Not necessarily. I know many programs and games that enter any missing registry info automatically on launch.Bikertom, what you don't seem to realize is that when programs install they need to enter info into the registry to function properly.
So, you will have to install your programs in W7 - W7 won't just pick up the registry entries from a different partition/OS install.
Take the rose-colored glasses off, and get real!
You're right, it was a misguided impression. Don't know where you picked it up, but it is wrong. The sooner you lose it, the better for your peace of mind.
Dual Booting is just that, Dual Booting. It has absolutely nothing to do with the programs that you want to use. Moose is technically correct that programs have to insert vital info into the registry in order for it to function correctly, even if you come across the occasional program that doesn't, its always a good idea for each OS to have its own programs to work from. This is just as true, even if you were dual booting two different XP OS installations.So if that's the case about the MapSource program needing to access the registry on C: drive where XP is, then I'm going to have to reinstall all those XP programs I want to use in win7 on the W partition where win7 is located. This is going to mean having double the programs and data for a dual boot system, programs and data for XP on 1 drive/partition and then the same programs and data again installed on the 2nd drive/partition for use in win7. So what's the use in having 2 hard drives then? I might as well in the future install win7 on one big drive along with all the programs. I can see that this dual boot option is not working out the way I thought it would work.
I must say that I have never thought of that before and it is an effective (however cumbersome) way to accomplish this goal.If you are going to dual-boot, do yourself a favor.
Install W7 to a separate hard drive, and disconnect the XP drive before you begin installing W7.
That way, no boot manager will be used. All you have to do is change the hd boot sequence in the BIOS to go to either OS.
Another advantage of this method is - when you reconnect the XP drive, W7 will simply assign drive letters to the partition(s) of that drive. You won't have to worry about access violations.