Why do you want to dual boot it? W7 runs all XP's no probs. or, if you have W7 Ultimate you can download XP for free from the Microsoft site.

If you are running 7, you can right-click on the program's icon, select properties, select compatibility, and choose XP (et al).

Some new boxes come with a separate partition on the system hard drive that holds an image of the operating system on it for restoration if needed. The good thing is that can be helpful if you need to restore. The bad thing is that it restores an image that they created which can be bloated full of stuff that you really do not need.

This link may be helpful for setting up your Dual Boot system since Windows 7 is already installed. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/8057-dual-boot-installation-windows-7-xp.html

Windows 7, IMO, has been the best Windows OS so far...for whatever that's worth.

It may be of no help here, but I've been running XP under VMware fusion on my mac for a long time with no issues. I'd bet the experience is similar on 7. The advantage of VM vs Dual boot is that you dont have to switch environments all the time, and its not poorly performing like you'd expect.

This is my set up:

I've a 3 OS system: XP, W7 and Debian.

I also use XP for the drivers of my old hardware.

I have instaled two disks both bootable, the main one has two partitons XP 32 and Debian. The other disk runs W7.

I installed a switch on the PC case to stop the disk containing W7. Simply connect the power cord to the hard disk. (you need soldering iron and a swicht)

If I need W7 i just hit the switch. If not it runs in XP (I have 10 secons to change to Debian if I need it)

oh...there you guys are. :)
Doctor Cube, that is what i read on a blog. :)
and so you need not download a 3rd party dual boot program either? did it mess your 7 drivers up any?

now...off to read the rest.

I think they call this thing a Pavilion Vision. It has 7 Home Premium :(.

Peter, so, the XP HDs all run under 7 no prob?

Kevin, thank you for the link and the click.

Huts, i should learn to solder, for my hi-fi speaker wires need a touch up.

i know that Microsoft stops supporting XP professional services next month. So, will they be supporting the downloads? in ref to the Ultimate stuff.

on the Program right clicks, my software installs, wherein after, the "not supported" dialogue box appears. I'll do it again and look for work around after that point.

however, i am probably going to need the VMWare option. Dr. Cube, do you download that VMWare before or after the partitioning.

i'm such a disconnect on the new O's. i used to do this junk all day on the original Pavilions.

or as Harpline was saying, just pop in the XP HD and partition it?

i'm watching tutorials again.

Okay. What is a Slipstream?

nevermind. have disk.

oh hey, now the XP is already installed on the HD i'm wanting to add into the PC that has the 7 HD.

So, i do not need to shrink the 7 volume. reading...

Just put the XP SATA HD into the PC;
make sure cd is first up in sequence;
Put CD into cd drive;
Hard boot;
do the XP install steps to load the SATA drivers;
Partition XP HD to Partition 1;
Restart.

Are these the steps?

oh yeah...make sure i've got a drive letter. of course.

Have you tried XP compatibilty mode in Win7?

it comes on the Home Premium? let me check this out Martin.

I checked the link. I do not believe it comes with the Home Premium edition.

i have been told that MS will no longer support XP after next month. i am therefore wondering if the XP downloads will go bye.

just btw...this PC kind of rocks.

btw...am i missing the point that XP is already installed on the secondary hard drive. do i even need to install again?

and having mentioned the secondary hd, for the moment to get me started, can i not forgoe the hd install, instead, choosing to put the XP disk in and merely partition away to run my stuff. if so, what repercusions might i expect?

So you have XP installed on one hard drive, and Win 7 installed on another hard drive... put both in the same computer. Simply select them using whatever boot options your bios gives you. Boot options, are usually given by hitting one of the function keys (F10, F12, etc. depending on your bios) when you first boot the computer.

Still not clear why you would want to boot into XP when W7 does it all (yes..... Home prem as well). Just boot from W7, the XP HD will show up in Explorer so all your files are accessable - ANY driver can be loaded into W7.
If you're really set on having 2 boot drives Google "Dual Boot Selection" and you will find a free prog that let's you select the drive on startup that you want to boot from.
I'm running both XP and W7 for some time.........no problems to report on anything

You just download (or purchase) vmware fusion and install it. The XP machine's filesystem will exist as a directory within Win7. No partitioning or re-partitioning.

after setting up compatibility with xp sp3 & 2, the music machine was still inhospitable to Steinberg drivers. But,
i found my drivers.
so, right now...i guess i will just try a power button replacement for a file transfer from my old XP HD.

Yes, i robbed the Presario of the XP HD. it stays with me always.
Peter and Martin, you are saying that the xp hd will run without any VM or dualboot. okay. really? the driver compatibility change did not work. i don't believe it. i may try it, but i still don't believe it.

Doctor, got it. no partitioning.

i'm still thinking. you guys are great. thank you.

i have sound. now...how do i keep from having a PC in the center of the room and my box always getting unplugged? oh, that's how this all started.

If you have a HD with XP on the machine, even if it's not the primary HD, you should be able to manually select which drive from which to boot. This would be done at bootup... watch the screen and it will usually say for setup press F2, or for boot menu press F10 (or F12 or something similar). In setup (BIOS setup) you can usually select the priority of which drive the bios looks for first in its boot sequence.

Put your machine against a wall with an electrical outlet. No sane person has it in the middle of the room... unless they have a floor outlet. That being said, we have many qualified electricians on kompoz who could install a floor outlet or power pole fed from the ceiling. Call Brannon. He's a darned good electrician, and I understand he's a ritzy lighting designer too.

Marty~thanks. totally get it.

this thing has PDF installed. i didn't have to set up any of the normal stuff.

:)

if i steal one of the CD drawers from my old Presario will it fit into the new HP Vision? Yes. Right? Yes, it came with one in, one available.

What else can i pull over before i dump it as a shell?