Possible to Dual boot from one backup image?

So I reinstalled Windows 7 (MBR), tweaked it to my liking, backed it up (with Macrium Reflect), then decided I'd like to dual boot Windows 7.

Is it possible to reuse the backup image or do I need to go through another OS install?

I'm using one HDD, have 2 Windows 7 DVDs (home premium and ultimate x64), and don't mind buying another if necessary. I'm familiar with disk part and storage devices but dual booting is unfamiliar territory for me...not sure if what I want is doable or advised.

Any suggestions greatly appreciated. Thank you.

AddRAM said:

If you used the backup, you`d have to enter another key.

There won`t be any issues dual booting 7 but....

What`s the point of 2 7`s on 1 drive ??

So just create a new primary partition and restore the backup image alongside the existing os?

I wonder if my unused Windows 7 Ultimate (retail) key will activate the second Windows 7 HP OEM install, or if I need to buy a key.

1 optimized for gaming, 1 with crap on it for work. :)

The problem trying to restore an image for the 2nd OS is you have two different versions of Win 7, home premium and ultimate.
You won't be able to change the product key to a different version such as home premium to ultimate.
You would need to do a clean install with the other DVD/version, or purchase another license for the same version as you have installed now.

Post a maximized/resized screen print of Disk Management showing all info using these instructions:
Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image

RolandJS said:

I don't think a retail Windows will activate an OEM Windows. Somehow, you need to eventually end up with Windows and its product key on each of your OS partitions; I've never done anything close to that, so I'll listen in and learn alongside you! :)

DavidE said:

The problem trying to restore an image for the 2nd OS is you have two different versions of Win 7, home premium and ultimate.
You won't be able to change the product key to a different version such as home premium to ultimate.
You would need to do a clean install with the other DVD/version, or purchase another license for the same version as you have installed now.

Post a maximized/resized screen print of Disk Management showing all info using these instructions:
Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image

Didn't think so, oh well. Ill probably buy another Home Premium OEM key just to avoid another reinstall.

Aside from that, do I just restore the backup alongside the existing os and all is well, easy peasy or?

I'm away from the rig at the moment, unfortunately. The layout is:
System Reserved (active) 100mb / C: OS (ntfs primary) 100gb/ A: Media (ntfs logical) around 750gb / free space

The rest, at the end of the disk is unallocated. I've got in mind aprox 100gb for the second 7 boot, 5gb fat32 (for bios flashing), and 50gb for Linux (eventually).

Thank you all for trying to help.

When you restore the image for a 2nd OS you will need to add that OS to the bootloader.
I would use EasyBCD for that.

Just be careful not to have too many primary partitions on the HD.
You can have a max of 4 Primary, or 3 Primary and unlimited Logical.
Windows can be installed on a Logical partition.
The only partition that needs to be Primary is the bootloader partition, for you that's System Reserved.

Is your A: Media partition your data partition ?
Using drive letter A can cause issues, A and B are intended to be used for floppy drives.

DavidE said:

When you restore the image for a 2nd OS you will need to add that OS to the bootloader.
I would use EasyBCD for that.

Just be careful not to have too many primary partitions on the HD.
You can have a max of 4 Primary, or 3 Primary and unlimited Logical.
Windows can be installed on a Logical partition.
The only partition that needs to be Primary is the bootloader partition, for you that's System Reserved.

Is your A: Media partition your data partition ?
Using drive letter A can cause issues, A and B are intended to be used for floppy drives.

Hugely informative reply, thank you!

I've never used EasyBCD, but heard of it. I'm going to see if I can find a tutorial.

Newb question: will a Windows bootloader magically appear or do I need to do something special/ install something to make that happen? I suspect the system reserved partition handles this but, not sure.

I didn't realize you could boot from a Logical partition. That's great, I might go that route then.

Yes, A is data. Wow I never knew that. Unfortunately its pretty well entangled with the OS at this point (~400gb of games plus applications) so I'm not sure if it's worth the effort in changing it.

You already have a bootloader in the System Reserved partition, you don't need to do anything special to create it.
In Disk Management you should see System Reserved as the Active, System partition, that shows where the bootloader is that was used to start Windows.
You should see C as the Boot partition that shows where Windows is running from.

That's why i wanted to see a DM screen print, to make sure it's the way i think it is from your description.

Yea, i understand about A being entangled and the work/risk involved trying to change the drive letter.
I've never used A for a drive letter, so i have no personal experience.
I've read others do run into problems.

If A is for games plus applications I'm not sure what you might run into if you "share/use" this partition with both OS's.
I install all programs on the C drive, the OS + Programs partition.
To me it seems if you use A for both OS's, you will have Games on your Work OS
I think if you update program xyz in OS1 it will no longer work in OS2.
I'm not a gamer, so i can't comment on that.

Data can be updated on a "Shared" drive, but i wouldn't share Installed Programs for different OS's.
I do have "Portable Apps" and "Data" partitions that i share/use for multiple OS's, but they are not Installed programs, they are Portable.