I'd like to set up a machine with 4 system partitions for Win XP 32-bit, Win XP 64-bit, Win 7 32-bit and Win 7 64 bit, and a data partition. If possible, in each OS I would like the system to be C: and the data to be D: with all othe partitions hidden. Is this possible, and if so what is the best order to do the installation?
Miltiple Boot Win XP 32/64 & Win 7 32/64
- Thread starter Brondeg
- Start date
Well you would have to install each OS from the media. That should pretty much guarantee that they are all C:\ drives. At least in my experience. But as far as the hidden part, the only way I know of that is using Hide n Seek but that project has been operational for a bit. You could just unassign any drive letters but that wont hide the drive. Plus you must use Primary partitions for Windows. So the data partition would have to be a lgical drive.
You usually install the oldest operating system first so, XP, XP x64, 7-32, 7-64 would by the order I would use. You said you wanted a D:\ data drive - one drive common to all four operating systems or a D:\ drive for each operating system? The first would require five partitions, the second eight; so which is it? I would recommend you create all of the partitions prior to installing any of the operating systems and format all as NTFS. The above comment about primary partitions is incorrect; I have a 1Tb drive divided into four partitions - one primary with XP Pro, and three logical on the extended partition with XP Pro x64, Win7 32 and Win7 64. No drives/partitions are hidden so I can't provide and answer for that option.