Win7 upgrade - multiboot retained ?

[- Bobb -]

I run XP and pre-ordered Win7 Pro upgrade.I received it a while ago and
mulling this over ....

I read that for XP it will reformat the XP partition ( or is it drive ?),
but here's my question(s):
Can I have XP on several disks at start of install ? (with 2 different
licenses ) and JUST affect XP on one drive ?
When Win7 UPGRADE install completes, is multiboot an option ? on its own ?
or only via tweaking ?
Any gotchas ?
Background:
Currently, I have 2 disks in PC 1 IDE, 1 SATA
SATA drive has XP Pro ( everyday) and data partitions
IDE drive - partitions = X64, XP (test image) , had Win7 beta, Vista beta on
2 others

Currently: primary boot = IDE w/EasyBCD :
Win7 (beta) menu screen - I elect "Previous OS menu"
Gets me to my multiboot menu prior to installing Win7 beta (still on IDE)
I then decide is it sata or ide boot,
If IDE , which partition.

Proposed:
Add another IDE that has XP on it ( - different (full) license). It was old
system disk here when I had one drive only.

I want it to identify the target for the upgrade as IDE2 , wipe XP
partition on this IDE2 drive and when I'm all done I will boot this drive to
Win 7 Pro boot menu, where I will choose Win7 , x64, 'beta' , or 'XP test
environment'. ( as I currently do). I will have option to boot any drive /
any os, remove TWO drives and leave just the new Win7 drive in there ( to
wipe/reuse drives elsewhere IF needed) etc.

Thanks.

 

[Thee Chicago Wolf [MVP]]

I run XP and pre-ordered Win7 Pro upgrade.I received it a while ago and

mulling this over ....

I read that for XP it will reformat the XP partition ( or is it drive ?),
but here's my question(s):
Can I have XP on several disks at start of install ? (with 2 different
licenses ) and JUST affect XP on one drive ?
When Win7 UPGRADE install completes, is multiboot an option ? on its own ?
or only via tweaking ?
Any gotchas ?
Background:
Currently, I have 2 disks in PC 1 IDE, 1 SATA
SATA drive has XP Pro ( everyday) and data partitions
IDE drive - partitions = X64, XP (test image) , had Win7 beta, Vista beta on
2 others

Currently: primary boot = IDE w/EasyBCD :
Win7 (beta) menu screen - I elect "Previous OS menu"
Gets me to my multiboot menu prior to installing Win7 beta (still on IDE)
I then decide is it sata or ide boot,
If IDE , which partition.

Proposed:
Add another IDE that has XP on it ( - different (full) license). It was old
system disk here when I had one drive only.

I want it to identify the target for the upgrade as IDE2 , wipe XP
partition on this IDE2 drive and when I'm all done I will boot this drive to
Win 7 Pro boot menu, where I will choose Win7 , x64, 'beta' , or 'XP test
environment'. ( as I currently do). I will have option to boot any drive /
any os, remove TWO drives and leave just the new Win7 drive in there ( to
wipe/reuse drives elsewhere IF needed) etc.

You *can* multiboot if you make a new partition on which to install
Win7 otherwise yes, you MUST reformat and install clean. There is a
migration tool (not free) for moving XP to Win7 but what's the point,
it won't work well. Bite the bullet, backup your stuff, and start
fresh on Win 7.

- Thee Chicago Wolf [MVP]

 

[Jerry]

If my memory is correct: upgrading from XP to Win7 results in the install of
Win7 turning XP into a folder WINDOWS.OLD and then invalidating the license
for XP; meaning you can no longer use that license to install or activate
XP. - it is considered dead.

To keep XP and multi-boot into Win7 you mist purchase a full, not upgrade,
version of Win7.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

If my memory is correct: upgrading from XP to Win7 results in the install of
Win7

No, upgrading from Windows XP to Windows 7 isn't possible. A clean
installation is necessary.

 

[- Bobb -]

But I have 2 XP licenses
One OEM - leaving alone
and one full license ( for a PC that I built), which I want to upgrade

I'm thinking the upgrade will wipe that one Full XP drive, but will I then
be able to multi boot my current OEM XP, X64 (on one drive) and the new Win
7 (on the other) ?

Reason for asking ... I installed the Win7 trial onto one of my drive
partitions and was then able to boot XP, X64,Vista as well as Win7 (beta).
Is the intent of Win7 (full) to prevent anyone from keeping XP - even if
another license - on another drive ?

If so, then I'll install full xp onto another box and upgrade THAT.
But I'd like to keep in same box if I could.
Thanks

 

[Donnie Rucker]

Yes with the license it is possible. I would install two XP first then point
the upgrade to xp that you want to upgrade. FYI All Windows XP and Windows
Vista editions qualify for a Windows 7 upgrade.