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Windows XP (E:) and Windows 7 (C:) conflict on separate partitions

I asked a computer company to split a hard drive into 2 separate partitions and build a dual boot system with windows XP (which I need for a business application) and Windows 7.

I found they installed Windows 7 as the (C:) drive and windows XP as an (E:) drive Instead of the opposite. So now I have trouble installing applications and then accessing them.

I want to run XP for my business applications with is built from Visual Studio and SQL Server as my primary drive and have Windows 7 on stand by in case I have trouble with XP.

Is there anything I can do to correct this. IF nothing else can I delete Windows 7 and have Windows XP revert to being a (C:) drive and how would I go about this?

Thanks, I'm in a real bind....

rindi

Much simpler would be to use Windows XP mode under Windows 7. But you need at least Windows 7 Pro (the home versions don't have XP mode and it's free license). This is VirtualPC running XP Pro as a VM from within Windows 7. If your PC isn't very old this really runs well and there is no need for dual boot. If you don't want VirtualPC (as that isn't the most modern HyperVisor) you can also use VMWare Player, which can convert XP mode to run under VMWare Player.

Even if you have a home version of Windows 7, you can still use VMWare Player and install a retail, non OEM copy of XP to run as a VM.

Besides that I don't see why XP booting with E:\ as it's System Drive shouldn't work with your software. Just use diskmanagement within XP to remove the drive letter from your Windows 7 partition, then install your software to E:.

You can't change the system Drive letter once it has a drive-letter. You'd have to reinstall from scratch, beginning with XP, and after that installing Windows 7.

Qlemo

C: is the boot partition. But above should work to hide it. If you really need a C: drive, you can run a
subst C: E:\
after booting.

☠ MASQ ☠

Each system should boot and and run as the C: drive, if you have a DVD drive then the other system partition will appear as E: that's normal behaviour. The active partition should never appear as E:

If reinstalling though always install the older version first.

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

Gary Case

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Gary Case

... As an example of how powerful this can be, this is the boot menu for one of my systems that I use for all older OS's => EVERY OS is actually on the same physical drive, and they all boot to a C: drive.

Joe Winograd

> I've not seen anything that works as well for managing multi-boot systems as Boot-It BM.

Gary,
I never heard of this...looks interesting...thanks for posting. Do you know how it compares to NeoSmart's EasyBCD, which is what I've used for many years to have a multi-boot computer. Thanks, Joe

SOLUTION

noxcho

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noxcho

I never heard of this...looks interesting...thanks for posting. Do you know how it compares to NeoSmart's EasyBCD, which is what I've used for many years to have a multi-boot computer. Thanks, Joe

The difference is that EasyBCD uses Windows Boot Manager and BCD file by editing entries in it. And Boot-IT provides a standalone boot manager which is not using Windows boot manager.

David Svedarsky

ASKER

Thanks!

Joe Winograd

Thanks for the explanation, noxcho — much appreciated!

noxcho

You are welcome Joe!
Take care
Nox