Installing xp on a windows 7 pc?

justaquestion

Hi,

I intend to buy a new desktop once windows 7 comes our and chances are it will probably come with a recovery dvd or partition.

Will it be difficult to install xp on this pc without having to delete the windows 7 partition?

thanks for any replies

Marty_J

You should be able to install it fine.

Any reason in particular why you want to?

-TangleFoot-

Standard dual-booting procedure involves installing the oldest operating system first, because each installation overwrites the boot-loader of the previous one. This is impractical on a system with a newer operating system pre-installed, but you can still dual-boot if you know what you are doing:

1. Backup everything just in case
2. Shrink Windows 7 partition
3. Install Windows XP
4. Repair original boot-loader

Alternatively if you have a spare HDD lying around you can stick that in and omit step 2, or even just swap out the drives:

1. Disconnect Windows 7 HDD
2. Attach spare HDD
3. Switch on PC
4. Install Windows XP

iamadave

You can install XP using Virtual PC and addons so you can run XP within Windows 7, or obviously dual boot.

gaming_guy

i'd research and see if i could find XP drivers for the hardware 1st before i downgrade

fuzzball172

I've been playing with Windows 7 for a couple of months now, can't imagine why you would want to put XP on your new PC. Try win7 for a month or 2, see if you can get on with it, I think you will be pleasantly surprised

DatabaseError

is this a real question? Why stop at windows XP..I remember windows 3.11 was blisteringly fast

DCFC79

iamadave wrote: »

You can install XP using Virtual PC and addons so you can run XP within Windows 7, or obviously dual boot.

could i run xp in virtual pc running vista

sorry for hijacking the thread

[Deleted User]

Shouldn't be a problem. Which version of XP and Vista are you wanting to use?

-TangleFoot-

DCFC79 wrote: »

could i run xp in virtual pc running vista[?]

Virtual PC 2007 only works with specific versions of Vista and XP, so you might not be able to use it. Fortunately, there are plenty of similar applications out there just waiting to fill the gap.

4743hudsonj

what about buying a pc where you can choose the edition of windows 7 and just choose ultimate so you can use xp mode if your worried?