Dual Booting

[theslaz]

I loaded Windows 7 on my computer several days ago. Loaded it on a
separate partition; thus have two operating systems. Windows 7 and
Windows XP. Thinking of eliminating Windows XP as I have all the
necessary files migrated to the Windows 7 system. My question is; what
will happen to the choices the system gives me at boot up. Right now it
asks whether to boot to Windows 7 or my previous installation of XP.
Will this option automatically disappear; or will I have to do something
else on my part?

Thanks in advance
Jerry

 

[theslaz]

You haven't specified how you plan to eliminate Windows XP. Sounds
like the System partition is the partition containing Windows XP, so
if you nuke that partition, you won't be able to boot Windows 7.

Now you have me confused. I thought that by putting Windows on a
separate disk, I would have two disks with a system installed. The
original one for Xp and the new one for Windows 7. I was assuming that I
could just format the drive with XP on it. It is only a 60 Gig drive and
I would just use it for some extra storage; however; if I can't format;
than I'll just leave XP on it! Can't do any harm. Let me know! I need to
know!

 

[peter]

But according to your original question you installed W7 on a separate
partition
not a separate HD therefore the XP master boot record was changed to a W7
MBR with
dual boot info.
If you used a separate HD the same thing would happen if you did not
disconnect the XP drive.
I believe that W7 has the startup repair option when booting from the DVD.
By formatting the XP partition from within W7 and then restarting your
system with the W7 DVD
in place and booting off the dvd you can invoke that startup repair to
correct the MBR

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/681-startup-repair.html

peter

 

[theslaz]

But according to your original question you installed W7 on a separate
partition
not a separate HD therefore the XP master boot record was changed to a W7
MBR with
dual boot info.
If you used a separate HD the same thing would happen if you did not
disconnect the XP drive.
I believe that W7 has the startup repair option when booting from the DVD.
By formatting the XP partition from within W7 and then restarting your
system with the W7 DVD
in place and booting off the dvd you can invoke that startup repair to
correct the MBR

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/681-startup-repair.html

peter

Sorry; my mistake. It was not a "Partition" on the same Hard drive as
Windows XP; but a different Hard drive that I created a new partition on.

 

[smlunatick]

Sorry; my mistake. It was not a "Partition" on the same Hard drive as
Windows XP; but a different Hard drive that I created a new partition on.

You have a similar set up like me. XP on drive 1 and W7(Vista for me)
on drive 2.

When you remove XP, I was told that you "might" also remove the BCD.
Windows 7 / Vista does not use MBR.

I was also told that by booting with the install CD (Vista or Windows
7) you should be able to run a repair which will fix the BCD.
However, Windows 7 will forever be "stuck" on drive 2 and will need
drive 1 to work correct. BUMMER!

 

[peter]

Not if you disconnect drive 1 before doing the startup repair.
but you will need to be sure to change the BIOS boot order so that drive 2
is the boot drive

peter

 

[smlunatick]

Not if you disconnect drive 1 before doing the startup repair.
but you will need to be sure to change the BIOS boot order so that drive 2
is the boot drive

peter

--
If you find a posting or message from me offensive,inappropriate
or disruptive,please ignore it.
If you dont know how to ignore a posting complain
to me and I will be only too happy to demonstrate

Thanks!

 

[JohnO]

Are there dedicated Win 7 newsgroups yet?

....been away for a while, haven't paid attention until today...

-JohnO

 

[JS]

Not yet. Just the Windows 7 forums.

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en/category/w7itpro/

http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/category/windows7