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March 17th, 2010 08:00
Installing Windows XP on 2nd HDD
I have a Dimension 4700 and the HDD that came with it is too small for my current needs. So, I purchased a 500gb secondary HDD and installed it. I partitioned it into two 250gb drives and would like to install my Windows XP on one of the two partitions and then switch all of my current stuff from the original HDD to the new OS and then eventually format the original drive and just use it for extra space. The problem that I am having is when I boot with the Windows XP CD and it asks me where I want to install the only option it is giving me is to either repair my current install or wipe it clean and start over. I don't want to do either of those so I have to F3 and quit. How can I get it to recognize my other HDD so I can install XP there?
Thanks,
Robert
burleigh2
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March 17th, 2010 08:00
Yes, I've tried this before, too, and XP is keyed to install on the C Drive. The only way I've found to get around that is to physically remove your current C Drive (making your current D Drive the C), install Windows, then change around whatever you'd like to. In this case, you could just swap the new drive for the old so you've already got your C/D in the big drive and E in the small drive and you can swap things around right away after you've installed. Good luck!
[edit]: Yeah, exactly what you're thinking. ;-) If you swap the drives before you install, you can just leave it like that and you won't have to add the new drive later.
rgepfert
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March 17th, 2010 08:00
That sounded like a good idea. I read the journal and when it got to the Windows XP install screen where you select a drive, I only get the C:\ drive where my current Windows XP is installed. It doesn't give me any other options. So, I think I will have to go the route of removing the current HDD and installing on the 2nd HDD like burleigh2 suggested. Thanks for the suggestion though.
RobinBredin
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March 17th, 2010 08:00
Hi, I'm duel booting Win 7 and XP, and never had to swop drives. Have a look at this journal below.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/8057-dual-boot-installation-windows-7-xp.html?ltr=D
ieee488
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March 17th, 2010 08:00
This is what i would do.
Remove the current HDD and put in the new HDD.
Install XP on the new HDD. Let it do its thing. You can later use freeware software to partition it.
By the way, you'll need to re-install any software that you have on your current HDD. The only "switch of your current stuff" that can happen is the moving of your data such as Word documents, photos, etc to the new HDD. Actual programs need to be installed.
rgepfert
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March 17th, 2010 08:00
Can I just unplug the current HDD from the SATA port and then plug the new HDD into that port and then boot from CD. Will that work?
rgepfert
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March 17th, 2010 08:00
Ok, I will give that a try. Thanks for the help.
rgepfert
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March 24th, 2010 09:00
Ok, I tried this, but the CD that Dell gave me for my XP install isn't bootable, so when I disconnect my current drive it tells me that it can't find a bootable drive. Even if I make the new HDD bootable, it still doesn't recognize the CD.