Downloading Windows 7 RC

Yeah after a few days of playing around and just using Windows 7, I must say Microsoft has a solid OS in the making. Like you said, the taskbar is great. I've noticed increased performance in a few games and applications as well, which is always welcomed.

Since my windows 7 installation copied over the Vista files, would it be ok to get rid of the WinRAR ISO file that is on the partition I made for 7, and spread those free GBs back to my other two partitions?
 
I would burn the iso file onto a dvd before erasing it - just so that you have it in case you need it.

Also, using programs like Acronis True Image to back up an entire partition (including the OS, all drivers and all installed programs) is a pretty handy thing. In a matter of 15 minutes, it enables you to restore an OS with everything you had installed. For example, in your case, you could have had Vista back with all your programs and settings in a matter of minutes. Just a thought for the future. :)
http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/products/trueimage/
 
Hmm I thought I overwrote the Vista files with Windows 7? I'll download that program for future reference though. I might just start over from scratch here in a few days or a week or two and do it right. I wonder if the product key I got off the microsoft website will still work with another installation.
 
sorry, I wasn't clear enough. For you it's too late to try and get Vista back because you overwrote it with Win7. If you had had the Acronis True Image program installed previously and already had a back up of the Vista partition, THEN you could have returned to Vista. But now there is no going back.

You can try starting from scratch in a few weeks, but if you don't really need Vista, then just enjoy Win7. You can always go back and install Vista at any time.

The Win7 key from Microsoft should work fine again. You can install it as many times as you want on a given computer, and you can use the key on up to (I believe) 3 computers. As of June 1, 2010, the trial period will be over, and Win7 will shut itself down every two hours and will keep nagging you to purchase a key.
 
OK, that's what I thought I did. I burned the ISO to a DVD. Thanks for your helpful insight during my "process".
 
how do i set up my 2nd drive as the other disc to install windows 7 so i leave vista alone?

i need to burn windows 7 to disc, and install? my drive is formatted for pics and songs i erased so its blank. other drice c: has vista...wanted to leave that alone, install windows 7 on 2nd drive (HOW?)

and use a dual boot manager (WHICH ONE?)

any suggestions appreciated, thanks
 
fastforded said:
how do i set up my 2nd drive as the other disc to install windows 7 so i leave vista alone?
Click to expand...

I haven't done it yet - but I'm planning to have 2 O/S on my server.

From the book I'm reading - it looks like you need to have a separate partition for your Secondary Operating System. Linux recommends a barebone minimum of 10 GB - not sure how much Windows 7 will need.
 
fastforded said:
how do i set up my 2nd drive as the other disc to install windows 7 so i leave vista alone?

i need to burn windows 7 to disc, and install? my drive is formatted for pics and songs i erased so its blank. other drice c: has vista...wanted to leave that alone, install windows 7 on 2nd drive (HOW?)

and use a dual boot manager (WHICH ONE?)

any suggestions appreciated, thanks
Click to expand...

If you install it on a second drive, you will have to go into the BIOS each
time you boot and tell your pc which hard drive to boot to, as the boot
manager won't know that there is two OS's installed.

If you extract the Windows 7.iso image, and find the setup.exe you can run
the installer straight from there.

Then select the second drive as your install destination.
 
Hey all, I redid my Windows installations yesterday. I now have done it right with Vista and Windows 7 on my laptop. However, I can't help but entertain the idea of just getting rid of Vista all together. I've gotten used to 7 over these past few months that Vista seems so painfully slow. I wonder if I wanted to get rid of my Vista installation all I would need to do is delete that partition with the OS install? Or since that is my "main" OS it would be more complex?
 
That's certainly an option, yes.

However, if you format the partition and don't change the MBR,
the computer may still look for the other install.

This is easy. After you format the partition, boot into Win 7 and
Click Start and in the search bar, type msconfig

Go to the BOOT.INI tab and "Check all boot paths".

Remove the old one.
 
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I'll give a few more days for my ultimate decision, but the idea of getting rid of Vista all together is tempting. It'll free up space for my Windows 7 installation which is always a good thing.
 
I don't think it'll be that easy. Since my Vista OS partition contains all the boot files and what not would I need to pop in my recovery DVD that came with my laptop and reinstall the boot files to my Windows 7 partition?
 
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