Partioning and dual boot

Tomween1 · 05-05-2009, 10:42 AM

Well I am becoming newly aware of partitioning. I have built three computers, and not until the most recent did I understand partitioning.

I have a desktop w/ a 320gb hdd, it has no partitions. Of course I now realize I cannot partition this drive through XP since it was long ago formatted as a single partition. I am aware of partitioning software such as Acronis etc but these are all pay programs.

I am now looking to install Win 7RC. So I have 2 question's;

1. What is the best freeware to partition my existing drive? I really don't want to buy one for a one time operation.

2. How in fact do I install a second OS... and set up an individual boot process? Example, power on, choose which OS to boot from. Or can I be in XP (my main OS) and from Win XP switch to Win 7RC?

Thanks, Tom

**raptor_pa** · 05-05-2009, 11:07 AM

When you install the second OS it should take care of setting up the boot menu, you can't switch from one OS to another once one is booted.

**tosh9i** · 05-05-2009, 12:26 PM

1) EASEUS Partition Master 3.5 Home Edition - New Update! FREE FOR HOME USERS ONLY
http://www.partition-tool.com/personal.htm

2) after you download the windows 7 ISO, you can extract it to a folder on your desktop or something and just install (double click on Setup) it from there. At least, that's what I did when I installed Windows 7.

**ahmorrow** · 05-05-2009, 09:22 PM

Only problem with that is if you're running a 64 bit version of windows that partition tool will not work...

05-05-2009, 10:42 AM	#1 (permalink)
Tomween1 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: US North East Region Posts: 34 OS: XP home My System	Partioning and dual boot Well I am becoming newly aware of partitioning. I have built three computers, and not until the most recent did I understand partitioning. I have a desktop w/ a 320gb hdd, it has no partitions. Of course I now realize I cannot partition this drive through XP since it was long ago formatted as a single partition. I am aware of partitioning software such as Acronis etc but these are all pay programs. I am now looking to install Win 7RC. So I have 2 question's; 1. What is the best freeware to partition my existing drive? I really don't want to buy one for a one time operation. 2. How in fact do I install a second OS... and set up an individual boot process? Example, power on, choose which OS to boot from. Or can I be in XP (my main OS) and from Win XP switch to Win 7RC? Thanks, Tom

05-05-2009, 11:07 AM	#2 (permalink)
raptor_pa Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Central PA Posts: 4,834 OS: XP	Re: Partioning and dual boot When you install the second OS it should take care of setting up the boot menu, you can't switch from one OS to another once one is booted. __________________

05-05-2009, 12:26 PM	#3 (permalink)
tosh9i TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 3,835 OS: Windows XP	Re: Partioning and dual boot 1) EASEUS Partition Master 3.5 Home Edition - New Update! FREE FOR HOME USERS ONLY http://www.partition-tool.com/personal.htm 2) after you download the windows 7 ISO, you can extract it to a folder on your desktop or something and just install (double click on Setup) it from there. At least, that's what I did when I installed Windows 7. __________________ Tosh

05-05-2009, 09:22 PM	#4 (permalink)
ahmorrow God (TSF Enthusiast) Join Date: May 2009 Location: Jeffersonville, IN Posts: 894 OS: Ubuntu 9.10 [Karmic Koala] My System	Re: Partioning and dual boot Only problem with that is if you're running a 64 bit version of windows that partition tool will not work...