Win.XP -Win.7 dual boot

[Pat Brown]

I installed 7, now trying to install xp as a dual boot. I need to install
SATA drivers via F6 during the XP install through Floopy Drive A. The
problem is - I have no floppy drive. Do I have to go buy and install one? Is
there a way around this?
Now here is a weird side note....My Win 7 device manager says I DO have
a floppy drive and its working properly, also "my Computer" shows I have one
also. Whats up with that??
Thanks, Pat

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I installed 7, now trying to install xp as a dual boot. I need to
install SATA drivers via F6 during the XP install through Floopy
Drive A. The problem is - I have no floppy drive. Do I have to go
buy and install one? Is there a way around this?
Now here is a weird side note....My Win 7 device manager says I
DO have a floppy drive and its working properly, also "my Computer"
shows I have one also. Whats up with that??

Turn it off in the BIOS, it will go away in Windows 7.

Get a cheap floppy diskette is the easiest. Integrate the drivers you need
into your installation media is next.

Personally - I would not bother with a dual-boot. I would either run
Windows XP mode or use VirtualBox to have a VM that way. Probably work
better for most people in the long run - unless there is some reason you
need direct access to the hardware of the machine.

 

[rcgldr]

I installed 7, now trying to install xp as a dual boot. I need to install SATA drivers via F6 during the XP install

through Floopy Drive A. The problem is - I have no floppy drive. Do I have to go buy and install one? Is there a way
around this?

If there is a floppy cable connector on your motherboard, then buying
or borrowing a floppy drive is probably the easiest.

The other option would be to "slipstream" the SATA driver to create a bootable
cd-rom with XP and the SATA driver.

 

[peter]

Now that you have your Floppy drive answers I thought
I would make you aware that the normal dual boot procedure calls for XP to be
installed first and then
W7. W7 uses a different boot manager then XP and XP will overwrite that W7 boot
manager and you
will only boot into XP.You would need to use your W7 DVD and do a start up
repair after the XP installation.
You did not mention 2 drives nor 2 partitions. You would need either one to
install XP..never install into
the same partition as W7

Of course you could always disconnect the drive that W7 is installed on and
install XP onto the other drive.if you have one
This does not change anything on the W7 boot sector. .. but it requires you to
either enter the BIOS and chose which
drive to boot from or if your BIOS has the capability to push F12 at boot to
access the boot order in a small onscreen box.

peter

 

[glee]

The obvious alternative is to install a boot manager and install XP on a
second partition. Then it does not matter which OS was installed first
because they are hidden from each other, and neither's boot manager
comes into play for the dual-boot.

BootIt NG:
http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/bootit-next-generation.htm

 

[rcgldr]

The other option would be to "slipstream" the SATA driver to create a bootable

cd-rom with XP and the SATA driver.

Intel "tutorial" for slipstreaming Intel drivers, using the freeware program nlite:

http://www.intel.com/support/motherboards/server/sb/CS-029550.htm

 

[T Shadow]

I installed 7, now trying to install xp as a dual boot. I need to install
SATA drivers via F6 during the XP install through Floopy Drive A. The
problem is - I have no floppy drive. Do I have to go buy and install one?
Is there a way around this?

Make a bootable CD with something like Nero. Doesn't need to be a
slipstream. Use the emulate floppy function. Part of it will show up as
floppy A:\ and the rest like a CD D:\ or whatever after your HDDs. You could
put other items on the rest of the CD if needed(probably even a DVD). Say
display drivers. Of course you need to set BIOS to boot the optical drive
first. Google bootable CD if you need more info. Lots of info on it out
there.

Works that way with IDE drives anyway.

 

[rcgldr]

Make a bootable CD with something like Nero. Doesn't need to be a slipstream. Use the emulate floppy function. Part of

it will show up as floppy A:\ and the rest like a CD D:\ or whatever after your HDDs. You could put other items on the
rest of the CD if needed(probably even a DVD). Say display drivers. Of course you need to set BIOS to boot the optical
drive first. Google bootable CD if you need more info. Lots of info on it out there.

The issue here is getting the XP install proccess, which is also booting
from that same cd-rom, to allow you to switch cd-roms and recognize the
other cd-rom as a floppy, then switch back to continue.

 

[JessicaD42]

Rcgldr,

If you wish to be able to use both Windows 7 and Windows X
simultaneously, have you heard of and considered testing XP Mode an
Virtual PC?

To learn more about XP Mode please see the following link
http://bit.ly/d8i7Sb

Jessica
Microsoft Windows Client Tea

 

[glee]

Do you expect people to click a link that does not indicate where it is
going? A bit.ly link can point to anything....including a malware
site. Please use the actual microsoft.com link when posting. Thanks
for understanding.

Virtual PC is the best idea.

XP Mode as I recall only works with Windows 7 Professional, Ultimate and
Enterprise, and requires particular processors AND BIOS support, as well
as the memory requirements. AMD's list of processors is
straightforward, but Intel's list is a grab bag of worms.

How many Intel CPUs will fail the XP Mode test in Windows 7?
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=946&page=2

Windows 7 "XP Mode" system requirements
http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=4263

 

[Unknown]

I'll bet you're Microsoft Client Team. Wouldn't click on that URL for
anything.

 

[JessicaD42]

For those of you hesitant of clicking an external link to which you ca
not verify the domain -- I completely understand.

The un-shortened URL for more information on XP Mode and Virtual PC i
as follows:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/download.aspx

Also, Glen -- you are correct -- XP Mode which requires Virtual PC doe
also require hardware support and Windows Professional or above. Mos
computers within the past year to year and a half should hav
processors that support virtualization.

Jessica
Microsoft Windows Client Team

 

[Swifty]

I'll bet you're Microsoft Client Team. Wouldn't click on that URL for
anything.

You don't have to; there's a Firefox plugin that tells you where the
link would take you. Of course, that comes from bit.ly

 

[Unknown]

Don't want nor use Firefox.

You don't have to; there's a Firefox plugin that tells you where the
link would take you. Of course, that comes from bit.ly

 

[rcgldr]

Rcgldr,

If you wish to be able to use both Windows 7 and Windows XP
simultaneously, have you heard of and considered testing XP Mode and
Virtual PC?

I would be using Windows XP for games that wouldn't run with Windows 7.
Virtual PC would end up to slow for those games.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I would be using Windows XP for games that wouldn't run with
Windows 7. Virtual PC would end up to slow for those games.

Guess that truly depnds on the hardware in the first place and the games
requirements. ;-)

Seemed to work okay for WoW.