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Old June 15th 18, 04:33 AM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support,alt.windows7.general
Paul[_32_]
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Posts: 11,873
Default Installing Win XP & & on PC with 2000 Running

Newgene McMensa wrote:
This computer using Win2000 on it -- I have to keep it for running one proprietary program. But it's limited with the OS for normal tasks.

I just picked up "new" OEM versions of XP and 7, that would like to load on the same computer, so that I can boot to any one of them without screwing up the other two.

Any pointers on where to look or super E-Z advice to follow?


Thanks in advance


1) Backup C: system drive with Win2K to an external disk.
If you make a meesteak, you can start over.

2) Using disk management, define an NTFS partition of a size
you're happy with. NTFS for WinXP is intended to help keep
it (slightly) more secure.

If you use FAT32 for WinXP, you'll need the RidgeCrop FAT32formatter
to handle partitions larger than 32GB.

If you set a "label" on the new partition, such as "WINXP",
the stupid installer will probably reformat the partition
which wipes the label. Using intelligent labels for the partitions
might have to wait for later.

3) Boot the WinXP disc, and install WinXP.
WinXP will modify boot.ini to suit both OSes.

4) In WinXP, define another NTFS partition for
your Win7. That will be the main partition.
Like the other NTFS partition, use default cluster
size (which is 4KB). NTFS is the only choice for Win7.

Note that Windows 7 installer DVD, given't its own
choice, will use megabyte alignment for partitions.
If you define a partition using the running WinXP
OS, that will be MBR aligned.

As to what alignment to prefer, that depends on the
disk. Disks come in 512n (native, the best kind),
512e (better if these are aligned properly), and
4Kn (*don't* buy those, there aren't tools for
interworking with them). Since you've already installed
Win2K, it would be "messy" to do something else now
anyway. Making the Win7 partition from WinXP, will
keep most of the disk "consistent" in design.

5) You can point the Win7 installer at the empty
partition in question, but it can also insist
on adding a smaller System Reserved partition.
If memory serves, pointing the installer right at
the empty C: might result in a more compact install,
without the System Reserved partition. The purpose of
SR is to support BitLocker whole disk encryption, and
having a separate SR isn't really necessary for most people.

Windows 7 keeps boot menu details in the BCD binary
file. Boot menu details later (the three OSes) will
be displayed by running "bcdedit" command from an
Administrator Command Prompt window in the freshly
installed Windows 7.

6) Depending on what kind of a rough ride you're given,
the disk looks like this. Windows 7 runs the show.
Notice this takes four partitions. Notice I can't use
GPT partitioning, because the other OSes don't comprehend it.
Only Win7 would understand GPT. Windows installer discs
will also install with Extended+Logical partitions.
I *hate* this, because of the problems later if I
wanted to delete Win2K and WinXP and then run with
just Win7. The purpose of making the three partitions
on the left Primary partitions, is to simplify maintenance
later. (The MBR is a single sector, is not a partition,
and is drawn this way to signify legacy MSDOS partitioning.
it's where the partition table lives...)

Primary1 Primary2 Primary3 Primary4?
+-----+----------+----------+----------+-----------------+
| MBR | Win2K | WinXP | Win7 C: | System Reserved |
+-----+----------+----------+----------+-----------------+
Boot System,Active


If you have a DATA partition, either combine the DATA
into your Win2K install before starting, or transfer to
another disk.

If by using the custom option, pointing it to the empty
NTFS you convince it to not create System Reserved, then
the setup looks like this.

+-----+----------+----------+----------------------------+
| MBR | Win2K | WinXP | Win7 C: |
+-----+----------+----------+----------------------------+
System,Active,Boot

And in that case, there's room for a fourth partition
containing, say, a DATA partition.

Say, for example, I led a blessed life, I prepared empty
partitions in advanced, I used the custom button and told
the installer to use just the partition I provided, your
setup *might* look like this.

+-----+----------+----------+----------+------------------+
| MBR | Win2K | DATA | WinXP | Win7 C: |
+-----+----------+----------+----------+------------------+
System,Active,Boot

It's not hard to do this stuff, but it might take
more than one try to get it "just right". That's why
we make backups, so there's a fallback option.

I usually save activation for later, when the layout
looks good. Note that WinXP will give you merry hell,
as the wiring isn't so good any more. To activate
WinXP, you might have to install IE8.

IE8-WindowsXP-x86-ENU.exe 16,883,056 bytes

http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=261544

To bring your IE8 WinXP up to date, try this Cumulative.

https://download.microsoft.com/downl...Custom-ENU.exe

And if you actually expect WinXP Windows Update to work,
well... I don't want any sad faces. It's hard work
making this **** function. That's another entire post.
I have a VM flailing on this machine right now,
not behaving properly, so nothing has changed much
when it comes to Windows Update. Just perfect your
install skillz for now. The real work comes later.

Have fun,
Paul
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