Back from the Shop...

[nas8e9]

By way of a tip with regard to installing Windows 7 (I read elsewhere that tomorrow is the day... ): when running the setup program from the .iso or DVD (.iso is much faster by the way), one is asked for the product key with the option to activate automatically, enabled. By disabling automatic activation you can proceed without entering the product key. This results in a trial period of 30 days in which the sole limitation is an infrequent reminder pop-up; this trial period can be extended 3 times by another 30 days for a total trial period of 120 days.

In my experience, it's rare to get a wholly successful initial installation of a new Windows version: I tend to try out too much in the beginning. Then again, with the sole purpose of this exercise being testing XYplorer and with comparisons between OS installs and watching paint dry, not entirely invalid...

[admin]

By way of a tip with regard to installing Windows 7 (I read elsewhere that tomorrow is the day... ): when running the setup program from the .iso or DVD (.iso is much faster by the way), one is asked for the product key with the option to activate automatically, enabled. By disabling automatic activation you can proceed without entering the product key. This results in a trial period of 30 days in which the sole limitation is an infrequent reminder pop-up; this trial period can be extended 3 times by another 30 days for a total trial period of 120 days.

In my experience, it's rare to get a wholly successful initial installation of a new Windows version: I tend to try out too much in the beginning. Then again, with the sole purpose of this exercise being testing XYplorer and with comparisons between OS installs and watching paint dry, not entirely invalid...

Thanks for the tip!

I somewhere read that Win7 can only be installed to drive C:\... this is not what I need. Today I will build in my second harddisk (1TB), but what then?

[nas8e9]

I somewhere read that Win7 can only be installed to drive C:\... this is not what I need. Today I will build in my second harddisk (1TB), but what then?

Not quite. In common with all Windows versions, it needs to put a few boot files on the first drive in "BIOS order" (the Boot folder and the bootmgr file), confusingly called the system drive. Windows itself can be installed on any disk in any partition, but since Vista that partition will be *assigned* the drive letter C:, regardless of BIOS order. The partition where Windows is installed (which can be the same partition as the system partition) is called the boot partition.

Of course, in VirtualBox and on new PC's with empty HD's one can just offer Windows an empty (virtual) HD; Windows 7's setup will automatically partition and format this space.

[admin]

I somewhere read that Win7 can only be installed to drive C:\... this is not what I need. Today I will build in my second harddisk (1TB), but what then?

Not quite. In common with all Windows versions, it needs to put a few boot files on the first drive in "BIOS order" (the Boot folder and the bootmgr file), confusingly called the system drive. Windows itself can be installed on any disk in any partition, but since Vista that partition will be *assigned* the drive letter C:, regardless of BIOS order. The partition where Windows is installed (which can be the same partition as the system partition) is called the boot partition.

Of course, in VirtualBox and on new PC's with empty HD's one can just offer Windows an empty (virtual) HD; Windows 7's setup will automatically partition and format this space.

So when Win7's partition *assigned* the drive letter C: does this have effects on my XP installation on C:? Rather not, I hope.

Are you saying I should install Win7 from within vbox?

[nas8e9]

So when Win7's partition *assigned* the drive letter C: does this have effects on my XP installation on C:? Rather not, I hope.

I believe Windows drive letters are specific to Windows installations.

Are you saying I should install Win7 from within vbox?

I was under the impression that you were going to install Windows 7 in VirtualBox. I gather that you are going to do a multi-boot installation instead?

Combining the two points above: you do have Acronis True Image Home with an external USB drive, don't you?

[admin]

So when Win7's partition *assigned* the drive letter C: does this have effects on my XP installation on C:? Rather not, I hope.

I believe Windows drive letters are specific to Windows installations.

Are you saying I should install Win7 from within vbox?

I was under the impression that you were going to install Windows 7 in VirtualBox. I gather that you are going to do a multi-boot installation instead?

Combining the two points above: you do have Acronis True Image Home with an external USB drive, don't you?

I told you I'm hardware-dumb.

If your last question means if I have made a backup: yes, I have.

So, step by step recapitulation:
- install vbox
- run vbox
- in vbox: run win7 installation (from DVD)

ok?

[nas8e9]

If your last question means if I have made a backup: yes, I have.

I was thinking (or worrying) that you were going to do a multi-boot installation, which can be challenging. I didn't mean to state the obvious too needlessly...

So, step by step recapitulation:
- install vbox
- run vbox
- in vbox: run win7 installation (from DVD)

ok?

You could speed up installation by making an .iso image file from the Windows 7 installation DVD with the help of something like ImgBurn. Especially with multiple installations (not exactly hoped for, but again...) it's much faster.

In VirtualBox, you can assign the virtual DVD drive either a physical DVD drive or an .iso file of the installation DVD (Settings > Storage).

[admin]

If your last question means if I have made a backup: yes, I have.

I was thinking (or worrying) that you were going to do a multi-boot installation, which can be challenging. I didn't mean to state the obvious too needlessly...

So, step by step recapitulation:
- install vbox
- run vbox
- in vbox: run win7 installation (from DVD)

ok?

You could speed up installation by making an .iso image file from the Windows 7 installation DVD with the help of something like ImgBurn. Especially with multiple installations (not exactly hoped for, but again...) it's much faster.

In VirtualBox, you can assign the virtual DVD drive either a physical DVD drive or an .iso file of the installation DVD (Settings > Storage).

Right, multi-boot installation is not planned. We can relax.

Thanks a lot! Leaving to buy the harddisk...

[admin]

Another probably stupid question: Do I have to create an active partition on the new HD in order to boot Win7 in vbox?

[nas8e9]

Another probably stupid question: Do I have to create an active partition on the new HD in order to boot Win7 in vbox?

I'd create an extended partition comprising the entire disk and within that extended partition, a single logical partition. For VirtualBox's purpose, it just requires file storage: as long as it can store the configuration, virtual hard disk and snapshot files, it doesn't care about partition configuration.

I wouldn't create a *primary* partition on the new, second HD: that may, if your original HD has more than one partition, cause problems. Logical partitions are safe.

[nas8e9]

Regarding formatting, I'd go for the quick format option. A full format of 1 TB takes forever with very little added in reliability checking.

[nas8e9]

In the category good/bad news: it seems that, contrary to what the manual and Newegg state, your MB *does* support more than 2 GB, namely 8 GB according to the manufacturer's current product info. You'd probably have to flash the BIOS to the latest version, but it is excellent news with regards to using virtualisation.

Your supplier carries this memory; two of these give you 4 GB, about 3,2 GB of which can be used by XP. The additional 1,2 GB (with VirtualBox set to allocate 2 GB to Windows 7 plus using a few hunderd MB itself) would leave XP and your programs with 1 GB, which is where you started .

[admin]

In the category good/bad news: it seems that, contrary to what the manual and Newegg state, your MB *does* support more than 2 GB, namely 8 GB according to the manufacturer's current product info. You'd probably have to flash the BIOS to the latest version, but it is excellent news with regards to using virtualisation.

Your supplier carries this memory; two of these give you 4 GB, about 3,2 GB of which can be used by XP. The additional 1,2 GB (with VirtualBox set to allocate 2 GB to Windows 7 plus using a few hunderd MB itself) would leave XP and your programs with 1 GB, which is where you started .

Sounds like good news to me. Although I had already tried 2 + 1 (I bought a new 2GB thing -- 2GB RAM DDR2 Kingston Valueram PC800/6400) but the computer remained completely dark. So you are probably right about flashing the BIOS. (Which is another thing I need help at... )

[nas8e9]

Sounds like good news to me. Although I had already tried 2 + 1 (I bought a new 2GB thing -- 2GB RAM DDR2 Kingston Valueram PC800/6400) but the computer remained completely dark. So you are probably right about flashing the BIOS. (Which is another thing I need help at... )

I'm a bit bummed about overlooking the more than 2 GB thing, but anyway...

Apart from the BIOS needing to be updated, it's also very possible that the two RAM modules need to be identical for the MB to be able to boot. Modern Intel chipsets manage to boot with asymmetric memory configurations, but I'm not sure about a four year old dual channel AMD chipset.

[admin]

Sounds like good news to me. Although I had already tried 2 + 1 (I bought a new 2GB thing -- 2GB RAM DDR2 Kingston Valueram PC800/6400) but the computer remained completely dark. So you are probably right about flashing the BIOS. (Which is another thing I need help at... )

I'm a bit bummed about overlooking the more than 2 GB thing, but anyway...

Apart from the BIOS needing to be updated, it's also very possible that the two RAM modules need to be identical for the MB to be able to boot. Modern Intel chipsets manage to boot with asymmetric memory configurations, but I'm not sure about a four year old dual channel AMD chipset.

Ha, I had asked the man from the shop exactly that and he said it would work. Well, I proved him wrong in that 2 + 1 did not work, but with the shop man's incompetence proven I now see a good chance for your theory. Worth a try (and I will force them to take it back if it does not work...).

BTW, my old RAM was: 1GB DDR2 Aeneon PC5400 (3 years old)