Installing Windows 7 Straight from Vista

I was looking around on Google, and why is it that all the guides explaining how to dual-boot with Vista/XP and Windows 7 go through burning the .iso onto a DVD, external HDD or otherwise? I was able to dual-boot simply by mounting the .iso, running the installer and selecting it to install Windows 7 on a seperate partition. It took care of the rest, even configured the boot menu right away for a dual-booting system. Is this method not recommended?

 

Thats how I did it, before I completely replaced Vista with 7. Worked great to me.

 

You are using it as a main OS?

 

I didn't even know it could do this. Oh well, either way the process was pretty easy. The only hard part was actually partitioning the harddrive.

 

I am using it as my main OS. After finding all synthetics benches and real world apps to perform much better, along with liking the new functions of the OS, I couldn't justify running Vista anymore. As much as I loved it.

 

You are brave . I would understand RC2 but Beta 1?

 

I used Milestone 3 as my main OS for a month. I'm now using Beta 1 as my main too.

 

Another brave soul out there .

 

i havent booted into vista since installing 7. does that count me as a brave soul?

i still have vista installed, just on a separate partition, along with a backup of my vista install on my external via acronis.

 

Nope because you still have Vista and a back-up in case of fire. You do get points tho .

All you brave souls, post here.

 

So, I have set aside 15GB to place Win7 on (along with Vista) - it will automagically take care of dual boot once I have it installed on a partition?

And what partition did you label the one you 7 installed on? I just read something about Win 7 re-lettering the partitions.

 

It will take care of the dual boot menu by itself.

The labelling of partitions just means that if you boot into 7 and can't see your Vista partition, you need to open up computer management and give it a drive letter, no biggie.

Greg

 

Sweet - thanks. I actually have all of my data on a separate partition, so if I am in 7, don't really need to see Vista (do I?).

 

You don't need to. However if you just happen to need a file that is on that partition you will want to be able to open up that partition.

Greg

 

I am looking for a guide that teaches me how to install windows 7 on my notebook without removing vista (dual-boot). Can any friendly members here point that out for me? Thanks.

 

Hi,
Create a new partition for Windows 7.
You boot from your Windows 7 DVD. Choose Custom mode and partition which you want to set-up Windows 7.

GOOD LUCK!

 

Question:

According to the OP you can just basically double-click the Windows 7 ISO file on I have saved on my Vista desktop and choose to install it on the 20gb partition i made for Windows 7?

Cuz my dvd burner is having issues burning the ISO file where it keeps failing at 99% done. If I can't burn the ISO file to a dvd what do you recommend?

 

No, you need to mount the .iso image first before your able to use it as a CD/DVD. You need software like Daemon Tools or something.

 

I was using IMGburn or something like that (it was the software recommended in the Gizmodo article about setting Windows 7 beta up for dummies like myself)

Using the IMGburn program it still kept failing at 99%. So I have to do something extra besides that? And what is "mounting" the file?

 

Well, I used VirtualCloneDrive on Vista to mount the .iso. By mounting the .iso, you basically unzip its contents so that you can use the files within. If you don't mount, you're just left with one big useless file. Once you mount it, you can just run the setup from inside the file.

 

okay so "mounting" an ISO file basically is like "unzipping" it to a folder or something within Vista right? Then you just navigate into the folder and find "setup.exe" or something and you can install it to the seperate partition from Vista? No dvd burning required?

 

Nope, I ran it straight from the mount within Vista. Just make sure you don't select the Vista partition for the install destination during setup (unless you don't plan on dual-booting)

 

good stuff thanks 4 ur help! i'll try it when im home from work this evening. wonder why my dvd drive was effing up during buring the ISO though. Hope it isn't busted

 

I used the virtual clone drive software and installed it to mount the 7 ISO, but after installing, i have no idea how to use the clone drive software. Like i double click the icon, and it brings up a small window with a drop down tab with "how many drives do you want" and it's on 1 by default. Then there's 2 checkboxes beneath it. No "open file" option or anything like that. I tried right clicking the windows 7 ISO and chose "open with" the clone drive software, but it just brought up the same clone drive window. Any help? When installing the clone drive i unchecked the boxes for what it's associated with by default. Is that my problem? Do i hafta have it associated w/ ISO files?

 

Once you install it, open up your My Computer and there'll be a VirtualCloneDrive DVD drive listed as one of the disks. Right click on that, go to "Mount" and find the .iso.