Lenovo clean install of XP, then 'Vista to Win7' upgrade

I got a Lenovo 3000 PC from friend who was tossing it ( wouldn't boot). Had
no CDs for me, but I took it. I can mount drive in another system and the
disk itself looks ok - but Vista is toast. I had already ordered win7
UPGRADE for another PC but now thinking - this will be my new box.
So, I called Lenovo - ordered the original Vista home premium CD/DVD set and
it will be here in a few days. I asked if it needs an oem partition to do a
reinstall and was told 'no - these DVD's can be used in a brand new drive
and will install fine.' I'd like to get the most from Win7 and it seems like
to do that I need to upgrade from Vista and not XP. If I can I'd like to
multiboot with XP too, so , could someone familiar with Lenovo as well as
Vista/Win7 structure critique this plan:
Partition drive - 4 partitions ? ( 1=XP, 2=Win7, 3=DATA and 4= Lenovo
diag/utility partition)
I install XP , then Lenovo Vista, then upgrade Vista to Win7
Or will installing Lenovo disks wipe XP and leave disk with 2 partitions -
one for me and one for diags ?

If I can have XP and Win7, any difference if I install all updates to Vista
prior to win7 upgrade or will win7 end up the same either way if I wait
until vista is installed , then go right to win7 then " windowsupdate" ?

Thanks for ANY info.

Post here for appropriate assistance:
http://social.answers.microsoft.com/...nstall/threads

- Bobb - wrote:
> I got a Lenovo 3000 PC from friend who was tossing it ( wouldn't boot).
> Had
> no CDs for me, but I took it. I can mount drive in another system and the
> disk itself looks ok - but Vista is toast. I had already ordered win7
> UPGRADE for another PC but now thinking - this will be my new box.
> So, I called Lenovo - ordered the original Vista home premium CD/DVD set
> and
> it will be here in a few days. I asked if it needs an oem partition to do
> a
> reinstall and was told 'no - these DVD's can be used in a brand new drive
> and will install fine.' I'd like to get the most from Win7 and it seems
> like
> to do that I need to upgrade from Vista and not XP. If I can I'd like to
> multiboot with XP too, so , could someone familiar with Lenovo as well as
> Vista/Win7 structure critique this plan:
> Partition drive - 4 partitions ? ( 1=XP, 2=Win7, 3=DATA and 4= Lenovo
> diag/utility partition)
> I install XP , then Lenovo Vista, then upgrade Vista to Win7
> Or will installing Lenovo disks wipe XP and leave disk with 2 partitions -
> one for me and one for diags ?
>
> If I can have XP and Win7, any difference if I install all updates to
> Vista
> prior to win7 upgrade or will win7 end up the same either way if I wait
> until vista is installed , then go right to win7 then " windowsupdate" ?
>
> Thanks for ANY info.

"- Bobb -" <bobb@noemail.123> wrote in message
news:...
> I got a Lenovo 3000 PC from friend who was tossing it ( wouldn't boot).
> Had no CDs for me, but I took it. I can mount drive in another system and
> the disk itself looks ok - but Vista is toast. I had already ordered win7
> UPGRADE for another PC but now thinking - this will be my new box.
> So, I called Lenovo - ordered the original Vista home premium CD/DVD set
> and it will be here in a few days. I asked if it needs an oem partition to
> do a reinstall and was told 'no - these DVD's can be used in a brand new
> drive and will install fine.' I'd like to get the most from Win7 and it
> seems like to do that I need to upgrade from Vista and not XP. If I can
> I'd like to multiboot with XP too, so , could someone familiar with Lenovo
> as well as Vista/Win7 structure critique this plan:
> Partition drive - 4 partitions ? ( 1=XP, 2=Win7, 3=DATA and 4= Lenovo
> diag/utility partition)
> I install XP , then Lenovo Vista, then upgrade Vista to Win7
> Or will installing Lenovo disks wipe XP and leave disk with 2 partitions -
> one for me and one for diags ?
>
> If I can have XP and Win7, any difference if I install all updates to
> Vista prior to win7 upgrade or will win7 end up the same either way if I
> wait until vista is installed , then go right to win7 then "
> windowsupdate" ?
>
> Thanks for ANY info.
>

Why not skip the Vista install and do a clean install of your Windows 7
Upgrade media?
<http://www.winsupersite.com/win7/clean_install_upgrade_media.asp>

"John E. Carty" <> wrote in message
news:e$...
>
> "- Bobb -" <bobb@noemail.123> wrote in message
> news:...
<snipped>>
for ANY info.
>
> Why not skip the Vista install and do a clean install of your Windows 7
> Upgrade media?
> <http://www.winsupersite.com/win7/clean_install_upgrade_media.asp>

But I'd like to end up with XP AND Win7.
I'm thinking if only XP on there, Win7 will install but will reformat drive
( XP gets wiped, right ?). So that's why I thought I need to install xp ,
then when Lenovo Vista arrives put that on part 2, then install Win7 OVER
Vista. I read that page and it SOUNDS good but doesn't refer to both XP and
Vista- my understanding of the upgrade process is that :
if only XP it will reformat.
If Vista, it will give me option to UPGRADE Vista - leaving me with XP and
Win7

on my way - thank you.

"PA Bear [MS MVP]" <> wrote in message
news:eIQ%...
> Post here for appropriate assistance:
> http://social.answers.microsoft.com/...nstall/threads


>
> - Bobb - wrote:
>> I got a Lenovo 3000 PC from friend who was tossing it ( wouldn't boot).
>> Had
>> no CDs for me, but I took it. I can mount drive in another system and
>> the
>> disk itself looks ok - but Vista is toast. I had already ordered win7
>> UPGRADE for another PC but now thinking - this will be my new box.
>> So, I called Lenovo - ordered the original Vista home premium CD/DVD set
>> and
>> it will be here in a few days. I asked if it needs an oem partition to do
>> a
>> reinstall and was told 'no - these DVD's can be used in a brand new drive
>> and will install fine.' I'd like to get the most from Win7 and it seems
>> like
>> to do that I need to upgrade from Vista and not XP. If I can I'd like to
>> multiboot with XP too, so , could someone familiar with Lenovo as well as
>> Vista/Win7 structure critique this plan:
>> Partition drive - 4 partitions ? ( 1=XP, 2=Win7, 3=DATA and 4= Lenovo
>> diag/utility partition)
>> I install XP , then Lenovo Vista, then upgrade Vista to Win7
>> Or will installing Lenovo disks wipe XP and leave disk with 2
>> partitions -
>> one for me and one for diags ?
>>
>> If I can have XP and Win7, any difference if I install all updates to
>> Vista
>> prior to win7 upgrade or will win7 end up the same either way if I wait
>> until vista is installed , then go right to win7 then " windowsupdate" ?
>>
>> Thanks for ANY info.
>

"- Bobb -" <bobb@noemail.123> wrote in message
news:...
>
> "John E. Carty" <> wrote in message
> news:e$...
>>
>> "- Bobb -" <bobb@noemail.123> wrote in message
>> news:...
> <snipped>>
> for ANY info.
>>
>> Why not skip the Vista install and do a clean install of your Windows 7
>> Upgrade media?
>> <http://www.winsupersite.com/win7/clean_install_upgrade_media.asp>
>
> But I'd like to end up with XP AND Win7.
> I'm thinking if only XP on there, Win7 will install but will reformat
> drive ( XP gets wiped, right ?). So that's why I thought I need to install
> xp , then when Lenovo Vista arrives put that on part 2, then install Win7
> OVER Vista. I read that page and it SOUNDS good but doesn't refer to both
> XP and Vista- my understanding of the upgrade process is that :
> if only XP it will reformat.
> If Vista, it will give me option to UPGRADE Vista - leaving me with XP and
> Win7
>
As long as you are putting them on separate partitions or drives you will
have both :-)

"John E. Carty" <> wrote in message
news:...
>
>
> "- Bobb -" <bobb@noemail.123> wrote in message
> news:...
>>
>> "John E. Carty" <> wrote in message
>> news:e$...
>>>
>>> "- Bobb -" <bobb@noemail.123> wrote in message
>>> news:...
>> <snipped>>
>> for ANY info.
>>>
>>> Why not skip the Vista install and do a clean install of your Windows 7
>>> Upgrade media?
>>> <http://www.winsupersite.com/win7/clean_install_upgrade_media.asp>
>>
>> But I'd like to end up with XP AND Win7.
>> I'm thinking if only XP on there, Win7 will install but will reformat
>> drive ( XP gets wiped, right ?). So that's why I thought I need to
>> install xp , then when Lenovo Vista arrives put that on part 2, then
>> install Win7 OVER Vista. I read that page and it SOUNDS good but doesn't
>> refer to both XP and Vista- my understanding of the upgrade process is
>> that :
>> if only XP it will reformat.
>> If Vista, it will give me option to UPGRADE Vista - leaving me with XP
>> and Win7
>>
> As long as you are putting them on separate partitions or drives you will
> have both :-)
So Win7 will reformat the PARTITION not the drive ?
I thought it would wipe the DRIVE. Got it. Thanks