Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and XP


  1. Posts : 71,975
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #1520

    Dominic Warden said:
    is that the only way? because i really dont want to factory reset my computer

    You could create a new thread with the details about this in the Installation & Setup forum area to try and get it converted back to basic without having to do a factory restore if you are still able to, but it's the only way that I know of when you converted your system drive to dynamic like that.

    Maybe someone may know a way to be able to.
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  2. Posts : 107
    Windows 8 Pro x64
       #1521

    thanks for your help.
    how do i create a new thread?
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  3. Posts : 71,975
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #1522

    You're welcome. Here you go: Windows 7 Forums - FAQ: Board FAQ
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  4. Posts : 107
    Windows 8 Pro x64
       #1523

    thanks so much for your help but i have found a way for vista to recognize my S: drive now.
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  5. Posts : 71,975
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #1524

    That's great news Dominic. What method did you use for it to find it?
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  6. Posts : 21
    Win7 Home Prem. x64
       #1525

    theog said:
    Hi Gomer
    Win XP SP2 is good enough for now until it is installed.
    You can download Intel drivers from here:
    http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Deta...onal*&lang=eng
    Ray? This file I downloaded is a zip file. Do I unzip it and insert all files or just some?
    Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and XP-driver-zip.jpg
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  7. Posts : 11,408
    ME/XP/Vista/Win7
       #1526

    Gomer said:
    theog said:
    Hi Gomer
    Win XP SP2 is good enough for now until it is installed.
    You can download Intel drivers from here:
    http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Deta...onal*&lang=eng
    Ray? This file I downloaded is a zip file. Do I unzip it and insert all files or just some?
    Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and XP-driver-zip.jpg
    Unzip & insert all.

    theog said:
    Take a look at step 11.(option Multple Drivers)



    Choose both setup inf files.

    Choose all drivers.

    Choose all sata controllers.



    Attachment 149858



    Attachment 149859
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  8. Posts : 107
    Windows 8 Pro x64
       #1527

    i used the command prompt to make it recognize dynamic hard drives.

    my Vista installation says cannot install required files. what could i do to fix this problem.

    thanks

    this dual boot thing isn't working for me so is there a way i can make windows 7 look and act like windows xp?
    Last edited by Brink; 04 Oct 2011 at 14:55. Reason: Merged
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  9. Posts : 3
    Windows 7 Ultimate x32
       #1528

    Hi Everyone,

    Thanks for this really nice detailed guide. I am in the process of getting a dual boot (forced by circumstances of my curiosity/stupidity) which led me to the point that I have a Win 7 (SATA) and a Win XP (ATA) on 2 separate hard drives in my computer.

    I followed method 2 since I had a Win 7 before I reinstalled my old XP. I am at the point where I have Win XP booting up and I have also changed the BCD using EasyBCD. However, when I reboot, I still come back to Win XP without getting the options to choose between the 2 systems.

    I made some testing and changed the hard drive boot sequence in the BIOS, making the hard drive of Win 7 load first.. However, I get the "Error loading Operating System" message and cannot push through booting or even getting the boot options of a command prompt or the other options like safe mode.. I go back to booting the Win XP hard drive, but I only boot back to Win XP without boot options for Win 7 and Win XP

    I suspect that I am making a mistake in the boot sequence in the BIOS. Should I prioritize the Win XP drive or the Win 7 drive in the boot listing? And should I reinstall Win 7 at this point to get it fixed?

    Some more information on my setup too. When I am in Win XP, Win XP is my Drive c, The hard drive of Win 7 is in Drive E, and I have another Drive D where the boot folder is kept.

    I hope you could give me some advice on how I can move this forward and fix my dilemma. Thanks
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  10.    #1529

    Best method when you have separate HD's is to boot via the BIOS Boot Order or BIOS boot menu F-key at boot. This keeps the HD's independent to come and go as you please whereas config'ing a Windows Dual Boot interlocks them requiring surgery to remove one later.

    However if you've already used EasyBCD to add Win7 from XP, then you need the XP HD set first to boot for it to work correctly. Try that now. If it works and you want to change to BIOS-based Dual Boot then we can help you change it. If it doesn't we need the screenshot anyway.

    To help you do this, or if you prefer press on to get a Windows Dual Boot, please post back a screenshot of your maximized Disk Mgmt drive map with listings - using the Snipping Tool in Start Menu.
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