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Thread ID: 113668 2010-10-30 11:11:00 Installing xp win 7 dual boot jareemon (5207) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
1148818 2010-10-30 11:11:00 My laptop came with win7x64, and i want it to dual boot 32bit xp as well.

How do i set up a dual boot if all i have is the laptop's win7 acer recovery disks? (and an oem xp disk)
jareemon (5207)
1148819 2010-10-30 11:15:00 Usually its better if you install XP then the latest version. If its pro use XP mode install. But you'll probably be limited in things hardware wise. Probably not a good idea if its got a recovery partitiion (and only 2 partitions). You'll wipe the partition, if you put XP on it Speedy Gonzales (78)
1148820 2010-10-30 11:17:00 What if i split the main partition into two? but then, i was thinking, that since win7 'recovery' doesnt give the option of which drive to install, i could install xp first on D: then the recovery for win7 will go on C:... would that work? jareemon (5207)
1148821 2010-10-30 11:29:00 I have no idea. Only way is to try it. The recovery DVD is probably set to install the recovery partition to D by default Speedy Gonzales (78)
1148822 2010-10-30 12:08:00 but c is the main drive, the recoverey partition is hidden... i dont know if it even has a drive letter jareemon (5207)
1148823 2010-10-30 12:12:00 Well try what you said, you'll soon find out, if it works or not Speedy Gonzales (78)
1148824 2010-10-30 19:18:00 Borrow a Windows 7 disc and use that to install 7 after XP. pcuser42 (130)
1148825 2010-10-30 20:21:00 imgur.com jareemon (5207)
1148826 2010-10-30 21:24:00 It can be done, I've done it twice.

You shrink the partition that has with Windows 7 installed to make room for XP, then install XP on the new space.

You cant generally use Recovery CD/DVD's as they will take the complete drive ( normally).

WARNING: BACKUP ALL DATA FIRST.

As I said, I've done it twice, the first time went sweet as - no problems, the second time it all turned to crap, and both OS's had to be reinstalled from scratch, even trying to repair Windows 7 failed.

If you go to This site here (www.sevenforums.com) - second method explains fully with pictures.

I find it easier to use a third party Partition tool to re-size the drives.

One I came across the other day is Partition Wizard (http://www.partitionwizard.com/) - get the bootable CD ISO on the left and burn the ISO using your ISO burning program. Its a real simple program to use.
wainuitech (129)
1148827 2010-10-30 21:42:00 thanks for that, I'll partition the current win7 drive and split it into 2 drives, leaving the hidden recovery partition there (i have full recovery dvds anyway), and install xp on C: and win7 on D:.
But, am i able to use my win7hp oem cert (says 'acer group' on the cert) code with any win7 disk? do i need to use a win7hp disk or can i use a win7 ultimate disk with my cert, 'downgrading' it to home premium? and is my cert limited to 64bit? (i doubt this would be the case)
jareemon (5207)
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