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Last month, like everybody else, I downloaded the Windows 7 Beta version when it got released. I did the same when Vista came out in beta and it was quite fun with moments. Back then, I installed it on a separate partition together with XP on my laptop. Unfortunately, the laptop’s hardware was not really optimal to run Vista so it stayed with now and then running Vista to see how it looks like. This time, I’m running it on an awesome desktop (quad core, 4GB ram) so it should be easier to run Windows 7 and play around with it more frequently.
A month delay
But, after downloading it, I ran into a few problems which caused me in a month of delay. My initial idea was to run Windows 7 on a Virtual PC inside my Vista. I just learned about Virtual PC and I liked the idea of it. We’re working at work also with lots of virtual machines.
Space
First problem I ran into was, as you can imagine, space. I had one 500 GB hard disk, partitioned in two (equal) parts. One partition that contains Vista and all programs, and the other that contains all my music (130GB) and some other documents, media and storage. The last month, both partitions showed a nice 95%-99% full sign. Not the best situation to install a new operating system. Not even on Virtual PC. On top, I also want to run the Visual Studio 2010 Virtual PC.
So, after a few weeks receiving more and more problems regarding space, I made the decision to buy a second Hard Disk for my desktop. I ended up, obvious, with a 1 TB disk. So next thing, I spend the whole evening calculating, partitioning and formatting the disk. I ended up with multiple partitions according to how I use it. A music partition for all my songs, a developing partition for all the projects and other developing related stuff, a small download partition, and a large storage partition. In the same time, I’m still left with the 2 original partitions on my first disk, 1 that keeps my Vista installation and the other for all my Virtual machines. Nice calculated, I thought.
Virtual PC
So after a whole evening of preparing my new disk space, and moving around all my files, I was ready to install Windows 7 on a Virtual PC 2007 (Sp1). Bummer, obvious, I downloaded the 64 bit version of Windows 7 because my hard ware is optimal for it. Turns out that Virtual PC 2007 cannot install a 64 bit OS as Virtual PC. At the same time, I heard from somebody else that has Windows 7 on Virtual PC that it wasn’t really worth.
Side by side
So, virtual pc didn’t work. Well, how about installing it on this second “free” partition side by side with Vista? Sure that would work. Question would be then “how much I will use it”. Then again, I’m thinking of having Visual Studio 2010 under Windows 7’s Virtual PC.
Though, all I had was an iso file. Turns out you have to write it to a DVD so you can boot with it and install it. Since I didn’t had any empty DVD’s to my disposal, I had to buy one. And since I always forgot to buy it every time I was in the store, it took another week.
But finally, I got it installed, side by side with Vista. And I must say even to my surprise, I really like it. So much that I started to install all other programs (office, Visual Studio, Winamp) and am considering using it as a more daily use OS. Because my restructure of the hard disk and files, I know have all my documents on separate partitions, accessible by both my Vista and 7 installation.
Next time I’ll blog about my first and second impressions with Windows 7 after working with it for a day or so.
PS: I didn’t got Visual Studio 2010 on Virtual PC running. Something to do with the expiration of it. I need to look into this with a clear head later on. Seems it should be fixable according to this article.