Windows 7: Dualboot Windows 7 64bit RTM +XP 32 bit

I'm about to install XP 32 again alongside Windows 7 because certain apps that are very important to me don't run properly on 7(which ones is not important, they just don't),



I've found a ton of information about this, but mostly about installing 7 after installing XP.
I know how the process goes, but I just want to make sure before I f*ck up.

Anyone has any tips/experiences that I should note?

Hi there

I'd go about it this way.

1) Backup your Windows 7 with something like Acronis True Image / Norton Ghost - so if all goes wrong you can restore and still have an OS so you can try it again.

2) Install Windows XP (Wipe your Windows 7 installation and create an XP partition -- probably 10 / 12 GB should be enough. Leave the rest blank as the Windows 7 installation will format this when you come to install it.

3) Clean install Windows 7 - use the spare space that you left unpartitioned.

4) job done.

(If your PC has SATA drives you'll have to slipstream them into XP before you start -- use Driverpacks and nlite for slipstreaming - just google as the process is too long to describe here - it's not difficult).


Advanced -- you can restore your previous Windows 7 installation after the XP install. Unless you have to I wouldn't bother since a clean install is usually the best mechanism for this,

Use Acronis / Ghost etc to restore Windows 7 to the spare data area on your disk -- change partition type from ACTIVE to PRIMARY (the dual boot mechanism is actually the active partition).

If Windows 7 fails to boot either use the repair option or easyBCD to fix it (google again).

BTW depending on your XP requirements setting up a Virtual machine for XP could be a better solution than dual booting - note that sometimes you will have to dual boot for certain hardware but typical legacy apps will run fine in a Virtual machine.

Cheers
jimbo

That looks quite cumbersome!
Why can't I just run XP setup on a clean partition?
Like this:

Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and XP

It shows how to install XP when 7 is already installed(then why am I asking here? Just checking if anyone has any experience of things that I should be cautious for with the RTM).

Hi sefyu - you should be fine to install XP after 7 - just like in the tutorial.

Making a backup image is always a good idea.

Make backup images of your o/s partitions on a regular basis is something you will grateful for one day.

The most efficient program for backup imaging is Macrium Reflect.

They do a free version which may be all you need:

Macrium Reflect FREE Edition - Information and download

I do have a tip:

After installing XP -you may find it easier to run startup repair from 7 dvd 3 times.

Then boot into 7. Install Easybcd on 7 and add an XP entry .

So the steps would be:

boot from xp cd and install
run startup repair from 7 dvd 3 times(why 3 times?)
then install easybcd

Yes.

Startup repair needs to rewrite/recreate several things needed for 7 boot process. It likes to have a look and see what needs doing next.

Hi there
Generally in Dual / Multi-boot systems where Windows is concerned you usually need to install the OLDER OS first. The reason for this is that the older OS has a different boot mechanism from the newer OS. The boot loader is written on to the MBR of the disk's boot sector.

If XP is already installed Windows 7 will manage the bootloader just fine for dual boot. Windows 7 will create a tiny "system" partition which contains a boot loader which will give you a boot menu for Windows 7 itself and the other older Windows system. Instead now of the OS residing totally on one partition you will have the separate OS'es residing in their own partitions together with small system partition. At boot time the OS selected will have the partition changed to the active one so the system device is still "C" whichever OS you load.

If you install XP on a system where Windows 7 is already installed you might find that after XP installation when you boot you won't see the Windows 7 system in your boot menu. You can "repair" it of course with easy BCD or similar.

Booting Windows 7 with "repair option" will possibly work but you might need to run this more than once as both the "boot loader" and the partition type will need to be changed,

The bootloader will exist in a small partition which is now your active partition whilst the two OS'es will be in "Primary partitions".

This is where Linux has an advantage - it doesn't care if the partition is a primary partition or a logical partition in an "extended" partition - however this is another story - triple / quadruple etc. booting with Linux is no problem but in this case you MUST install the windows OS'es first as the Linux GRUB (its "bootloader") will overwrite the Windows boot records. GRUB will have no problem in booting Windows systems BTW so if you use Linux you don't need to manage the boot menu with easyBCD or similar.

Cheers
jimbo

Jimbo,

Windows boot partition can be a logical drive. The system partition needs to be a Primary of course.

In that situation - you won't get a 100mb system partition.


LOL - have you been out enjoying the British beer - it is Friday night, after all.

Thanks, will install XP when I can find the time and report back with succes of failure.

beware I bought a new 500 GB sata hard drive partitioned the hard drive 300gb for windows 7 and the rest for xp pro. I installed windows 7 first it installed just fine then I installed xp on the second partition it installed but on the windows xp first reboot it locked up the pc on the bios screen and would never go no further. I took the drive out and set it as a second drive in another PC and it did the same thing locks up on the splash screen. I am sending the drive back but I think I caused the problem by installing windows 7 first then installing windows XP Pro Second. When I receive the replacement drive I will install XP first then install windows 7 second.