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General discussion

Install Windows 7 side by side with Windows XP.....

Nov 22, 2009 8:19PM PST

Using Microsoft's Virtual Machine.


Set up a virtual machine starting with XP.

First, go here and download the Virtual Machine.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=04D26402-3199-48A3-AFA2-2DC0B40A73B6&displaylang=en


When I use Microsoft?s Virtual machine software and create a Virtual Machine starting with Window XP, is it really a virtual machine? Doesn?t matter, it is perfect and fast and
easy to install Windows 7 and Windows XP side by side.

I install Windows XP on the first partition {200 GB}of a 320 GB hard drive with Net framework 1.1 and 2.0 and then I install Microsoft?s Virtual machine and create a Virtual Machine following the numbered steps below. The blank second partition of 100 GB?s on the hard drive is labeled Windows 7 and is my target for the installation of Windows 7 using Microsoft?s Virtual Machine software.

1. Install Virtual Machine: It opens with a message ?you are not running a supported operating system.
2. I ignore message and click OK and install and finish.
3. I click on Virtual Machine to run it and it opens and says, ?Virtual PC could not open the virtual machine network services driver. I ignore the message and put a check mark in the box ?don?t show this message again? and click OK.
4. It than repeats ?you are not running a supported operating system and once again I put a check mark in the box ?don?t show this message again? and click OK.
5. Then I click next and the ?New Virtual Machine? wizard opens. I choose the top choice {there are three} ?Create a Virtual Machine and click next.
6. The wizard then opens with ?New Virtual Machine with a BROWSE button and I click on BROWSE and click on ?My Computer? and select the Windows 7 partition I create and type in ?Windows 7? for the file name and click SAVE.
7. Now the wizard says, ?F:\windows 7.vmc and I click next.
8. The wizard then wants you to choose Operating System and I choose ?other? and click next.
9. I then select ?using the recommended ram? and click next.
10. I then select ?A New Virtual Hard Disk? and click next.
11. It then loads the wizard as F:\windows 7 Hard Disk.vhd and I click next.
12. I then click ?finish?.
13. A ?Virtual PC Console? opens that says ?windows 7 not running? and I click ?START?.
14. Command Prompt opens and creates a ?Virtual Hard Disk? {takes about 3 minutes}
15. When it finishes it says, ?Insert Boot Media {CD} and select boot device {CD drive}.
16. I then close Virtual PC Console and click save state and click OK.

17. I then put the Windows 7 DVD in the DVD drive and boot and ?press any key? to boot from DVD.
18. I wait for Windows 7 to load and then click on ?Install Now? and check the box to accept the license and click next.
19. I then click on Custom {advanced} and choose the second partition of 100 GB I already labeled Windows 7 and click next and Windows 7 installs on the partition 2.
20. When it boots I get a choice of ?Earlier Windows? or Window 7.
21. I then install ?Vista Boot Pro? and change the name of Earlier version of windows to Windows XP.
22. Done..

Pictures of finished hard drive with Microsoft?s Virtual Machine
Look at these pictures of how it was created.
1. Here is the disk management console with Windows 7 booted {boot-system} Notice it is primary Drive C??????? Notice Windows XP is Drive D and is a Logical Drive. http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/4057/diskwindows7open.jpg

2. Here is the disk management console with Windows XP booted {boot} Notice it is logical Drive C??????? Notice Windows 7 is Drive f and is a primary drive{system}

http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/1912/xpboot.jpg


3. Here is a picture of the boot menu.
4. http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/2934/bootmenu.jpg


5. Neat, very neat, Microsoft Virtual Machine Rules.

Discussion is locked

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Great tutorial
Nov 23, 2009 6:34AM PST

Great setup description! Can you tell us more about your experience?

Tara

- Collapse -
Sara
Nov 23, 2009 6:45AM PST

I am a retired Science teacher from New York who specialized in original experimentation.

Since I retired I started experimenting with computers and IT technology to see what makes it tick.

I have published over a hundred original papers on computer technology.

This is me?www.wedomotherboards.org and www.wedomotherboards.com

You better read this response immediately because my experience with CNET is that this message will be deleted quickly.

- Collapse -
Tara, I am glad you liked it.
Nov 23, 2009 9:41AM PST

Tara, look at these interesting results.

I erased the hard drive and performed the experiment over and made both partitions primary partitions. I followed the same steps in the OP {original post}; the only thing I changed was the second partition type from logical to primary.

Look at the difference between the first test and the second test. To examine them thoroughly right click on the picture and select print so you can see them side by side in disk management view.

First Test Pictures
1. http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/4057/diskwindows7open.jpg
2. http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/1912/xpboot.jpg
3. http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/2934/bootmenu.jpg


Second Test Pictures
1. http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/2782/boot7.jpg
2. http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/1912/xpboot.jpg
3. http://img695.imageshack.us/img695/2934/bootmenu.jpg


When you compare these two examples on printed paper {pictures} it is very unique.
Notice on the first example no matter which OS was booted up {?system?, control} remained on Windows 7 where I made Windows XP partition a logical drive partition.

But on my Second Test the pictures clearly show no matter which OS was booted up {?system?, control} remained on Windows XP Home where I made Windows XP partition a primary drive partition.

Also notice the most significant part of my experiment is that
in both examples no matter which operating system {OS} is booted it boots as DRIVE C. This means they are totally independent of each other but both are visible in "My Computer" view which is extremely unique; therefore each of them can be accessed from either OS. {files, documents, pictures, music}

For the second test boot menu I used Vista Boot Pro to make Windows XP the default boot and notice it is now on top.