Running another OS alongside Windows 7

I’m looking to install XP on its own partition alongside Windows 7. I’ve got some old hardware that just doesn't have any drivers for Windows 7, so my only move is to run XP. My 500 GB hard drive is already split up—I’ve got the main system on C: and another partition, D:. Is it actually better to avoid installing a second OS on the same partition where my primary Windows 7 setup lives? I was thinking about carving out a new partition from the D: drive, maybe around 40 GB—is that enough space for XP? Or am I overcomplicating things by adding another partition? Any advice would be appreciated.

Just install this:
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/downl...s.aspx?id=3702
Then run it on a VM to fix whatever isn't working on Windows 7.

Alright, thanks. I'll check it out.

I got a virtual Windows XP up and running, and honestly, it seems fine. But then I tried installing this software, and the whole thing just died on me. It throws the exact same "Not supported" error I get when I try it on Windows 7. Total letdown. Turns out even on a virtual Windows XP, you can't just run whatever you want, just like on Windows 7. :-( It feels like running a virtual Windows XP isn't quite the same as using a real one.

Which program are we talking about here? Did you bother to install the guest additions yet? Honestly, a virtual machine is pretty much set for anything except 3D stuff... like gaming, for instance. It isn't actually tapping into your graphics card; it's just emulating it.

What’s the exact error message? Maybe there's some extra dependency the software needs to run... You could always try setting up VirtualBox or VMware for the virtualization side of things.

@William Morris13/">@@William Morris13
What Noah Miller6 suggested above
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/downl...s.aspx?id=3702

I set up that Virtual Windows XP mode and it works fine, but like I said, it still won't run the Microsoft software installation (for the TV tuner card). Also, what exactly does people mean by "guest additions"? All I did was install the Virtual Windows XP mode called Windows6.1-KB958559-x64-RefreshPkg.msu along with the relevant Hotfix.

This pops up when the installation crashes inside the virtual Windows XP:



Normally, you don't need anything extra besides the software itself. In a standard Windows XP environment, the installer runs without any issues. I just grabbed VirtualBox, so I'm going to give that a shot. Thanks for the tip.

amberhound89 said:@William Morris13/">@@William Morris13
What Noah Miller6 suggested above
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/downl...s.aspx?id=3702

I set up that Virtual Windows XP mode and it works fine, but like I said, it still won't run the Microsoft software installation (for the TV tuner). I have no idea what people mean by guest additions. All I did was install the Virtual Windows XP mode called Windows6.1-KB958559-x64-RefreshPkg.msu along with the relevant Hotfix.

This pops up when the installation crashes inside the virtual Windows XP:



Usually, you don't need anything extra to install this besides the software itself. On Windows XP, the installer runs without any drama. I just grabbed VirtualBox, so I'll give that a shot. Thanks for the tip.

if you're running Windows 7 Ultimate or lower
you've got this option:
right-click the driver, go to properties, then the compatibility tab, and check "Run this program in compatibility mode for:"
pick Windows XP and that should do it.

Robert Rodriguez2 said:If you're running Windows 7 Ultimate or anything lower,
you've got an option here:
right-click the driver, hit properties, go to the compatibility tab, and check the box that says "Run this program in compatibility mode for:"
pick Windows XP and that should do the trick.

The issue is I can't get these drivers installed on Windows 7, and I can't get them working in a virtual Windows XP environment either. An error message pops up and kills the installation every single time. I can install the software for the hardware itself, but without the actual drivers, it's useless. Even in my virtual Windows XP setup, I'm hitting the exact same wall as I am in Windows 7.

amberhound89 said:The issue is I can't get drivers installed on Windows 7 or even in a virtual Windows XP setup. An error pops up and kills the installation every time. I can install the software for the hardware, but it's useless without the drivers. It's the exact same headache in the virtual Windows XP as it is in Windows 7.

Read what I wrote to you again. 🕺

Robert Rodriguez2 said:Go back and actually read what I told you. 🕺

That’s exactly what I did, but the software still can't detect the hardware (Cannot find any video capture device). Unfortunately, this gear doesn't have drivers for Windows 7, and the XP drivers won't install on Windows 7 or even in Windows XP mode. I don't know—I might just give up on this or just dual-boot Windows XP on its own partition. I'll think about it. Either way, thanks for the help. If anyone has another suggestion, I'm all ears.

If I'm reading this right, the Virtual Windows XP mode is missing Service Pack 3, which is probably why the install keeps failing.

The virtualized XP instance has service pack 3 installed.