I've been looking around on the web for info on installing Win 7, as well as the excellent info here in this forum.I found this from MS:http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows...xp-to-windows-7and just wondered if anyone who has done the Xp32 to Win7 64 upgrade can confirm that the procedure is accurate (and there's not a better way to do it). I'm a bit disappointed that I will lose my XP32 OS.Thanks, Bruce.

To go from XP 32b to Win7 64b you have to do a clean install so your HD will be wiped of all data, make sure that you backup everything that you want to save.

To go from XP 32b to Win7 64b you have to do a clean install so your HD will be wiped of all data, make sure that you backup everything that you want to save.

Thanks.

Several more questions if anyone's reading this thread:After installing Win 7 (and having lost WinXP 32 OS due to requirement to "custom install"), is it possible to install WinXP 32 on another drive and multi-boot to it (for the apps that are 32 bit only that I want to still access)?And, with XP I only have the option of DX9C (Direct X). I understand that Win 7 (64) provides DX10 and maybe even DX11. Which is best to run FSX with? I recall an issue with Vista (which I have never used) that DX10 was an issue with FSX, if I recall correctly....Thanks, Bruce.

Several more questions if anyone's reading this thread:After installing Win 7 (and having lost WinXP 32 OS due to requirement to "custom install"), is it possible to install WinXP 32 on another drive and multi-boot to it (for the apps that are 32 bit only that I want to still access)?And, with XP I only have the option of DX9C (Direct X). I understand that Win 7 (64) provides DX10 and maybe even DX11. Which is best to run FSX with? I recall an issue with Vista (which I have never used) that DX10 was an issue with FSX, if I recall correctly....Thanks, Bruce.

Bruce,If you installed Windows 7 Professional or Ultimate there is a optional update for installing Windows XP on a Virtural PC: Windows XP Virtual PC install Tried the Virtual PC, however was not able to run the sound card as a Windows XP device as the drivers were updated for Windows 7 64 bit that were installed.

Bruce,If you installed Windows 7 Professional or Ultimate there is a optional update for installing Windows XP on a Virtural PC: Windows XP Virtual PC install Tried the Virtual PC, however was not able to run the sound card as a Windows XP device as the drivers were updated for Windows 7 64 bit that were installed.

Thanks, much appreciated.Bruce.

A little late but here's my answer:A multi-boot system is a good possibility.However the way to install a multiboot XP/WIN7 system is to install the oldest OS first.So you will have to install XP all the way up to SP3 and then you can add Win7 onto a different disk drive.When installing win 7 you can select ( after the installation finishes) to create a multiboot system.This is done in the advanced system properties selection menu.Set the default boot option to the os you want to use as a primary system.XP will be called "older version of Windows" in the selection screen after the initial boot.Then you can select the OS you want to work withWin7 will use DX11 and it won't influence the performance of FSX. FSX only has the ability to show the DX10 preview and the game itself doesn't look at the DX version as long as it is DX 9.0c or higher.Kind regards,Tom vd HorstMicrosoft Certified IT Professional Windows 2008 Enterprise AdministratorWindows 7 Certified Professional

A little late but here's my answer:A multi-boot system is a good possibility.However the way to install a multiboot XP/WIN7 system is to install the oldest OS first.So you will have to install XP all the way up to SP3 and then you can add Win7 onto a different disk drive.When installing win 7 you can select ( after the installation finishes) to create a multiboot system.This is done in the advanced system properties selection menu.Set the default boot option to the os you want to use as a primary system.XP will be called "older version of Windows" in the selection screen after the initial boot.Then you can select the OS you want to work withWin7 will use DX11 and it won't influence the performance of FSX. FSX only has the ability to show the DX10 preview and the game itself doesn't look at the DX version as long as it is DX 9.0c or higher.Kind regards,Tom vd HorstMicrosoft Certified IT Professional Windows 2008 Enterprise AdministratorWindows 7 Certified Professional

Hi Tom,Very interesting reply. Actually, I currently have my XP OS on D:, with an existing multi-boot to an older XP instance (now not used much) on C:. So, maybe I could keep my existing XP on D: (which is already installed) when I instal Win 7?Rather then start over with a new instance of XP a few years ago, I installed a multi-boot to the new instance and then gradually moved stuff over to the new instance on D:Thanks, Bruce.

Yes that's a possibility indeed.Keep the XP on D: and install ( wipe and load option) Win7 on the C partition.So boot Win 7 from the XP install on D: and point the installation to the C partition.Then you can use it as a multi boot enviroment.

What I did was to buy a removable drive rack from Kingwin and a new HD. So I did a clean install on the virgin HD and set it up the same as my Win XP (primary partition for OS, extended/logical partition for apps). I have another HD in the system for data, which both OS's see as drive "F:".If you do go the dual boot route, you might want to check out a freeware program "EasyBCD" to edit your boot (bcd) data.scott s..

Yes that's a possibility indeed.Keep the XP on D: and install ( wipe and load option) Win7 on the C partition.So boot Win 7 from the XP install on D: and point the installation to the C partition.Then you can use it as a multi boot enviroment.

Thanks. Since the bootldr and boot.ini are on C:, and presumably get erased when I do the custom install of Win 7, does the new OS look for other older OS's when starting to install and create a multi-boot path to them from C:? Is that the way this would work?Thanks, Bruce.

What I did was to buy a removable drive rack from Kingwin and a new HD. So I did a clean install on the virgin HD and set it up the same as my Win XP (primary partition for OS, extended/logical partition for apps). I have another HD in the system for data, which both OS's see as drive "F:".If you do go the dual boot route, you might want to check out a freeware program "EasyBCD" to edit your boot (bcd) data.scott s..

Thanks Scott, what I will do is look for EasyBCD, and see how it works.Bruce.

Thanks. Since the bootldr and boot.ini are on C:, and presumably get erased when I do the custom install of Win 7, does the new OS look for other older OS's when starting to install and create a multi-boot path to them from C:? Is that the way this would work?Thanks, Bruce.Thanks Scott, what I will do is look for EasyBCD, and see how it works.Bruce.

Bruce that's correct, the new OS will create a multiboot path towards the older OS's

Re: Dual boot XP and Win7 and FSXI have dual booted as described in this thread - works fine: with one big warning: Don't try to access FSX program components/add-ons, etc., from both systems. I'm not a computer expert, so maybe this is obvious for many people, but I had to learn the hard way - I tried it and it worked for a few days, but then Blue Screen wipe out :( . FSX has to be independently installed with all add-ons, etc., in each system.I believe pure data files, that do not contain system dependent elements, can be accessed successfully from either system if they are on a separate logical partition that doesn't have a system on it, but any file that has system-dependent coding, or is on either system partition, will probably cause problems.

Bruce that's correct, the new OS will create a multiboot path towards the older OS's

Thanks, much appreciated.Bruce.

Re: Dual boot XP and Win7 and FSXI have dual booted as described in this thread - works fine: with one big warning: Don't try to access FSX program components/add-ons, etc., from both systems. I'm not a computer expert, so maybe this is obvious for many people, but I had to learn the hard way - I tried it and it worked for a few days, but then Blue Screen wipe out :( . FSX has to be independently installed with all add-ons, etc., in each system.I believe pure data files, that do not contain system dependent elements, can be accessed successfully from either system if they are on a separate logical partition that doesn't have a system on it, but any file that has system-dependent coding, or is on either system partition, will probably cause problems.

Ye, thanks for the advice, I assumed that this would be an issue. I will not be cross-installing any apps.Thanks, Bruce.

Re: Dual boot XP and Win7 and FSXI have dual booted as described in this thread - works fine: with one big warning: Don't try to access FSX program components/add-ons, etc., from both systems. I'm not a computer expert, so maybe this is obvious for many people, but I had to learn the hard way - I tried it and it worked for a few days, but then Blue Screen wipe out :( . FSX has to be independently installed with all add-ons, etc., in each system.I believe pure data files, that do not contain system dependent elements, can be accessed successfully from either system if they are on a separate logical partition that doesn't have a system on it, but any file that has system-dependent coding, or is on either system partition, will probably cause problems.

The issue is that the correct parameters aren't in the registry.When you install FS9 under XP and start it under Win7 , Win7 will look in the registry for the correct path and won't find it.Since the path is coded in the XP partition it will have problems.You can start it, but it won't load the correct parameters for the applicationSo yes you will have to do duplicate installs. Same goes ofr any other software in addition to the OS. (for example Office etc.)