question about partitioning, music storage, and dual booting

I just bought a new laptop that has dual 320GB hard drives. The laptop came with Windows 7 installed, and I am planning to also install Windows XP and dual boot, so that I can run some work related software programs that are only available for XP. I am also planning to store a decent amount of media (CDs, movies, etc) on the computer.

So I'm curious what the best method of storing the data will be, for best performance, and keeping in mind that I have 2 hard drives.

Should I put XP on one hard drive, and Windows 7 on the other? Should I partition one hard drive and put XP and Windows 7 on the same hard drive, and store only media on the other hard drive? Would I then be able to access the media files from both operating systems? I'm not going to need much space for the XP side, maybe 50GB total, so it seems a waste to devote an entire 320GB hard drive just for that usage.

Any input is appreciated! Thanks in advance..... Todd.

 

Did the same thing a while back. Had Vista on one HD and XP on another. You will be able to access all file across the platforms. It will just read each hard as an extra drive, like 'd' or whatever you name it. When I did it I installed each OS to it's own HD. Then use Vista boot pro(search Bing!) to set up dual boot. I actually partitioned 80 gigs of my extra drive for XP leaving the rest for "storage". Even though it's all on the same drive, it's easier to locate the files if the are in a "media" or "downloads" folder, or whatever you choose to name it.

 

Well, since you have two drives you might want to use the possible speed advantage that gives. Since you can't use both OS installations at the same time, they both go on the first drive, and data on the second one.

I would actually put ALL user data on the second drive, and maybe mirror important stuff to a third partition on the first drive as a backup (there should be plenty of space left).

 

You can put both OSes on one HDD in two partitions - possibly best because that means you should be able to swap out the drive easily - I think some people had issues in that they had a seconds OS on drive two, removed drive 1 and couldn't boot as the boot.ini file was on drive 1...

But another suggestion:

Your software:
Have you tried installing it in compatebility mode in Windows7? - If that doesn't work, have you tried XP mode? - That would be better than another OS instal I think...

 

That was my first thought, but since most users end up with Windows 7 Home he may not have xp mode.

If he is eligible for it, though, that is the best way to go. Xp Mode has worked on everything I have thrown at it.

 

if it is even needed to get the apps working on win7. most can be made working with maybe some fiddling.

 

Yes, but not everything...

 

Before you two argue about it, maybe the OP can state what software it is?

 

Or even say what version of Windows 7 he has which would make the discussion moot?

 

sorry for the slow response.

The software I am running has to do with home theater installations (universal remote programming software, NuVo distributed audio system software, colorado vNet programming software, etc). I have read on several of the programming websites that they do not run well yet on Windows 7.

I am running Windows 7 Home Premium, so there is no Windows XP compatability mode unforunately. Does anyone know if there is an "upgrade" options from Windows so that I could just step up to Windows 7 Professional, without having to rebuy altogether?

I have heard of good success with dual booting out of Windows 7, is there any reason that I should be against it? I'm leaning towards partitioning HDD#1 for both OS's, and then using HDD#2 for media only.

Thanks again everyone for your help. Todd.

 

There are "updates" or "Upgrades"... but I believe an update version of Windows 7 Professional is 200 or 250€/$ ... I suppose if you need the networking it may be worth it.
(Check the price just to make sure I didn't mess something up)

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And the software - what about installing under compatebility mode? I mean I run Maple 9.5 in Vista in compatebility mode for Windows 2000... (worked well on XP though, but compatebility mode XP doesn't work)

 

I did find the software upgrade available from windows to upgrade to 7 PRO, but I still think it might make as much sense to just add Windows XP and dual boot, so I that I know everything will work 100%.

So are there any issues that I should be aware of when trying to dual boot both 7 and XP?

 

http://windowsteamblog.com/blogs/wi...-anytime-upgrade-and-family-pack-pricing.aspx

Actually the upgrade is only $89, which isn't terrible. But considering I already have a version of XP, dual booting would be a free option for me, and probably provide a more rock solid solution.

 

AH OK, thanks for that
I know I saw that price somewhere... well, maybe that was the full version then?
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Well, if you stay in Win7 only you have the convenience of having both OSes at hand at all times...

 

One--many newerlaptops do not have XP drivers available.

Other than that, no, but it would have been simpler to just go with Windows 7 and XP mode.

A problem with dual booting in its strict setup is that wherever you put the OSs, the boot code for both will still go on the first drive--if you do something to that drive (wipe it out), you cannot load into the second.

So, for instance, you load the older OS first (xp) on disk one, then install Windows 7 on 2. Windows 7 alters the boot code on disk 1 and creates the dual boot menu.

Now, when the computer boots, it looks at the MBR for the first disk (disk 0), gives you your boot menu, when you choose Windows 7, it switches to the second drive. Remove the first drive after XP is no longer useful (let's say your software is updated to 7) and you are reinstalling Windows 7.

Here's something I have done in similar situations.

Install Windows 7 on disk 0. Switch the boot order in bios. Install Windows XP on disk 1. Use the select boot device key on your laptop (usually F11) to switch between them.

That way you have boot code on both drives and you won't be coming back in 6 months posting I cannot boot into Windows 7 anymore because I got rid of Windows XP!