A Couple Questions about Dual-Booting

So I have Windows 7 installed on my laptop and I have a copy of Windows 8 ready to go, and I wanted to try it out by dual booting it before I did a complete upgrade and erased my 7 install. I've read all the tutorials on how to dual boot, and how to remove one of the OS's afterwards if I decide I don't want it on my computer anymore.

What I would like to know is what happens to all of the files and programs I have on an OS after I remove it? For example, if I install a bunch of programs on Windows 8, then decide to remove 8 from my computer, what happens to those installed programs? What about any files, i.e. documents/music/etc that I create? Are they removed by simply deleting the partition that 8 is on and adding it back to my original partition by extending the partition, or do I have to manually uninstall the programs and transfer the files?

Whatever the answer was to that question, does it also apply to Windows 7 if I decide to remove it instead of 8? Because I have a lot of programs and files on 7 and I would like to know what the process involved is. Is it better to uninstall 8 and do the direct upgrade from 7, or is it not too difficult to transfer files to the already-installed 8 and then delete 7?

Thanks everyone!

Hello there
The answer is simple. The only way (in my knowledge) to remove an OS is to format the partition in which it is installed. So clearly, once you format the partition in which Windows 8 is installed, all the data in that partition will be wiped off. All the programs you install in Windows 8 will be deleted.

What about any files, i.e. documents/music/etc that I create? Are they removed by simply deleting the partition that 8 is on and adding it back to my original partition by extending the partition, or do I have to manually uninstall the programs and transfer the files?

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Let's say you create a word document and save the file in any partition apart from the OS partition, it will remain even after you delete (format) the OS. But if you store your personal files in the OS partition, as you may clearly understand by now, after you format everything will be gone. So, before you format, move all your files in another partition.

does it also apply to Windows 7 if I decide to remove it instead of 8?

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I think after the above explanation, it's clear that it doesn't matter whether its Windows 7 or 8 you decide to remove.

I hope I have been able to answer your questions
Arpan

Ah I see. Thanks for the quick reply Arpan! I have a follow-up question if you don't mind. Now, let's say I install 8 on a separate partition of only, say, 25gb, so the OS will take up most of the space. Now, when I install Windows 8 on that partition my understanding is that that particular partition where 8 resides will be called C: by default and the partition where all of my Windows 7 files and programs were stored will be called something like E: under Windows 8.

Now, if I were to install a program on E: that I already had installed on that partition in Windows 7, would it mess with the old program at all? Also, if I were to uninstall Windows 8, which is on C: drive, the program installed for it under E: drive would remain. Is there a way to uninstall that program from Windows 7, or would I have to remember to uninstall it from Windows 8 first before I removed my 8 install?

Thanks again for the answer!

I also gave you +rep too .

Many thanks for the rep

when I install Windows 8 on that partition my understanding is that that particular partition where 8 resides will be called C: be default and the partition where all of my Windows 7 files and programs were stored will be called something like E: under Windows 8.

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Thats right :thumb:

Now, if I were to install a program on E: that I already had installed on that partition in Windows 7, would it mess with the old program at all?

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Yes, it is very likely that it would mess with the same programs installed in the other OS. Its highly recommended that you install the programs of an OS in its own partition or in a partition that doesn't include another OS.

Also, if I were to uninstall Windows 8, which is on C: drive, the program installed for it under E: drive would remain.

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As I stated earlier, there is no option in my knowledge for uninstalling an OS. You gotta be formatting the partition in which the OS resides. Therefore only data in that partition is wiped off, other partitions remaining intact. Therefore, the program installed for it under E: drive would remain but those would be unusable in any other OS because when you install any program in a OS, the setup installs registry values in that OS. So that program can only be used in that OS.

Is there a way to uninstall that program from Windows 7, or would I have to remember to uninstall it from Windows 8 first before I removed my 8 install?

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Yes, select the files in the E: drive. Hit delete.
Remember, the program was installed in W8 and not in W7. So, registry values weren't registered for that program in W7. So, in the Control Panel-> Uninstall a Program of Windows 7, that particular program won't be listed. Just go to E: drive, select the files you want to delete, then hit delete. Done!