Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and XP


  1. Posts : 21
    Windows XP Pro
       #1740

    Thanks again Greg!

    I did set the first boot device to Hard Drive. I am unsure as to why this is occurring.

    Can the set-up that I have now hurt anything?

    I was also wondering about the Windows 7 bootable disc I have. As I was installing it, I was waiting to see a screen for entering the serial number. It never came up. I know when I installed XP a few times that it wanted a serial number. Does this sound right? I am unfamiliar with windows 7 so I figured I would ask.

    The Windows 7 edition that I have is 32-bit, like the XP I have. I really would like to have the 64-bit version. A friend of mine told me that I may be able to get the 64-bit upgrade from MS for no charge. Have you heard of this or is there a way to do this on my Windows 7 32-bit OS?

    Thanks once again!

    John G.
      My Computer

  2.    #1741

    There's nothing wrong with what you have now. I just thought you'd want Win7 HD set to boot first, which can be set in BIOS setup by choosing it as first boot Device. I'm aware you have a HD set first to boot now, but that HD is XP - that's all.

    Where did you get Win7? Did you burn the DVD? You're entitled to use either 32- or 64-bit Win7 with each Win7 license.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 21
    Windows XP Pro
       #1742

    gregrocker said:
    There's nothing wrong with what you have now. I just thought you'd want Win7 HD set to boot first, which can be set in BIOS setup by choosing it as first boot Device. I'm aware you have a HD set first to boot now, but that HD is XP - that's all.

    Where did you get Win7? Did you burn the DVD? You're entitled to use either 32- or 64-bit Win7 with each Win7 license.
    The Windows 7 disc came with another pc that I had ordered a while back from Tiger Direct.

    The disc has Windows 7 Professional at the top and also says to the mid-right side the following:
    Support for these products provided by Si 805018 32bit version
    W7-Prox86-RTM v.1.0 DVD.

    The reason for asking bout the 64-bit version was that I thought it would be better and also thought that I could upgrade this 32-bit version to the 64-bit version. I am not sure if i can do that.

    Any suggestions on if I can upgrade to the 64-bit version, without having to do another install.

    Thank you for your time and effort!

    John G.
      My Computer

  4.    #1743

    Sounds like an OEM license if the disk you're referring to was for an OS preinstalled on the old machine or an OEM System Builder's disk which locks itself to the first mobo installed upon. These are unable to migrate to a new mobo without special exception being made by MS Phone Activation.

    To find out if it's either flavor of OEM look at Computer>Properties, scroll down to activation field to see the Product ID. Is there an OEM in the string? Or you can look at the COA sticker on the old machine it came with, or the disk it came with. What exactly does it say under version, above the Product Key?

    If it's retail full or Upgrade version then it can migrate to the hardware of your choice.

    All versions of Win7 can have either 32- or 64-bit version installed, your choice. 32 bit vs 64 bit Comparison - Windows 7 Forums
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 21
    Windows XP Pro
       #1744

    gregrocker said:
    Sounds like an OEM license if the disk you're referring to was for an OS preinstalled on the old machine or an OEM System Builder's disk which locks itself to the first mobo installed upon. These are unable to migrate to a new mobo without special exception being made by MS Phone Activation.

    To find out if it's either flavor of OEM look at Computer>Properties, scroll down to activation field to see the Product ID. Is there an OEM in the string? Or you can look at the COA sticker on the old machine it came with, or the disk it came with. What exactly does it say under version, above the Product Key?

    If it's retail full or Upgrade version then it can migrate to the hardware of your choice.

    All versions of Win7 can have either 32- or 64-bit version installed, your choice. 32 bit vs 64 bit Comparison - Windows 7 Forums
    I went and checked in the activation field and it said that I have 2 days left to activate.

    I then keyed in the code that I found on the disc some time back, and it worked.

    It said that this copy of windows are genuine. I guess that is the end of that particular problem-lol.

    Now as far as the 64-bit version- Can I use the same disc to upgrade or change to the 64-bit? I really would like to get the 64-bit as I was told that is makes an improvement for sound quality over the 32-bit version. Also, will 4-gigs of ram be sufficient?

    Thanks again!

    John G.
      My Computer

  6.    #1745

    Does it say OEM in the Product ID string at Computer>Properties when you scroll down?

    4gb is right on the border of 64 bit viability. I think I would stick with 32 bit unless I upgrade RAM. Of course if you have specific reasons you want it, fine. But it could lag a bit since some of your RAM is apportioned to hardware, as can be seen by typing Resource Monitor into Start Search box and clicking on the Memory tab.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 21
    Windows XP Pro
       #1746

    gregrocker said:
    Does it say OEM in the Product ID string at Computer>Properties when you scroll down?

    4gb is right on the border of 64 bit viability. I think I would stick with 32 bit unless I upgrade RAM. Of course if you have specific reasons you want it, fine. But it could lag a bit since some of your RAM is apportioned to hardware, as can be seen by typing Resource Monitor into Start Search box and clicking on the Memory tab.

    Yes, It has a product ID # with OEM in the midst of the numbers. I would imagine that this is ok. It does say above this that Windows is activated.

    I may just stick with this 32-bit version for now. Maybe when I can add more ram, I may try and see if I like it. I am curious to hear if there is an audible difference between the 32-bit and the 64-bit versions.

    My main goal with adding another HDD with Windows 7 is to use it with a bare minimum of programs installed, that could possibly cause my J River media center to lag or something. I have the free edition of AVG anti-virus on the other HDD running on XP. I just want this drive for listening to my music files without any sudden interuptions. Maybe you can tell me if I should leave out all of the windows updates and such. I just want the most needed and thats it.

    Maybe you can tell me what I can do to obtain the bare minimum needed things.

    Thanks again, so very much!

    John G.
      My Computer

  8.    #1747

    John, if it says OEM in the string then it is either Factory OEM which comes preinstalled or Builder's OEM which also is locked to the first mobo installed upon, and should not activate on changed hardware unless it includes an identical mobo.

    The only other explanation could be that it is cracked. Is it possible you bought bootleg Win7? Where did you get Win7? What does it say on your disk?
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 21
    Windows XP Pro
       #1748

    gregrocker said:
    John, if it says OEM in the string then it is either Factory OEM which comes preinstalled or Builder's OEM which also is locked to the first mobo installed upon, and should not activate on changed hardware unless it includes an identical mobo.

    The only other explanation could be that it is cracked. Is it possible you bought bootleg Win7? Where did you get Win7? What does it say on your disk?

    The software included on this DVD-ROM was pre-installed on your hard drive at the factory and may only be used for backup and recovery of your computer system.

    Performance of the software is the sole responsibility of Si

    For Distribution Only With A New Si PC

    www.supportforyourpc.com

    Portions @ 2009 Microsoft Corporation.
    All Rights Reserved

    Do I have a boot-leg copy?

    John G.
      My Computer

  10.    #1749

    You said the disk came with another PC you ordered from Tiger Direct. Did you install it on that PC, or was it already installed and this is the Reinstallation DVD for that PC? If so it should only activate on that hardware it was originally installed upon.

    Is it possible it came with the PC but wasn't used for that PC, an OEM copy which has never been activated before, e.g. did the PC come with Vista and this DVD was included to upgrade that?
      My Computer


 

  Related Discussions
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 7 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 7" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:34.
Find Us