WIN7 on one hdd 2 partitions

[Maxheadroom]

hi, im due a fresh install of win7 64bit
the way i do this is to make a copy of my existing OS and put that on a second drive, i then keep this and use it as my main OS, i then put a new copy of win7 on my main drive and move the stuff over from the back up that i want to keep, this way i know i wont lose anything.
this time i want to partition my main drive and have dual boot one for normal use and one for gaming but when i did the back up the hdd drive i was using had a partition on it and the OS told me that i had to delete the partitions so i could install win7.
is there something i need to do first to be able to have 2 OS's in 2 partitions on one drive or is it just not possible to do?
thanks

 

[gregrocker]

You'd need to have a separate Product Key for the second installation. Better to configure one Win7 to run everything.

Here are some tips to get a perfect install: http://www.sevenforums.com/installation-setup/125874-re-install-windows-7-a.html#post1086729

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello.



You can have 2 separate OS on 2 separate partitions on the same HDD but as Greg said, you will have to have both activated with a separate unique key, you cannot use the same key to activate both.

 

[Maxheadroom]

thanks,
why is that? im able to do it with out a problem on separate hdd why would it be a problem on the same drive?

e2a: would it make a differance if it was a multiple use Product Key?

 

[whs]

You can install as many as you want. The problem arises when you have to activate the multiple copies.