Can both XP and W7 be run on the same computer?

[Patti Barden]

Hi,
I run Xp on my old computer. I am getting a new computer and I'm going to
install W7 on it. I have
been told you can run both XP and W7 on the same computer?

Any advice?
Thanks in advance. Patti

 

[Leonard Grey]

If you're looking for advice do this:

Open the search engine of your choice and type this in the search box...

windows 7 and windows xp on the same computer

....and you'll get lots of advice about Windows XP mode, virtual
environments and dual-booting.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Hi,
I run Xp on my old computer. I am getting a new computer and I'm going to
install W7 on it. I have
been told you can run both XP and W7 on the same computer?

That's correct. In general you can create a multi-boot situation where
you can run any number of different operating systems on the same
computer (but not at the same time). However note two things:

1. The computer has to have hardware on which all the operating
systems you want to run will run.

2. If your old computer cam with XP pre-installed, it's an OEM
version, and the license for an OEM version ties it permanently to the
first computer it's installed on. It may never be moved to another.
Moreover, if XP came preinstalled, it is likely to be BIOS-locked to
that computer, and cannot work on another.

And a question for you: why do you want to do this? Most XP-era
programs will work just fine under Windows 7. And if you install
Windows 7 Professional or Ultimate, you can run XP-era programs under
it in XP Mode; almost all XP-era programs will work that way.

 

[VanguardLH]

I run Xp on my old computer. I am getting a new computer and I'm going to
install W7 on it. I have
been told you can run both XP and W7 on the same computer?

Any advice?
Thanks in advance. Patti

Google on "+windows +multiboot". One handy utility for multibooting is the
GAG manager (http://gag.sourceforge.net/) which you can setup on a floppy
(as the boot device in BIOS) before committing it to the bootstrap area of
the MBR on the first detected hard disk. Since each OS is in its own
partition, you'll probably want to get a partition manager, like the free
one from Easeus.

You never bothered to mention WHICH edition of Windows 7 that you will get.
When you only say "Windows 7", that refers to the entire family of editions
available for that version. The Professional and Ultimate editions include
a license to Windows XP that becomes available if you install XP Mode and
VirtualPC 2007 (and which has seamless mode so you aren't watching the guest
OS running inside a virtual machine's window but instead the apps in the XP
guest OS look like they're running inside your Windows 7 host OS.

 

[Patti Barden]

Google on "+windows +multiboot". One handy utility for multibooting is
the
GAG manager (http://gag.sourceforge.net/) which you can setup on a floppy
(as the boot device in BIOS) before committing it to the bootstrap area of
the MBR on the first detected hard disk. Since each OS is in its own
partition, you'll probably want to get a partition manager, like the free
one from Easeus.

You never bothered to mention WHICH edition of Windows 7 that you will
get.
When you only say "Windows 7", that refers to the entire family of
editions
available for that version. The Professional and Ultimate editions
include
a license to Windows XP that becomes available if you install XP Mode and
VirtualPC 2007 (and which has seamless mode so you aren't watching the
guest
OS running inside a virtual machine's window but instead the apps in the
XP
guest OS look like they're running inside your Windows 7 host OS.

Thanks Ken. I have ordered Windows 7 Home Edition to put on my new computer.
My plan was to use the Windows File and Transfer Wizard to copy my settings,
put them on my external drive and then pull them onto my new computer.
Then create a new partition on the new computer and install W7. Am I way
off?
I will check out the GAG manager.
Patti

 

[mikeyhsd]

why not upgrade to one of the top 2-3 version of W7 and get the xp virtualization manager for free and run xp in it.

(e-mail address removed)

Google on "+windows +multiboot". One handy utility for multibooting is
the
GAG manager (http://gag.sourceforge.net/) which you can setup on a floppy
(as the boot device in BIOS) before committing it to the bootstrap area of
the MBR on the first detected hard disk. Since each OS is in its own
partition, you'll probably want to get a partition manager, like the free
one from Easeus.

You never bothered to mention WHICH edition of Windows 7 that you will
get.
When you only say "Windows 7", that refers to the entire family of
editions
available for that version. The Professional and Ultimate editions
include
a license to Windows XP that becomes available if you install XP Mode and
VirtualPC 2007 (and which has seamless mode so you aren't watching the
guest
OS running inside a virtual machine's window but instead the apps in the
XP
guest OS look like they're running inside your Windows 7 host OS.

Thanks Ken. I have ordered Windows 7 Home Edition to put on my new computer.
My plan was to use the Windows File and Transfer Wizard to copy my settings,
put them on my external drive and then pull them onto my new computer.
Then create a new partition on the new computer and install W7. Am I way
off?
I will check out the GAG manager.
Patti

 

[Patti Barden]

OK, I am getting W7 Ultimate. My friend is building me a new computer.
I have just looked at my husband's lap top (Home addition) which
has the Windows Easy Transfer for transferring from WXP.

Does anyone know if by using this Easy Transfer Wizard from an XP
computer to a W7 Ultimate computer I will be creating a "Dual Boot"
for both?

I am confused about "virtualization manager" someone mentioned.
The Easy Transfer program does not mention partitions? Will I be able to run
XP just like any other program? Just don't understand what I will
wind up with.
Thank you.

 

[Leonard Grey]

WET can transfer data files (documents, video, spreadsheets, etc.) and
certain program settings (desktop background, icon size, sound scheme,
etc.) It does not create a dual boot setup.

 

[VanguardLH]

OK, I am getting W7 Ultimate. My friend is building me a new computer.
I have just looked at my husband's lap top (Home addition) which
has the Windows Easy Transfer for transferring from WXP.

Does anyone know if by using this Easy Transfer Wizard from an XP
computer to a W7 Ultimate computer I will be creating a "Dual Boot"
for both?

I am confused about "virtualization manager" someone mentioned.
The Easy Transfer program does not mention partitions? Will I be able to run
XP just like any other program? Just don't understand what I will
wind up with.

Do you even know what "dual boot" means? It appears that your intention is
to *migrate* to Windows 7, not to have multiple operating systems installed
and available on the same host.

WET has nothing to do with dual- or multi-booting anymore than you copying
files onto a floppy or CD to put them under a new OS install has to do with
anything about booting.

What is your real goal?