Dual boot with XP and Windows 7, back to single boot

[Raydee]

Ok I did a dual boot system with Windows XP on a separate 80gb hard drive and Windows 7 on a 100gb partition from a second 500gb hard drive. Ever since I have installed 7 I haven't found a need to even boot back into XP. I am liking Windows 7 a lot and have found no problems with any of the programs or applications I am running.

Now the question is can I do a full backup of my current windows 7 install and then replace the XP version I have with 7 and then to a full restore so that the new copy of 7 is on both the 80gb HD and the 100gb partition. Will they both be identical if I do it this way so that I can remove the 7 install from the 100gb partition and have it only on the separate HD? I hope this question makes sense.

[Steve R Jones]

I think I might/maybe/possibly understand what you're asking....

Your first goal will have to be getting Win 7 to bootup without the XP drive hooked up. The following might come in handy for that task.

EasyBCD is NeoSmart Technologies' multiple award-winning answer to tweaking the new Windows Vista bootloader.

With EasyBCD, almost anything is possible. Setting up and configuring Windows boot entries is simple, and there is no easier way to quickly boot right into Linux, Mac OS X, or BSD straight from the Windows Vista bootloader - on the fly, no expert knowledge needed!

http://easybcd.en.softonic.com/

[SuperSparks]

I'm a bit confused here

It sounds like a very hard way of doing things though. I would just install Win 7 in place of XP, then format the current Win7 partition afterwards. Th use Easy BCD to get back to the single boot option.