XP Pro Install on New Windows 7 Dual HDD Notebook

[IveyLeaguer]

Hello Everybody,

I have a new dual HDD notebook with Windows 7 64-bit pre-installed. I want to install XP Pro 32-bit as a second OS.

How would you guys recommend I set this up? Using space on the second HDD is not an issue, so I'm leaning toward installing XP on the second HDD. Somehow it seems like it would be cleaner than partitioning the primary HDD (I'll be doing that anyway since I always setup the OS within a dedicated partition, keeping data separate).

Several questions: Is there an issue with the sharing the boot files or getting drivers for XP Pro? How much partition space would you ideally want Windows 7 HP 64-bit to have? I'm thinking 50 GB?

And the biggest question: How do I go about doing this setup?

Thanks in advance. IveyLeaguer

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[Tews]

I would go ahead and install it on the second drive.. dont worry about boot issues...xp will pickup the 7 install and add it to the boot loader...

Welcome to the forums...

 

[IveyLeaguer]

Thanks very much. I appreciate that.

How about this question ... How much partition space would you ideally want Windows 7 HP 64-bit to have? I'm thinking 50 GB?

And I could use a little detail on the procedure if somebody can. With 7 Home Premium already installed, I'll shrink the C: partition to 50 GB. Then finish partitioning the primary HD.

Then format the second HD if there's anything on it. Create a partition for XP. The I insert the XP Pro CD and reboot? I'll be able to choose the partition on the second HD to install to? And the drivers should be there to load XP Pro until I can update to SP3+ (I have thought about downloading SP3 and having it ready, just in case)?

Then at startup I'll have both OS's available to select from? Etc, etc..?

Thanks!!

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[Dave76]

Thanks very much. I appreciate that.

How about this question ... How much partition space would you ideally want Windows 7 HP 64-bit to have? I'm thinking 50 GB?

And I could use a little detail on the procedure if somebody can. With 7 Home Premium already installed, I'll shrink the C: partition to 50 GB. Then finish partitioning the primary HD.

Then format the second HD if there's anything on it. Create a partition for XP. The I insert the XP Pro CD and reboot? I'll be able to choose the partition on the second HD to install to? And the drivers should be there to load XP Pro until I can update to SP3+ (I have thought about downloading SP3 and having it ready, just in case)?

Then at startup I'll have both OS's available to select from? Etc, etc..?

Thanks!!

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Welcome to Seven Forums.

Intall XP on the second Hd will be fine.
Will be faster if you download XP SP3 before you install XP.

It will depend on how many and how large the other programs will be.
It should work with 50GB, if you aren't going to add too many programs. I would go to min 60GB to max 80GB for Win7. XP can be 50GB.

There is a good tutorial that should answer all your questions about installing XP after you have installed Win7.
Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and XP
Have a look at this, then reply here if you have any questions.

More installation tutorial can be found at Tutorial quick reference list for Installing Windows 7

 

[chuckr]

I would go ahead and install it on the second drive.. dont worry about boot issues...xp will pickup the 7 install and add it to the boot loader...

Tews,

I believe you have that backwards:

A w7 install will pickup the XP installation, and add it to the boot menu...

XP will not see the w7 installation, and there will be no Windows Boot Manager menu...

 

[IveyLeaguer]

... There is a good tutorial that should answer all your questions about installing XP after you have installed Win7 ... Have a look at this, then reply here if you have any questions.

Thanks very much, Dave.

That is the only clear tutorial I've found that goes specifically to my scenario which, I might add, should not be unusual. Certainly, there are many thousands out there right now looking at the same thing, especially users who have stuck with XP while waiting on Windows 7.

Best I can tell right now, Brink's tutorial answered all my questions. I'll come back if anything else pops up.

Thanks again to all.

BTW, I decided to go with 70 GB for Win7, and 30 GB for XP.

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