I’ve got XP and a Windows 7 Upgrade disk, and am still tossing a coin between trying your re-partition dual-boot solution and a straight-out clean install.
In thinking about the existing-partition clean-install method, I’ve used the “Windows Easy Transfer for Windows 7” tool to make a restore file (on an external drive) for settings and THE VERY FEW FILES I allow Windows to keep in “My Documents”.
But I keep large folder trees on that same C: partition, just NOT in “Windows” or “Program Files” or “Settings and Documents”. When your guides and Microsoft’s guides say things like “You will need to reinstall your programs and restore your files” what do they mean by “your files”? Is it just the files held hostage in “My Documents” or every fle on C: that is at risk?
To put it another way, is the Windows 7 installer going to take over the whole C: partition or insist on reformatting it? Or will it just mess around with “Windows” and “Program Files” and “Settings and Documents” but spare my other files on C:?
Thanks!
==mitch
