Technology, Support, and News Forum

[calumk999 Profile]

Hi,

I am trying to dual boot my system with windows XP and Windows 7. My computer originally had windows vista, and I have created two partitions on my Hard Disk. One currently has windows 7 and one has my old Vista that doesn't work very well. It wont let me format my Vista partition from my Windows 7 partition. I was just wondering how I get rid of my Vista and replace it with XP. I have tried to overwrite my vista with XP, when I click on what partition to install on it accepts and installs, however, It then installs onto the Windows 7 particion and overwrites it. I am confused. Can someone help me?

Thanks.

[Grav!ty Profile]

Windows Vista is more than likely on the drive tagged (System) as per Disk Management. You will need to first of all backup your Windows 7 BCD (use DualBootPRO) and place the backup on your Windows 7 partition where you can access it later. It may be a good idea to create a folder on your Windows 7 partition called say "Backup". Also, copy the file bootmgr and the folder Boot (plus contents) to the Backup folder as you will need them later...these are your Windows 7 (and Vista) boot system files.

Next, from your XP installation CD format the Vista partition and install XP there. You will boot to XP after installation without any option to boot to Windows 7. From XP (after you have installed all your hardware drivers), copy your Windows 7 boot system files to the XP partition which should now be the one tagged (System) as per Disk Management) and restore your BCD using DualBootPRO. You will need to delete the Vista entry and to add a legacy entry for Windows XP allocating the drive letter it is on (probably C as seen from XP).

Reboot and this should give you a dual boot menu to be able to boot to either XP or W7.

Check out these guides for more info BEFORE you get started so you have an idea what you are in for:

install-windows-xp-in-dual-boot-with-pre-installed-windows-7-t112568.html

reformatted-and-reinstalled-xp-lost-boot-to-windows-7-t114759.html

NOTE that you will not have a separate System Reserved partition as mentioned in the guides because you installed W 7 after Vista which was already on the System partition.


NB: If you have neither XP or Windows 7 installed yet, first install Windows XP as directed above and then install Windows 7 after XP. That is the correct install order for Windows operating systems (older first followed by newer) and a dual boot menu will be auto created. In this case you need not backup the files I mentioned earlier.