Install of Win7 as Dual boot with XP SP3 1

[bronano]

On my desktop computer IBM ThinkCentre A50, I have as OS installed Win XP SP3 on partition “C:/”
Interested to install Win7 on empty ( spare ) formatted partition “E:/ of 30 GB. on the same HD
This my machine is reinforced and have 3.0 GB of RAM and ASUS Graphic Card of 512 MB.
I’ve checked if installation could be done – all is O.K.
I have installation DVD with Ultimate Win 7, but I ask you to advice me what to do- if I like to install Win 7 on a/m partition I must chose Custom installation and in this case my XP SP3 and all data of this OS will be deleted from my machine- what I like to exclude absolutely – so please let me know what can I do.
To re-assume, I’d like to install Win7 Ultimate on my IBM , but without damage of any existing programs, files and cetera.
Thanks in advice for your assistance

 

[DrB0b]

Personally, I would go with VirtualBox and make a VM of Windows 7 if you are just interested in playing around with it. Since Im not sure what your overall goal is with W7, that makes the most since.

If you boot with the W7 disc and install on the secondary partition, nothing will happen to the data on the primary unless you format the whole drive or tell it to install on the primary partition.

"You don't know what you got, till its gone..
80's hair band Cinderella or ode to data backups???

 

[BadBigBen]

The target partition can be a separate partition on the same physical disk, or it can be on a different hard disk.
If your system contains a single disk with a single partition used as drive C, you cannot create a multiboot system unless you add a new disk
or use software tools to shrink the existing partition and create a new partition from the free space.
(The Windows 7 Disk Management console, Diskmgmt.msc, includes this capability; to shrink partitions on a system running
an older Windows version, you’ll need third-party software.)
The new partition does not need to be empty; however, it should not contain system files for another Windows installation.
Run the setup program, choose the Custom (Advanced) option, and select the disk and partition you want to use for the new installation.

Source: Create a Multiboot System for Windows 7 (best viewed with IE)

Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"

 

[bronano]

Thanks for assistance.
During beginning of Win 7 install, two options appears - one when you install it on clean HD, and another when you intend to put it on separate partition –stating “Custom installation and in this case XP SP3 and all data of this OS, will be deleted from machine”- what I like to exclude absolutely."
This notice confuse me and I stopped install of Win 7 for a/m reason.
I have not installed WM on my PC, but I am curious to test Win 7 and see how much is better than XP SP3

 

[DrB0b]

If you are just testing it out, I would definitely just create a Virtual Machine and play with that. Then when you are done, all you have to do is delete the VM in a couple easy steps. Way easier than ridding a entire installed OS.

That being said, once you hit the Custom install button, it should take you to the place where you pick your partition to install to. Install to the empty partition.

"You don't know what you got, till its gone..
80's hair band Cinderella or ode to data backups???

 

[bronano]

Thanks again ,
Unfortunately , I haven’t experience with Virtual Machine and how to create it.
Please let me know how I can create it on this empty partition E:/ and what are further steps to install Win7 on VM.

 

[DrB0b]

To download and install Virtual Box to create Virtual Machines:

https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads

Then you insert the W7 cd in the main drive and create a VM. There are numerous guides out there for creating VMs on Virtual Box. Just check out Google. Here is one such guide:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoSebbqBQQo

Instead of using an ISO, you will just use your optical drive.

This will not install it on your secondary partition, it just creates a Virtual OS on your main partition and doesnt mess with or care about the primary OS.

If you absolutely want it on your secondary partition then install it there as listed above.

"You don't know what you got, till its gone..
80's hair band Cinderella or ode to data backups???

 

[bronano]

From other sites found info that Win 7 will work much worst than if installed as independent installation on partition E:/.
Would like to here what is your opinion about that

 

[DrB0b]

All depends on the makeup of your PC. Heck I have a Server 08, 03, W7, Vista, Ubuntu, and various XP VMs installed on my PC for testing and general program research.

If you are running with low drive space, a slow processor, and not much RAM, than yes, what you have found holds true. If you are running a bigger machine, then it really wont matter.

"You don't know what you got, till its gone..
80's hair band Cinderella or ode to data backups???