Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and XP

How to Setup a Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and XP​

   Information

This will show you how to install Windows 7 and XP to dual boot with when you already have either Windows 7 or XP installed first.

   Note

With a dual boot installaton, you will have two operating systems (OS) installed. When you start the computer, you will have the choice to choose which OS you would like to start up to. This method is the easiest way of doing a dual boot with these two operating systems.

   Tip

When dual booting with another OS (ex: Vista or XP), you may not always have that OS partition show up in Computer with a driver letter in Windows 7. If this happens, then you will just need to add a drive letter to the OS (ex: Vista or XP) partition in Windows 7 Disk Management for it to show up in Computer with a driver letter.

   Warning

To stop XP from deleting your Windows 7 System Restore Points everytime XP is started, then see System Restore Points - Stop XP Dual Boot Delete to hide Windows 7 from XP.

Windows 7 Minimum Hardware Requirements


NOTE: For more information on this, see: Windows 7 system requirements

• 1 GHz 32-bit or 64-bit processor
• 1 GB RAM for 32-bit Windows 7 OR 2 GB RAM for 64-bit Windows 7
• 16 GB available disk space 32-bit Windows 7 OR 20 GB for 64-bit Windows 7
• Support for DirectX 9 graphics with 128 MB memory (in order to enable Aero theme)
• DVD-R/W Drive
• Internet or phone access to activate Windows 7.

Windows XP Minimum Hardware Requirements

NOTE: For more information on this, see: System requirements for Windows XP operating systems

• PC with 300 megahertz (MHz) or higher processor clock speed recommended; 233-MHz minimum required;* Intel Pentium/Celeron family, AMD K6/Athlon/Duron family, or compatible processor recommended
• 128 megabytes (MB) of RAM or higher recommended (64 MB minimum supported; may limit performance and some features)
• 1.5 gigabyte (GB) of available hard disk space.*
• Super VGA (800 × 600) or higher resolution video adapter and monitor
• CD-ROM or DVD drive
• Keyboard and Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device

EXAMPLE: Windows Boot Manager
NOTE: This is the boot screen where you select what operating system that you would like to start. By default, you have 30 seconds to choose another operating system before the default operating system will start automatically.

OPTION ONE

When XP is Installed First

NOTE: If you have a RAID setup, you will need to have the Windows 7 RAID drivers on a USB flash drive available to select and load while installing Windows 7.
1. Do step 2 or 3 below for where you wanted to install Windows 7 at.

2. To Create a New Partition from the XP Hard Disk Drive
A) With your Windows 7 installation disc boot into the Command Prompt from the System Recovery Options screen.
NOTE: Make sure that the CD/DVD drive is selected first in the boot order in the BIOS.

B) In the command prompt, select and shrink the XP volume by how many MB (1024 MB = 1 GB) you want to have for this Windows 7 partition. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: You would do steps 2 to 9 in METHOD TWO at that link. Windows 7 will need a minimum of 16 GB (16384 MB).

C) Click on the X at the top right corner to close the command prompt. (See screenshot above)

D) Click on the X at the top right corner to close System Recovery Options. (See screenshot below)

E) Go to step 4.
3. To Use a Separate Hard Disk Drive than the XP Drive
A) Boot from your Windows 7 installation disc.
NOTE: Make sure that the CD/DVD drive is selected first in the boot order in the BIOS.
4. Click on the Install now button. (See screenshot below)

5. When you get to this point, select the partition (step 2) or hard drive to install Windows 7 on. (See screenshot below)

6. Finish installing Windows 7.
NOTE: You would start at step 9 in that link to finish installing Windows 7.

7. When finished, restart the computer to have the option to boot from XP (Earlier Verision of Windows) or Windows 7. (See screenshot below)

   Note

If you are only booting into Windows 7 and do not have XP listed in the Windows Boot Manager, then you can install only EasyBCD (step 8 Option Two below) to add XP (or Windows 7) while started in Windows 7 the same way to the boot list.

OPTION TWO

When Windows 7 is Installed First

   Warning

• If you have a RAID setup, you will need to have the XP RAID drivers for your specific motherboard on a Floppy disc available to select and load at the F6 prompt while installing XP.
• If you have a SATA drive, then you will need to do either one of these options to load the SATA drivers for XP for your specific motherboard.
  • How to Slipstream SATA drivers into Windows XP setup CD with Dual Boot of Windows 7 or Vista
  • How to Load SATA Drivers in Windows XP Setup on your Dual Boot PC with Vista or Windows 7 for how to load your SATA drivers from a Floppy disc at the F6 prompt while installing XP.

1. To Create a New Partition from the Windows 7 Hard Disk Drive
NOTE: If you want to install XP on a separate internal hard drive instead, then skip this step and go to step 2.
A) In Windows 7, select and shrink the Windows 7 volume in Disk Management by how many MB (1024 MB = 1 GB) you want to have for this XP partition. (See screenshots below)
NOTE: You would do all of Method One at that link.





2. Insert your XP installation disc, then restart the computer and press any key to boot from it when prompted. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: Make sure that the CD/DVD drive is selected first in the boot order in the BIOS.

3. From XP Setup, Press Enter. (See screenshot below)

   Warning

• If you have a RAID setup, you will need to have the XP RAID drivers for your specific motherboard on a Floppy disc available to select and load at the F6 prompt while installing XP.
• If you have a SATA drive, then you will need to do either one of these options to load the SATA drivers for XP for your specific motherboard.
  • How to Slipstream SATA drivers into Windows XP setup CD with Dual Boot of Windows 7 or Vista
  • How to Load SATA Drivers in Windows XP Setup on your Dual Boot PC with Vista or Windows 7 for how to load your SATA drivers from a Floppy disc at the F6 prompt while installing XP.

4. Press F8. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: On some multimedia keyboards, you may need to press the F-Lock or Function key before pressing F8.

5. Select the partition (step 1) or hard drive that you want to install XP on using the arrow keys and press Enter.

6. Finish installing XP.

   Tip

If you get Error loading Operating System after XP restarts:

• Using your Windows 7 installation disc, boot to the command prompt at startup.
• Type in these comands below, and press enter after each one.
  • bootrec /FixMbr
  • bootrec /FixBoot
  • bootrec /RebuildBcd
• Exit the command prompt and restart the computer.
• At this point, Windows 7 should boot up the same way before trying to install XP.
• Continue to step 8 below and run EasyBCD from Windows 7 instead.

7. In XP, download and install .Net Framework 2.0 (32-bit) version or .Net Framework 2.0 (64-bit) version first, and EasyBCD (free version) for your 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x86) XP.
NOTE: In XP, Net Framework is required to be installed to run EasyBCD. After you click on Register (at bottom of link) for the free EasyBCD, registration is not required to download it.

8. Run EasyBCD (free version).
NOTE: This is required to repair the Windows 7 boot file and add XP to the Windows Boot Manager list.

9. On the left side of EasyBCD, click on the Add New Entry button. (See screenshot below)
A) In the top section under Operating Systems, click on the Windows tab. (See screenshot below)
B) To the right of Type, select Windows NT/2k/XP/2k3 from the drop down menu. (See screenshot below)
:warn:WARNING: Be sure to leave the Automatically detect correct drive box checked.

C) To the right of Name, you can leave the default Microsoft Windows XP as the name to be displayed in the Windows Boot Manager, or you can type whatever name you would like to have instead. (See screenshot below)
D) Click on the Add Entry button. (See screenshot below)

10. On the left side of EasyBCD, click on the BCD Deployment button, select (dot) the Install the Windows Vista/7 bootloader to the MBR option, and click on the Write MBR button. (See screenshot below)

11. Close EasyBCD.

12. Restart the computer to have the option to boot from Microsoft Windows XP or Windows 7. (See screenshot below)

   Tip

If Windows 7 will not start up when selected, then use your Windows 7 installation DVD to do a Startup Repair.

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Setup a Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and Vista
• How to Setup a Dual Boot Installation with Windows Vista and XP
• How to Do a Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and Windows 8
• How to Dual Boot Windows 7 and Ubuntu
• How to Correctly Setup a Dual Boot with Windows 7 and LinuxMint13
• How to Change Time to Display Operating Systems at Boot in Windows 7
• How to Change the Listed OS Arrangement Order in Windows Boot Manager Screen
• How to Change the Default Operating System to Start in Windows 7
• How to Delete an Operating System Listed in Windows Boot Manager
• How to Change the OS Name in Windows Boot Manager
• How to Do a Clean Installation with Windows 7
• How to Install Windows 7 FAST without a DVD or USB Device
• Install Windows 7 Without Using Any External Device
• How to Setup Windows 7 to Boot from a VHD (Virtual Hard Disk)
• How to Create a Windows 7 VHD at Boot to Start with from Boot
• How to Do a Custom Installation of Windows 7
• How to Load SATA Drivers in Windows XP Setup on your Dual Boot PC with Vista or Windows 7
• How to Slipstream SATA drivers into Windows XP setup CD with Dual Boot of Windows 7 or Vista
• How to Load SATA Driver Using Shift+F10 to Open Command Prompt
• How to Recover a Partition Used by an Older OS in a Dual Boot
• How to Properly Delete a OS in a Dual Boot
• How to Stop System Restore Points from being Deleted in Vista and Windows 7 when Dual Booting with XP

 

[theog]

If you installed WIn7 in AHCI mode and your BIOS doesn't allow different SATA modes for each HD then you'll likely need to slipstream the drivers into the XP CD before it will install. SATA Drivers - Slipstream into Windows XP CD .

If you can choose a different SATA mode for the XP HD then choose IDE or Compatibility. Make sure you're using an XP SP3 installer for your version, retail or OEM specific.

This is why I asked if the XP install saw the partitions for install, because that would mean you don't need the SATA controller drivers.

gregrocker I've read some posts that AHCI doesn't "play nice" on AMD boards and I'm using the M4N82 Deluxe board in this box. Any thoughts on that before I set down and install them in XP?

Are you using the right NVIDIA AHCI/SATA Driver for Windows XP.
ASUS - Motherboards- ASUS M4N82 Deluxe

First check for all the Win XP drivers for your hardware on the manufacturer's web site.
If your Win XP CD, does not support your Sata Controller, you will need to load drivers to uses at F6.
Load Sata Controller drivers with a floppy disk is the best way.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/66010-sata-drivers-load-windows-xp-setup-dual-boot.html
OR
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/72185-sata-drivers-slipstream-into-windows-xp-cd.html

You can download your F6 Sata Controller drivers from here:
ASUS - Motherboards- ASUS M4N82 Deluxe

REWORDED.
Are you using the right F6 NVIDIA AHCI/SATA Driver for Windows XP install at the F6 prompt?

 

[mjl1297]

I have downloaded the correct driver from the Asus website for XP 32. I haven't made the disc or tried to install the driver yet.

My question is I have two Standard Dual Channel PCI IDE Controller entries displaying in Device Manager. Do I need to follow the steps for updating the driver for both entries or will selecting one of them be sufficient?

 

[theog]

If you installed WIn7 in AHCI mode and your BIOS doesn't allow different SATA modes for each HD then you'll likely need to slipstream the drivers into the XP CD before it will install. SATA Drivers - Slipstream into Windows XP CD .

If you can choose a different SATA mode for the XP HD then choose IDE or Compatibility. Make sure you're using an XP SP3 installer for your version, retail or OEM specific.

This is why I asked if the XP install saw the partitions for install, because that would mean you don't need the SATA controller drivers.

gregrocker I've read some posts that AHCI doesn't "play nice" on AMD boards and I'm using the M4N82 Deluxe board in this box. Any thoughts on that before I set down and install them in XP?

Are you using the right NVIDIA AHCI/SATA Driver for Windows XP.
ASUS - Motherboards- ASUS M4N82 Deluxe

First check for all the Win XP drivers for your hardware on the manufacturer's web site.
If your Win XP CD, does not support your Sata Controller, you will need to load drivers to uses at F6.
Load Sata Controller drivers with a floppy disk is the best way.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/66010-sata-drivers-load-windows-xp-setup-dual-boot.html
OR
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/72185-sata-drivers-slipstream-into-windows-xp-cd.html

You can download your F6 Sata Controller drivers from here:
ASUS - Motherboards- ASUS M4N82 Deluxe

REWORDED.
Are you using the right F6 NVIDIA AHCI/SATA Driver for Windows XP install at the F6 prompt?

Take a look at step 2 here:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/66010-sata-drivers-load-windows-xp-setup-dual-boot.html
&
Take a look at step 8 here:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/72185-sata-drivers-slipstream-into-windows-xp-cd.html

 

[mjl1297]

I already have Win XP installed. I don't want to reinstall it. Perhaps you are directing this reply at someone else though.

I merely want to know if I have to go through the driver update steps for both controller entries but it seems I can't get that question answered.

 

[gregrocker]

It isn't quite clear what you're trying to do that requires drivers being updated now that XP is installed.

Are you changing XP to AHCI mode using the tutorial: Enable AHCI in Windows XP After Installation?

Either way there is nothing wrong with installing a newer driver version. If it causes problems then just roll it back using Device Manager or Restore Point.

I hope this answers your question but if not clarify a bit more if you can.

 

[mjl1297]

Yes I am following the instructions in that guide. I am installing the AHCI driver under XP to enable AHCI mode.

No where in that guide does it say to select all of the IDE controller entries if you have more than one which I do. That is the question I'm labouring to get answered. Maybe I should have asked the question in a thread of its own since linking it to my dual boot post has caused so much confusion.

 

[Duzzy]

Yes I am following the instructions in that guide. I am installing the AHCI driver under XP to enable AHCI mode.

No where in that guide does it say to select all of the IDE controller entries if you have more than one which I do. That is the question I'm labouring to get answered. Maybe I should have asked the question in a thread of its own since linking it to my dual boot post has caused so much confusion.

Had a quick look at the guide. If you only have two ATA storage controllers then you should be able to only update the first controller.

I base this on the fact he has two controllers in the first Device Manager screenshot, in the second he has one but updates the Standard Dual channel PCI IDE Controller and in the last he has none. And yes no where does it say to do both.

As there is risk involved in not being able to boot I would recommend making a drive image with something like Macrium Reflect if no ones suggested it so far. It'll allow you restore XP much quicker than re-installation if something goes wrong.

Use this to get you started - http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/73828-imaging-free-macrium.html. I've never use this but I pretty sure I've seen Greg recommends it to others so he maybe able to help with it if you need it.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/73828-imaging-free-macrium.html

 

[gregrocker]

As I've never enabled AHCI in XP after installation I agree with Duzzy to save externally a backup so you have a path back if it fails to boot for some reason. Macrium is fine or perhaps you have another favorite which you prefer. Acronis has premium imaging apps which come free when any WD or Seagate HD's are in the mix.

 

[mjl1297]

Thanks guys for the help but I decided not to enable AHCI in XP after all as other forum posts indicated this might cause some issues with my DVD burner. I need the extra SATA ports on my MB though so I'm going to look for a good PCI SATA controller card.

I think I will leave it at that in this thread because to go any further would probably veer into OT territory.

Once again I really appreciate everyone's help!

 

[ren2mac]

hello... I'm really having a problem doing this. I have my win 7 installed first. I have already successfully installed the windows XP to another partition. I have done also configuring the EasyBCD but the problem is when booting, it could not lead to windows boot manager where I should select one of the operating systems to be loaded. Now please help.. have I incorrectly installed the XP? I decided to register just to consult this problem so help please..

 

[gregrocker]

Which will boot?

 

[ren2mac]

i'm sorry.. what do you mean 'which will boot?'? is this a reply to my previous post?

 

[gregrocker]

If XP is booting, then start Win7 now by marking it Active then running Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times.
Partition - Mark as Active

Then install EasyBCD to add XP, accept offered boot files, Save, reboot.

If Win7 is the OS which will boot now, in EasyBCD Edit OS to delete XP, then add it again.

 

[Rockevangel]

I followed your steps on dual booting, and everything went fine.
My comp tech level is almost non existent, and I found your instructions easy to follow.
That being said, I have 1 problem. When I boot my system, the screen to choose which operating system I want to use popes up then is gone in a split second. Its there just long enough for me to recognize it from the picture you linked in the forum. Fortunately it appears to be defaulted to win 7 which is my primary operating sys.
How do I get more time to make my decision?

 

[Rockevangel]

Never mind. Found it in the system setings area. Was set to 3 seconds, changed it to 30.

 

[thetranslator]

Hello, I have managed to get Windows XP Running : Using Option 2

But, When trying to get the Windows 7 Back no luck After Booting the Disk i either get a error, or the Window 7 partion is not found when it is being searched

Please Help Thank You

 

[gregrocker]

In that case I would start Win7 and install EasyBCD to add XP, which often works better. EasyBCD (free Download at bottom of page - no name or email required)

To start Win7, mark Active either the Win7 partition or it's 100mb System Reserved partition (preferred): Partition - Mark as Active

Then boot the Win7 DVD or System Repair Disk to run Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times

 

[thetranslator]

Cheers Solved

 

[srashid]

Dual Boot Problem

Shawn:

This procedure looks very similar to one I used to set up a dual boot with Vista/XP several years ago. I'm now trying to do the same on another laptop set up with Windows 7, since ssome of our older codes still require XP. However, I'm not getting the screens shown in steps 3, 4, and 5 (Windows 7 is installed first), even though I have set up the second partition. XP tries to install directly to the C partition, but fails (luckily) because the computer won't let it overwrite Windows 7.

Have you got any idea what's causing my issue?

Thanks.

- Steve R.

 

[gregrocker]

Where did you get the XP CD? Is it SP3? You'd do best to find an XP CD for your version with SP3, making sure it's correctly OEM- or retail-specific. Then boot it to see if you get the correct install screens as shown.