Windows XP to Windows 7 Upgrade

[butcherbird]

I have a machine running on Widows XP Pro x32 SP3. I am entitled to and have bought a copy of Windows 7 Ultimate x64 which covers me for two machines. The Windows 7 copy is a student upgrade version. I have 4 SATA drives c:500GB d:1TB e:500Gb f:1TB.

The rather murky instructions that were given with the upgrade copy was that another Microsoft Product (operating system) must be present on the machine i.e. XP. All the software is from reputable sources - just not so help orientated.

So question! Can I install Windows 7 on Drive e: and use Drive f: for data and keep XP on Drive C: with it's data on Drive d:.......I reason that there must be a dual boot solution and since I can only use one operating system at a time I am within the licence.

For those students that qualify the upgrade was obtained from www.software4students.co.uk (http://www.software4students.co.uk) who are Microsoft Partners.

Thanks.

Butcherbird

[williamw11]

its an upgrade so it replaces the xp licence surely?

[butcherbird]

Yes but surely I still retain the original licence for XP? Should I junk the XP original disk then?

[williamw11]

you can keep the disk to use if you uninstall win 7 and go back to xp.
Thats my understanding anyway

[wonderlust]

technically you would be unlicenced.

But in the real world you can keep both with out an issue.

The Windows 7 install will not take note of the XP serial number in any way.

If it were me I would disconnect all the drives except the drive you are planning on installing Windows 7 on, then install it without using the serial number. once installed follow the guide on the link below to allow you to activate a clean install with an upgrade code.

I have done this and it works very well, it will leave your XP intact and will alow you to chose which OS to boot into using the Bios drive selection screen (F8 or F11 on boot up on most home built systems)

http://www.winsupersite.com/win7/clean_install_upgrade_media.asp

[DoubleTop]

I still don't get why so many people want to keep XP :confused:

Just install windows7 and use virtual machines for anything that won't run on 7. I've just upgraded my sons machine, and the boys have many older legacy type games. Every single one has ran on Win7, some required a little work around due to directX detection, but they all run fine.

Keeping XP installed, to me seems a bit backwards. Let's buy a new car, but keep the old one in the driveway, letting it rust as you never know the new one might breakdown :(

DT.

[michaelkenward]

So question! Can I install Windows 7 on Drive e: and use Drive f: for data and keep XP on Drive C: with it's data on Drive d:.......I reason that there must be a dual boot solution and since I can only use one operating system at a time I am within the licence.

This is similar to my own upgrade scenario, although I have Vista and Windows 7 running side by side, well dual booting.

(If you haven't found it yet, EasyBCD (http://neosmart.net/dl.php?id=1) offers painless management of dual-boot systems.)

In my case, Vista was on Drive C and all data on Drive E. After you install, whichever drive you boot to will become drive C, while, in my case, the other OS becomes drive D.

While installing, Windows 7 will find the other operating system and recognise it for what it is.

My copy of Windows 7 says "Upgrade". (I got the family pack.) It describes itself as an "upgrade", but in reality it installs clean just fine.

Indeed, the box suggests that this is really the best strategy for XP users. There is a dire warning about the need to backup all your stuff "do a clean install" and then reinstall the software.

That is what I did in Vista. The thought of upgrading my operating system on top of an existing installation fills me with dread. This is never a good idea.

So I now have two PCs that can dual boot between Vista and Windows 7, although I rarely go into Vista. I know, though, that Vista killed some XP stuff so there is probably a stronger case for keeping that alive.

Just about the only thing that made my installation less than straightforward was the need to track down SATA drivers for Windows 7 for an aged motherboard, too old, all of five years, for Asus to want to bother with Windows 7.

In your case, going from XP to 7 may have a few more driver issues. But not if your hardware makers have come up with drivers for Windows 7.