 1, the boot file will install to Disk 0.

If you install any Windows on Disk 1, the boot file will install to Disk 0.

I don't understand what you're saying here.

I think he says on installing OS in hard disk 1, then its boot files created in hard Disk 0 Primary partition...

 

[theog]

Add Windows 7 as a second OS, and don't change either "hard disk #1" in the BIOS, and the Windows 7 boot manager files will be placed into that WinXP partition. That's how it works by default.

NO
Boot files will be on Disk 0, not Disk 1.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

OK you have a valid point and I agree to disagree and that will be that on this subject for me.

 

[theog]

Take a look at BFK's picture.
There is NO DISK 1.
DISK 0 & CD-ROM 0 only.

 

[dsperber]

Take a look at BFK's picture.
There is NO DISK 1.
DISK 0 & CD-ROM 0 only.

This is purely semantics, based on the software used to present the image.

DISKMGMT shows hard drives starting from "Disk 0".

Partition Wizard calls that same drive "Disk 1".

The BIOS generally refers to it as "hard disk #1".

And from a naming convention, this can even be further complicated if you have a mix of SATA drives (connected to the motherboard) and SCSI drives (tied to a SCSI controller).

But these are all the same physical drive no matter what you call it... namely the first hard drive per the BIOS hard drive list, i.e. the hard drive appearing in the BIOS boot device sequence list.

And on that hard drive the "primary" partition marked "active" is where the boot manager files will be placed, because that's where the BIOS will boot to. That is, "active + boot" for Partition Wizard, or "system, active" for DISKMGMT.

 

[gregrocker]

OP, ignore the contretemps and follow Method One in the Dual Boot tutorial which Mickey linked in his first post: Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and XP

This tutorial has helped over a million users to Dual Boot with XP since Win7 came out.

You will know straightaway if XP requires SATA controller drivers because no drives will show up on the installation screen, or it will bluescreen. Then you can refer to Theog's tutorials to add them:
SATA Drivers - Load in Windows XP Setup on Dual Boot
SATA Drivers - Slipstream into Windows XP CD

Or you can virtualize XP from within Win7 using XP Mode included with Ultimate which is a more modern method.

Keep us posted here or in the Dual Boot thread.