The partition where you install the OS will be the only one overwritten by the install. So be sure to back up any files on the partition you intend to install upon, and not to touch any other partitions during the Clean Install Windows 7.
Hi, I have searched and not found the answer. I have 7 installed and installed XP on a separate partition, several times so far, and I'll do it again, but it keeps getting a drive letter other than C:. I even used a separate boot manager (GAG) to see if that would fix it, but it's still F:. First, can I change that behavior after installation, and if not, HOW do I get it installed correctly so both OSes boot as their own C: drive (and I'm NOT reinstalling 7). Thanks for any help.
Side note: All I want to do is play some Steam games and I don't have room (yet?) to let them install on C: Win7. I guess I'll try one install and see where it goes.
Eric
I don't remember ever seeing XP start as anything but C in all of these cases. So it must be interference by the 3rd party boot manager which I would uninstall first and hope it doesn't leave code like GRUB once did corrupting everything until the HD is wiped with Clean Command to clear the boot code: Disk - Clean and Clean All with Diskpart Command
Next make sure you correctly boot the XP installer, delete the target partition, full format it again, then install XP it should always start up as C. However it will steal the bootloader from Win7, so Partition - Mark as Active the Win7 partition then run Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times until Win7 starts.
Then install EasyBCD Download Registration - NeoSmart Technologies to Win7, add XP on Add Boot menu entry tab.
Either OS should then boot as C.
I have installed XP about 4 times now and always from the CD and it always gets some letter besides C. And that was before installing the 3rd party manager. When I used the third party app, XP was still on F and the C drive was hidden. Oh, well, Steam installed fine and the games are working so I will stop banging my head against the wall unless I get bored some day. Thanks.
Can you post back a screenshot of Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image
Tell us what is on each partition
Thanks for the interest. Here are the Disk Management (DM) screens in 7 and XP. The labels tell what is where.
Only the System partition should be marked Active in both OS's, but I don't think that is causing the prob.
What is the source of the XP CD. Has it ever installed to C?
Would you want to do a test install to the other/another HD with Win7 drive unplugged? Make sure no other partition is marked Active. Partition - Mark as Inactive
Others may recall better but I don't remember XP ever booting as anything but C. Win7 will if its installer is run from an OS on C but XP is only smart enough to grab C and overwrite any other boot loader.
The CD is a direct DL from MS. As far as I know it has never installed as C. I read a lot of articles and forums trying to find an answer and I saw 2 things: Either it installs and boots as C or it doesn't. I believe if you install XP first, then 7, it works fine but the other way round, it can do this, and I haven't found a solution anywhere. It would probably work fine on a different HD but as a partition, it's weirdly annoying. I could try setting the XP partition as Active too.
i'm having problems dual booting xp in win7. formatted a new 40gig partition on the C drive and when i put the xp home ed cd in the drive and boot, win7 boots. when i restarted again hit "delete" hot key for bios set up, went to see the boot sequence, the hdd was 1st so i changed the first boot to cd/dvd rom then the hdd to 2nd and hit f10. restarted again and the cd rom boots (hear it running) but win7 boots. when i restart again then hit the f12 hot key (bios boot option screen) the hdd is listed first and the cd/dvd rom 2nd. i chose cd/dvd option to boot and again win7 boots.
The disk is not being read. If smudged or scratched, wash it to be sure. Try another bootable disk in drive to make sure its not the drive. Try the disk in another PC to make sure its not the disk.
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