Install Win7 HP upgrade to Win XP on dual boot - GRUB problem?
 

Current set-up:
Athlon 64 2800
2 GB RAM
340 GB on two HDD
Ubuntu 10.04 LTS
Win XP Pro SP3

After getting the Silver Ghost all set up and purring like a kitten for my daughter, she now informs me she'd rather have Win7 HP instead of Win XP Pro SP3. Ubuntu and Win XP Pro are on separate HDD. Can I do a "clean install" of Win 7 HP on the Windows drive without screwing up GRUB? Or will I need to do the dance described at http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.p...nstall+windows. I've had to modify Ubuntu because of conflicts between 10.04 and the Ralink 2780 (?) wireless-n drivers.
Thank you.

Hi -

Your link didn't come across. But all you have to do is this:

1. Install Windows 7.
There's no such thing as an "upgrade" from XP - you get to install Win7 from scratch.
Use your XP partition.
At that point, you should have Win7 up and running.

2. You'll lose Grub.
That's just the way it is: Win7 doesn't play nice with other boot loaders (not even NT or DOS).
Your Ubuntu partition should be untouched.

3. Insert your Ubuntu Live CD.
Re-install Grub.
Here's another link that might help:
Recovering Ubuntu AFter Installing Windows

Maybe ...
Given that you have separate disks for each, it's possible they have separate MBRs - change the BIOS boot order, install Win7, change the BIOS order back, nothing else to do.
Depends on the setup.