Windows 7 Installation?

[Meness]

Hey .Org community! I've a question for you (once again). I'm running a XP OS right now, and I'm thinking of upgrading to Windows 7. I was wondering if I installed it in the same Partition that XP is in right now, will it wipe out XP and just install there? And will my programs and data get wiped out too?

 

[Flickayy]

I dont believe it would, i believe it would do something called a dual boot.

as i have XP and Vista on the same Partition, and it hasnt overwrited anything. and it works fine for me. Also it shouldnt affect the Program files. I can still use the programs i have installed on XP fine.

 

[mawk]

I'm not sure about the second point, although I doubt it very much. it'd be a dick move to do that to somebody.

 

[Drago del Fato]

Well lemme tell you. NO.

Windows 7 is newer than XP by 2 versions. If you try dual boot it will just say that it's impossible (but dont take my word for it, never tried it myself - only something I heard from a friend).

As for deletion of XP. You can use upgrade instalation instead of new instalation, but i wouldn't recommend it. Why?

Since Windows 7 will run much smoother if its run on clean install. So my best advice for you is to backup your data and format the drive.

 

[Meness]

Well, this site has a tutorial on dual booting. CLICK ME

So in other words, if I did do a clean reinstall it would not wipe out my data? Or should I do what Drago del Fato said about backing up my data first?

 

[rey meustrus]

It is possible and easy to dual boot, and the process I would use for doing so has the added benefit of keeping all of your data in a very simple way.

If you repartition your hard drive by making your current partition smaller and making a new one for Windows 7 (I'd do about 70gb, depending on how big your drive is though) you can then perform a normal clean installation on the new partition. I did this for a friend recently, by downloading an Ubuntu live CD, mounting it to disk, booting it, and running the Gnome Partition Editor. It is very powerful, and though not guaranteed to work, I have never had any problem with it. Resizing partitions can take a very long time, though, I'd do it overnight.

 

[Drago del Fato]

You need at least 15 GB for Windows 7.

So if it were me, I would make a partition with 20-30GB of free space. There is no need for 70GB of HDD IMO.

 

[Meness]

I was planning on dual booting, but my main question isn't answered yet (or I didn't get what some of you said) : if I install Win 7 and replace XP on the same partition (eg like now it's C would it wipe off the data in C: (my data and programs, not Windows data)

 

[Drago del Fato]

I've already told you about that. When you restart your pc with Windows 7 DVD and run the setup. In setup you will have 2 options:

1. Upgrade
2. Install

Upgrade option will probably just install Windows 7 over your XP or update it somehow (your data will probably stay on the hard drive since it's an upgrade not a clean install. I can't tell you this for sure since I haven't tried it).

Install option will do a clean install of Windows 7 on a HDD which does not already have an OS on it (if it does you can format that HDD trough Setup).

There. Did it answer your question now?

 

[Meness]

Yeah thanks a lot for the info ^^

I just installed a dual boot Win 7. And it's incredibly fast!

 

[rey meustrus]

I generally use 70gb because it's definitely enough for Windows, Office, and Adobe software, plus plenty of games, and any other software you might want. I have run into the limit with 60gb, but never with 70. I am enjoying the rate at which hard drives are expanding, though, with a 320gb hd on my laptop. Next one I get in a couple years will probably have 500. Plenty for my programs, my music, my videos...

But enough about me, if you have a 200+ gb hard drive I would go with at least 50-60 gb for programs, knowing that if you ever need more space for either software or media you can generally repartition your space, but it is harder and takes longer to make the larger partition smaller.

 

[athelnstone]

If you install your windows 7 where Xp is installed,You will lose uour data of xp.So it is better that install your windows 7 in other drive where xp is not installed means if your xp is installed in C drive then install your windows 7 in D or E drive.

 

[Ellie]

When I did that it copied all my (Vista) data into a folder called Windows.old.