Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and XP

gregrocker said:

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.

Thanks for the quick reply gregrocker. It was 4am when I made my last post and I fell asleep so I wasn't able to answer sooner.

I have used the WinXP HD as primary boot and am now in my XP OS. Here is an image of my Disk Management in XP.



Drive C: is where my current WinXP OS is. Drive E: is where I installed my Win7. And Drive D: is where I found the BCD file so it's where the dual boot menu should supposedly come from.

Sorry I couldn't get the Win7 image map since I couldn't access it as it gets an "Error loading Operating System" message right at the startup.

I read your suggestion and it's ok if I could make them separate startup systems and make Win7 the Primary boot. I actually just want to get my Win7 to open again. Thanks and I will wait for any suggestion you have. I'm also combing through the thread one more time to see if I missed something that could help me make it work. Thanks!

Hi Guys,

Just wanted to report that my dual boot system is working well now. I followed the suggestion of SIW in page 9 so thanks SIW. Thanks gregrocker for helping me out :)

Good Morning All,

After finishing the installation of XP, it booted up, but was unable to connect me to the internet. "No modem, etc." As I have a D-Link router connected to a DSL router, I needed to go into the properties via Win7, which I could not boot to. I tried the only disk I had from Dell with the new computer, but it was just for the monitor. Dell's "Setup guide" states under "Starting Diagnostics from the Drivers and Utilities Disc: NOTE: Drv and Utl disc may not ship with your computer". How nice! While not relishing the deep dark hole of dealing with someone from Customer Service, they surprised me and sent off both the Drv & Utl and Win 7 disks, FedExing them to me overnite!

Booting from the disk, I was able to get to the Command Prompt and run the fixes in the Tip of Step 6, and Win7 booted up as it had in the past.

In running EasyBCD, I found that it is a newer version 2.1 than the pics you have posted. Please note that they have changed "Bootloader Setup" to "BCD Deployment". Here is a screenshot


At this stage, I can boot up to WinXP, but will need to get drivers for the Ethernet that I use. Will let you know if I encounter any other problems.

If not, let me thank you all for your great help. Your collective knowledge is vast, but what makes you all Geek Heros, in my book, is that you are willing to give of your time to walk those-of-us-without-a-clue through the process. If the rest of the world worked with this kind of selflessness, patience, and willingness to help others in distress, what a fantastic world it would be. And BTW, Microsoft OWES YOU BIG TIME!!! Without you they would not be selling so much software. (A case in point being the Help files of Office. Ask a simple question in Word and get nothing relating to the keyword, plus much that has to do with Excel, Access, et al.)

I would also like to compliment the Ladies and Gents who have set up this Sevenforums website. It is actually easy to use, navigate, etc. I do believe that before I die, I will see a computer and internet that is truly "User Friendly"

Thank you muchly

Hi Gomer

Well done.
You are welcome, we are here 24/7.

Hi I know just enough to get in trouble. I already have my pc up & running with XP. I would like to install a new sepperate Hard drive & install windows 7 So that I can have a dual boot pc. I have many programs that will not work on 7 that is why I need to do this. When I install the new drive & start to install windows 7 will be nessary to disconnect the drive with xp on it while I am installing 7? When I am done installing 7 will I get a choice on boot up automaticly? I have done much reading on the internet on how to do this but I am still confused. I would appreciate it if you could possiably send me step by step instructions Remembering that I want to leave the original xp drive as it is.

Thanks Edison (Frank)

Edison, I highly doubt that you will need to disconnect the hard drive, especially since you're installing 7 after XP, the boot manager will be there automatically (XP will be named "Earlier Version of Windows" and 7 will be "Microsoft Windows 7"). If, for some reason the XP boot files are removed (which shouldn't happen), EasyBCD will fix that.

If you want to keep the HD"s independent to come and go as you please, then unplug the XP HD during install. Afterwards plug it back in, set preferred HD to boot first in BIOS setup, then boot the other one when needed by using the one-time Boot Menu key given on first screen.

If you want to interlock the HD's so that you'll need surgery to remove one later, leave the XP plugged in and Win7 will configure a Dual Boot menu during install.

If you try the BIOS boot method and don't like it, you can always add XP by installing EasyBCD (older versions are still free) to Win7 and adding XP on Add OS entry tab.

Hi thanks for your imput. What do you mean by surgey to remove one later? I would like to boot up & have a choice as to what OS I want to use. Also would I still be able to have a third drive to back up both of the other drives?

Thanks edison (Frank)

Yes. Windows should configure a Dual Boot during install if you keep XP HD plugged in.

This will only update the System boot files on XP partition so that Win7 will have no System boot files of its own as it would if installed without XP plugged in, according to the steps I gave you above.

To later add the System boot files to Win7 so it can boot on its own, e.g. to remove XP HD, you'd need to mark Win7 partition Active then boot the DVD Repair console or Repair CD to Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times.
Partition - Mark as Active (Method Two)