Installing OSS on system already set up for dual boot (XP - 7)
Looking to see if it's safe to install the DD OSS into my current system.
I have Dell system with original XP (SP3) installed, Added second hard drive and used DD to partition new drive.
Then installed Win 7 to separate partition on new drive. (Drive letter J). Used what Mudcrab calls "the microsoft/windows method" which I now know writes Win 7 to the XP boot system and not a separate Win 7 boot on the Win 7 partition.
I did go in (with guidance) and created a registry entry in XP to have it consider Win 7 partition as 'offline' so it would stop deleting the 'restore points' data in Win 7.
System boots and offers choice between XP and Win 7 (default = XP) and either system loads without problems.
*If* I were to install the OSS from the DD, would this muck things up with the current configuration? (Would I be better off leaving well enough alone?)
If I "really" wanted to install the OSS, should I uninstall Win 7, install OSS, then re-install Win 7 to the same (letter J) partition using the DD/OSS to direct the install? (Not that I really want to, just an 'in case' question. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" sort of thing)
I did use True Image to copy/backup my partitions before installing Win 7
I did a search, but didn't come across any question/replies close to this topic. If there is one that I missed, please point me there.
I would consider myself "computer comfortable; can follow directions, but not write code or mess w/ registry/boot without specific directions" :-)
Thanks
BYC
Windows XP pro was OEM by Dell when I bought the computer. I do have a 'resource' disk that I got when I ordered it."Reinstallation DVD" "Windows XP media center edition 2005" (my system is a 32 bit system and I had upgraded to 4 gb Ram. Pentium D 2.8 Gig processor)
The Win 7 Professional is from a disk.
PS, bought this system in 2005
Thanks for responding.
BYC
I would not be bothered if uninstalling Win 7 would be safer for me than messing with two boot file systems; I had just recently installed it, so have not loaded a lot of other apps with it and they would be easily re-installed.
Thanks
Bruce
BYC
The basic instructions for separating XP and Windows 7 can be found on my website (linked here). The procedure outlined is for Vista, but it's the same for Windows 7.
Part 4 is on fixing XP. Since you don't have an XP CD, you can do the following repair instead from the Windows 7 DVD.
XP's partition can easily be repaired by fixing the boot sector. This can be accomplished by booting to the Windows 7 DVD, selecting to Repair the computer, and making your way to the Command Prompt (you can see the general procedure on getting to the prompt for Vista here [Windows 7 is very similar]). Once at the prompt, run the following command:
bootsect /nt52 q:
Where q: is the drive letter assigned to the XP partition. This will return the boot sector code to the XP standard to load ntldr.
After doing this fix, the computer should boot directly to XP.
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While still at the Windows 7 Command Prompt you can copy the booting files from the XP partition to the Windows 7 partition. My guide still hasn't been updated to use robocopy, which is easier. When you get to the part on copying the files, you can run the following two commands:
robocopy C:\ D:\ bootmgr
robocopy C:\Boot D:\Boot /s
This assumes that C: is the partition with the booting files and D: is the one without them (the Windows 7 partition). You could also following the instructions in the guide to copy the files.
It's recommended to delete/remove the Windows 7 booting files from the XP partition before installing OSS as they may cause detection and setup problems.
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At this point, each OS should be independent of the other. The partition set Active will boot. You can use DD to change this to test that each OS boots properly. Once they do, you could install OSS and it should detect them properly. If you wish, you could create an Entire Disk Image backup before installing OSS. This would let you easily revert if you run into any problems.
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If you want to reinstall Windows 7 instead of moving the booting files, just fix the XP partition's boot sector (as above), use DD to set the XP partition Hidden and the Windows 7 partition Active, then boot from the Windows 7 DVD and install Windows 7 to its partition. When you are ready to install OSS make sure that both partitions are not hidden.
Will running bootsect /nt52 q: remove the Win7 boot files from XP or is that a different process? Should I use the lower case of the drive letter as you did with q: when running these commands?
Is Robocopy part of the boot system or is that a separate download?
Will I need to enable viewing of hidden files and system files in both XP and then boot Win 7 and enable there also? Or will enabling in XP also enable them to be viewed in Win 7?
I have XP on the original 160 gig drive and installed Win 7 on a partition on the new 500 gig drive. Both are internal SATA drives with SATA 7 cables. Any changes need to be made with this arrangement?
I have DD installed in the XP partition. After all the files, loaders and boot sectors are restored, do I also need to have it installed on the Win 7 partition, or is it 'safe' to go to the XP partition while in Win 7 and run DD to install OSS?
Thanks again and I've been looking thru the pages you linked to on your site.
Bruce
BYC
Will running bootsect /nt52 q: remove the Win7 boot files from XP or is that a different process? Should I use the lower case of the drive letter as you did with q: when running these commands?
It will not remove the Windows 7 booting files from the XP partition. You just need to do that before installing OSS (so the duplicates don't confuse it). You should be able to delete them from XP (enable viewing of hidden and system files). Otherwise, you can delete them after copying them when you're booted to the Windows 7 DVD.
The case of the drive letter doesn't matter. Just use the correct letter.
Is Robocopy part of the boot system or is that a separate download?
robocopy in included on the Windows 7 DVD and is also included with Windows 7. No need to download anything.
Will I need to enable viewing of hidden files and system files in both XP and then boot Win 7 and enable there also? Or will enabling in XP also enable them to be viewed in Win 7?
Enabling in one OS will not enable it in the other. If you want this option enabled in Windows 7, you will need to do it in that OS. Note that I don't recommend using the system normally with these options enabled. Just enable them when necessary to perform the required tasks.
I have XP on the original 160 gig drive and installed Win 7 on a partition on the new 500 gig drive. Both are internal SATA drives with SATA 7 cables. Any changes need to be made with this arrangement?
There is no difference to the separation instructions. However, to test booting into Windows 7 after the separation you would need to boot the Windows 7 drive instead of the XP drive. Also, after installing OSS, if OSS enables disk swapping you will need to disable it.
I have DD installed in the XP partition. After all the files, loaders and boot sectors are restored, do I also need to have it installed on the Win 7 partition, or is it 'safe' to go to the XP partition while in Win 7 and run DD to install OSS?
You do not have to install DD in Windows 7 unless you want to. You can't just run DD by accessing it from the XP partition (it has to be installed). You can boot into XP and install OSS or you can install DD/OSS in Windows 7 and install it from there. You could also boot to the DD/OSS CD and install it from there.
In your separation guide, after allowing viewing of hidden files and hidden OS files, your screen shot shows the Root folder contents including the Vista boot and boot manager. (figure 2.4)
How do I identify which folders are Win7 (vista in your guide) that should be removed after separating the systems, but before installing the OSS?
Would uninstalling Win 7 (and reinstalling after XP drive is 'hidden' remove those files from the XP partition and is 'hidden' the same as 'inactive' ? (DD offers option of making partition active or inactive).
Bruce
Bruce,
You would delete the bootmgr file from the root folder on the XP partition and delete the \Boot folder on the XP partition. The reason for this is so OSS (or Windows Repair, if used later) doesn't find these files. You want it to use the correct files on the Windows 7 partition.
Is 'hidden' the same as 'inactive' ? (DD offers option of making partition active or inactive).
Thanks
Bruce
They are not the same. Inactive is just not Active (these only affect Primary partitions). Hidden and Unhidden are separate and change the partition type value.
I assume you are using DD 11 Home. Make sure you're using the latest build (2,121) to have access to the Hide/Unhide features as well as the ability to put the OSS programs on the DD CD (the first build lacked these and other features).
I do have the DD11 with the current build you mentioned. I opened it and found the 'hide' feature. My program was a download, so don't have a CD for it. (or are you refering to making a CD using DD?)
Bruce
Bruce,
Use DD to create the DD bootable media. You can create a bootable CD or flash drive. Include both DD and the OSS programs (I usually include them all). Whichever method you use make sure to test it and make sure it works before you start on the project.
Start DD, select the Tools menu and then Acronis Bootable Media Builder.
Hi MudCrab,
Been busy, so haven't been able to check in lately. With creating the bootable media using DD as in your post above. It offers linux version or Windows PE version. (PE version requires download/install of some files to enable you to create the disc).
Where I have a Windows OS, will the Linux version of the bootable media work or would I need to create one in Windows PE?
(I do have a install disk for Acronis True Image, but as I mentioned in a post above, the DD was a download and I didn't order the disk)
Thanks again
Bruce
You can make either one, though the Linux version is easier if you've never created a WinPE CD. Boot the CD after you make it and see if DD loads up okay and can see the drives correctly.