[The Moggle]

Ok guys I' ready to install windows 7 but have some important questions first.

Let's say I'm done using it how do I go back to xp? do I need to back it up?

Please respond because I dont have the origanal OS disc for xp

also I have 2 hard drives each 250gb
will it only format my first drive?

also I have about 90gb on each one left

 

[Princess Garnet]

Install them on separate hard drives. Just make sure the second drive you're installing Windows 7 to doesn't have any data, like backups, on it that you need to keep (or make sure it's not overwritten if so). It will only format whichever drive you choose to install it on. When installing a newer operating system on a separate hard drive of a PC with an older one already on it, you'll get a boot menu when starting to ask you which operating system you want to boot into.

 

[Spyhop]

Why do you want to keep XP?

 

[The Moggle]

wait is it possible to install it on a external HD

 

[nonoitall]

As always, make sure you have a backup of all your important documents.

Are you just trying out Windows 7? If you have a fair amount of free space on either drive, I would shrink whatever partition(s) are on it and create a new partition for Windows 7, leaving your Windows XP installation in tact. Then you can boot into either OS when your computer boots up.

If you are intent on replacing your XP installation with W7, or you don't have space for both OS's, you have a couple options:

1. If you still have your Windows XP key, you can use it with any Windows XP CD of the same version (e.g. Home edition CD for Home edition key, Pro edition CD for Pro edition key). So you could borrow or download a Windows XP setup disc of the appropriate version and use it with your key to reinstall XP.
2. If you don't have your key, you could make a backup of the partition containing your Windows XP installation, and restore it when/if you want XP back.
3. There's also a third (illegal) option in which you acquire a cracked copy of XP and use it to reinstall XP. But don't we all get a warm and fuzzy feeling from using a legitimate copy of an OS?

 

[The Moggle]

I've herd about partition's what exactl'y are they? isn't it a program that splits your hard drive into parts but really you only have 1

 

[Spyhop]

Why do you want to keep XP?

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

[The Moggle]

because once I'm done with win7 I need some OS

 

[Spyhop]

Once you're done with 7? Why not just go to 7 permanently?

 

[nonoitall]

I've herd about partition's what exactl'y are they? isn't it a program that splits your hard drive into parts but really you only have 1

Any physical hard drive can have up to four primary partitions (and many logical ones), each of which will appear as a "drive" in Windows. You probably have one partition on each drive (though some Windows installations also create a very small partition for boot data, that probably isn't visible under My Computer). If you're interested in seeing the layout of discs/partitions on your system you can right-click on My Computer (either on the Start menu or desktop, depending on how you have things laid out) and click Manage. Then, in the tree on the left panel of the window that appears, click the Disk Management item under the Storage section.

Windows XP doesn't come with the tools to shrink partitions, but IIRC, the Windows 7 installation disc might give you the option to shrink existing partitions. (Don't quote me on that.) Otherwise, there are a number of tools you can use to shrink partitions. If it were me, I'd probably use a Parted Magic boot disc, but I imagine most would find it easier to use some tool inside of Windows.

EDIT: Changed Partition Magic to Parted Magic

 

[The Moggle]

well how long does it last til I need to activate it?

 

[nonoitall]

Thirty days? It seems like I remember reading something about it being possible to extend that to 120 days.

 

[koko]

Hey, there's XP mode in Win7..why you don't use it instead?

http://community.winsupersite.com/b...vealing-virtual-windows-xp-for-windows-7.aspx

 

[nonoitall]

Seems like the OP's most recent post implies that he does not have the means by which to install an activated copy of Windows 7, suggesting he's only trying out W7 for a short time. That's the impression I got anyway.

 

[Squall-Leonhart]

i don't think hes computer savvy enough to be using trial OS's.

 

[Spyhop]

How savvy do you have to be?
"Please enter your Windows key" - No
"Okay, you have 30 days, enjoy"

30 days later
"Please enter your Windows key" - Okay, I just bought it, here you go.

 

[Cid Highwind]

To the OP: Do you have a backup system? I was very happy I had a second PC when installing 7, since I needed drivers and all and it cost me an hour to find drivers for my WLAN card, since the vendor (linksys) didn't have any. It's a beta OS, so keep in mind that while most things work, you can and will encounter situations where some piece of hardware is not supported.

 

[gamefreak94]

1) Shrink that single partition on one of your hard-drives, and make another partition (of at least 35GB) to install Win 7 in. Install Win 7 and it will automatically dual-boot itself with XP

2) Once you want to get rid of it, download and install an app called EasyBCD. Open it up and remove the Win 7 entry from the boot menu. Then format the partition containing Win 7 and you're as good as new.

 

[The Moggle]

no I'm using the the final ultimate version. the one that there mass producing right now. and there are win7 loaders

 

[Squall-Leonhart]

those loaders are already patched against, they will be invalidated in the first wave of critical updates.