Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and XP

No luck with that, but I happened to run into the answer and it is not good.

Taken from the HDD Installation Guide:

"We don't release any firmwares. Because the product has been already optimized with its own configurations. IDE (PATA & SATA) drive does not need any drivers. You just have to make a partition and format your drive for using. Please make sure whether you had partitioned and formatted. First of all, you must partition and format for recognizing the new drive in the Windows Explorer. When installing Win-XP, the installation process includes the new drive in the Windows Explorer."

The last line is most interesting because if that is the case. I would just have to proceed with installation?

Perhaps you can add an old IDE HD, since Dual booting works better anyway when the OS"s are on separate HD's and booted via BIOS Boot Order or one-time BIOS Boot Menu key.

If not consider running XP using Virtual Machine or Virtual Box in Windows 7. http://www.vmware.com/products/player/

Or we can help you try to install non-compatible programs or drivers in Win7 Compatibility mode: Compatibility Mode

I found an old Maxtor 80GB SATA / 150 HDD laying around, but it's only the HDD and no cables.

Hi,

I have successfully installed windows 7 on one HD and have XP on another (xp was first)

Now, when i modifiy my boot record using easyBCD and restart, no dual boot option shows up. And when i open up EasyBCD, the xp entry i created is gone. I followed the steps in this guide and all looks good until i restart.

Any ideas on the issue?

The best way to set up a Dual Boot on separate HD's is to boot via BIOS. This leaves the HD's independent to come and go as you please.

Try choosing the XP HD to boot now by tapping the one-time BIOS Boot Menu key given on first boot screen:

• Asus - F8
• HP/Compaq - Esc
• Sony - F2
• Acer - F2
• Gateway - F10
• eMachnes - F10
• Toshiba - F12
• Dell - F12
• IBM/Lenovo - the blue Thinkvantage button

If XP won't start then post back a screenshot of your full Disk Mgmt Drive map using Snipping Tool in Start Menu and we can advise you how to set up Dual Boot via BIOS, or Windows if you prefer.

I'll do that when i get home from work.

Im just a puzzled why the easyBCD method isnt working. I just installed win7 on a HD on the same machine and used easyBCD and it worked great. Only problem was the HD was making alot of noise so i returned it for the exact same model. And now after reinstalling win7 on this HD, the easyBCD method doesnt work. Strange. What do you think of that?

Thanks for your quick response.

I pressed F12 and changed the boot HD to the XP drive and it booted to XP fine. I was able to restart multiple times and switch between the 2 drives in the F12 boot menu with success.

See how much easier it is to dual boot via the BIOS?

All of the complications involving editing the BCD (even with superb EasyBCD) are removed from the equation, and it becomes purely mechanical again.