im currently running windows 7 on my laptop. if i install windows server 2008 for a trial period will it now overwrite my current operating system?

If you are installing in other drive, rather than the drive which is currently having windows 7 Then this will not delete the exiting one and it will create the dual boot. To achieve this check the below links. http://blogs.technet.com/b/keithcombs/archive/2009/05/22/dual-boot-from-vhd-using-windows-7-and-windows-server-2008-r2.aspx http://windows.microsoft.com/en-IN/windows-vista/Install-more-than-one-operating-system-multiboot RegardsRajesh J S