Im running XP and want to install 7 in dual boot.
My problem:
Will installing 7 have drive letter complications and create problems for my already running XP windows? I have a whole bunch of stuff installed in XP and will be using XP as my default, only turning to 7 when i have directx 10 or directx 11 softwares/games.
I want my XP to be as it is after installing windows 7.:)
i will be using a seperate 100GB drive for 7.
Please help....
Using separate HD's is the best way to dual boot:
Unplug the XP HD during Win7 install, set Win7 to boot first in BIOS setup.
After 7 install, plug back in XP and boot it using the one-time BIOS BOot Menu key given on first boot screen.
This keeps the OS HD's independent to come and go as you please, whereas leaving XP plugged in during Win7 install to configure a Windows-managed Dual Boot interlocks them requiring major surgery to remove XP later.
I figured it out! My dumb computer says that it is an X86. I got a notification today that my PC needed windows seven service pack 1. I Installed it and wouldn't you know, its not 32 bit!I don't know why it says X86 instead of X64 but it does. I actually took the advice of using the Virtual XP Mode and everything's working great. Thanks for the help and rapid response.
First I want to say how awesome this entire post and guide has been. It has saved me this week with installing XP 32bit and Win7 X64 in a RAID setup. Once I found the proper drivers for XP, NTlite and booting to install XP worked just fine, and using EasyBCD to restore the MBR worked like magic. I verified twice before handing the machine to the client - when booted into Win7, C: was Win7 and E: was XP, and on the XP side, C: was XP and D: was Win7.
However, I have run into an issue. Apparently the client now needs to install an application that must use the C: to install and now when you boot into XP, it shows the 100MB system folder as C: drive, the Win7 partition as drive D: and where XP is install as drive E:. On the Win7 side there is no real issue, win7 is C: and E: is XP.
I need to be able to have XP as the C: when booted into XP.
Attached are screenshots of EasyBCD settings as well as the disk management from Win7 and the drive letters as seen in XP. Is there something I am missing or is this a pain to fix?
Thanks in advance!
Try removing the drive letter of System 100mb partition.
https://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials...ndows-7-a.html
I do not know why a booted XP installer would not install itself as C unless you installed it to a Logical partition which couldn't host it's boot files so they were placed on the Win7 100mb System Reserved partition.
In any case I would remove the drive letter from 100mb in XP Disk Management so nothing will write to and corrupt it.
I tried to do that from within XP as that is the only partition I see that 100MB system partition. I was unable to change the letter drive of that or of the E:. The error was along the lines of "unable to change the drive of boot partitions and/or system folders"."
Not sure why it did either. I did the install on Monday/Tuesday and I verified twice making sure the machine would boot into both OS's just fine and that there were no hickups. I saw that on Tuesday in XP, C: was the XP partition and D: was the Win7 partition. Somehow something 'broke.' And of course, the client's application MUST be installed in C: for some reason(can't choose which drive to install to...)
Are you saying the XP drive letter changed? Because then it may change back. I'd boot into XP and remove the 100mb SysReserved drive letter to see if XP reverts after several reboots.
If not, Paragon Rescue CD is used specfically to change slipped drive letters however we've only ever used it when the OS isn't bootable because of it. Paragon Rescue -change drive letters
As a rule of thumb changing OS drive letters will otherwise always bork the installation.
I suppose I am saying the drive letters slipped and somehow changed(learn something new every day!). I'll try tomorrow and see if I can remove the 100MB system partition drive letter and see if that fixes this issue.
If not, I'll give that Paragon Rescue CD a go.
Thanks for the help and quick responses. I really appreciate it!
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