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Sure, we can delete the partition when we're done, but do we have to restore our XP/Vista boot loaders? Not sure if Win7 replaced the Vista/XP boot loaders with its own.
I run the fixboot and fixmbr commands from the recovery console when removing a Linux dual-boot, just want to verify if this will be the same with removing Win7.

Yes, it does appear that it replaces the boot record. I removed the partition since I was going to download a later version, but my computer still asks to boot up from Windows 7, or an earlier OS. I'm going to try using the Recovery Console.

coppertrail said:

yes. it will be the same. Either use the fixmbr command from recovery console of xp or do a startup repair from vista disc. It will replace thw win7 bootloader with the older one.

Good to know. After some searching I've discovered the command from the recovery console is actually fixbmr followed by fixboot. Makes sense because you'd want to fix the MBR first. Good to know that this will restore the XP boot loader after removing the Win7 dual-boot.

So far, Win7 running great on my older P4 with a 7600 GT graphics card. Only complaint is my mouse, which is not a Win7 issue. I have a Logitech MX500 an there are no Vista drivers for this mouse on the logitech site. Mouse works, it's just slooow even at the highest acceleration setting.

But I like the look and feel of Win7 thus far, haven't had the time to really test it with installations, that will come in due time.

fixmbr and then fixboot will write a new MBR as well repair the particular OS boot record in the system partition. Well in this i believe , just the fixmbr command will work as the original boot file in xp/vista isnt modified. Formatting win7 partition and then just fixmbr should do it.

Here's the easiest way. Put a second HDD in your machine and install Win7 to that. Boom! Done!

Maybe easier... Virtual PC!

I'm testing on my physical machine to determine how it will perform. I do use VMWare Workstation for quite a few test machines. For the Win7 Beta, I want to see if, performance wise, I'll be able to upgrade my old P4 3.6 GHz from XP when the time comes. So far, its looking promising.

I got Win7 up an running under VirtualPC (1.5Gb RAM, 32Gb ROM)... but it lacks some of the visuals because it does not recognices my graphics card, I'll have to work on this, but Win7 is up and running!