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

 

[cundall]

I am about to buy a new pc tower, the spec that i am getting is : 2000gb hard drive, 16gb RAM Windows 7 64 bit, is this spec good enough to run a duel boot with xp ??? if so how much should i shrink the windows 7 volume ?

 

[Brink]

Hello Cundall, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Sure, your specs would be fine for a dual boot. It really depends on how much you plan on installing and saving in the XP installation. XP itself only requires a bare minimum of 1.5 GB. For the size HDD you have, I'd at least give it 20GB to have some breathing room.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[cundall]

ok i have an old laptop with this spec :

Processor & Cache Memory Intel® Celeron® C220 (1.2GHz)

Operating System Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium 64 bit

Chipset SiS 672
Main Memory 2048MB (2048x1) DDRII 800 RAM

Windows Vista SP1 includes reporting of Installed System Memory (RAM)

Display 15.6" HD TFT (1366x768, Color-Shine)

Hard Drive 320GB (5400rpm)

would this be able to use a dual boot ? i dont want to mess around to much with a new pc so this mite be better !

let me know if this could work and thanks for your time !

cheers

 

[gregrocker]

Are you asking if you can Dual Boot XP on this machine? Probably. Follow the steps in tutorial.

However on any machine with 2gb RAM - especially with a weak Celeron - I would only run Win7 32 bit for best performance. 32 bit vs 64 bit Comparison - Windows 7 Forums

 

[cundall]

Yes I want to duel boot xp on that laptop spec but was I was hoping someone knew if it could be done and weather XP was compatible ?

 

[gregrocker]

Yes, it is most likely compatible however XP is very old and no longer supported so it's best if you have programs that will only run on XP to try to run them in XP Compatibility Mode or by installing free Virtual Box, Virtual Player or VMWare in Win7 to run XP virtually.

If you want to try Dual Booting then follow the steps to shrink Win7 to create a partition to see if XP will install to it, then follow Method Two in the tutorial. Let us know if you need any further help.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Hiyya Shawn I have a machine given to me without a HDD so stuck in an 80GB WD HDD and installed a new XP OS (- actually got the opportunity to get three brand new copies of XP!).

The machine although it has a Pentium 4 @ 3Ghz and 4GB DDR RAM is still pretty quick so I thought I might just try to dual boot this machine.

Now I have a 320GB WD HDD completely clean and ready for an install.What I cannot quite make out is do I unplug the 80GB and install the 7 onto the 320GB first and then install that XP onto a different partition afterwards therefore not requiring using the 80GB drive - or can I just install or transfer the XP already loaded with updates (including that very long SP process) and all other data from the 80GB to that new partition.

Am wanting to do this for convenience sake rather than need to.

 

[Brink]

Hello John,

For that, you might consider using the cloning feature in Macrium Reflect Free to clone the 80GB XP to the 320GB HDD, get your partition sizes how you like on the 320GB afterwards, then install Windows 7 as a dual boot on the 320GB with the 80GB removed.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Hello John,

For that, you might consider using the cloning feature in Macrium Reflect Free to clone the 80GB XP to the 320GB HDD, get your partition sizes how you like on the 320GB afterwards, then install Windows 7 as a dual boot on the 320GB with the 80GB removed.

Thanks Shawn I was actually thinking along those lines but just wanted to no I was heading in th right direction.

I'll try the Macrium free again as I usually use the EaseUS to do but some of the stuff I ma getting through their site now is looking a bit "odd" as I pointed out in my thread re IObit malware app they were advertising. Not that I have anything against IO but the reviews were terrible.

Thanks again

 

[Brink]

You're welcome mate. Please let us know how it goes.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

You're welcome mate. Please let us know how it goes.

Will do my friend

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Hiyya Shawn sorry late reply mate - had to refuel LOL!!

Went like a dream now have the machine set up as you said to but haven't tried the boot to XP yet but I am in a bit

 

[Brink]

That's great news John. I hope the XP will work fine for you.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

That's great news John. I hope the XP will work fine for you.

Thanks Shawn have one little ten incher to fix then am going to give it a burl

 

[ik8ozv]

Hello to the forum.
I need an help.
I have a new PC that has as configuration three hard drives in Raid 5
and as MB an ASUS P8Z68V-LE
The PC does'nt have any Floppy Drive.
I have installed on Drive C, Windows 7 at 64 Bit.
I want to install in Dual Boot on Drive D,Windows XP.
The problem is when i boot from the Windos XP CD, in the moment it switches from the Blue screen, when it loads all the files, to the black screen, and back to the
Blue screen with the Installation Menu, i get the error Blue Screen and cannot go trough.
As how i said before, i do not have the Floppy drive to load the Raid or Sata Drives
I have made a Windows XP cd Installation with the Drivers inside with the nLite
software. Now i can start installing the Windows XP but at the first boot of
the installation, i get again the blue screen.
Please where am i missing?
What to do correctly?
Any help will be really appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
Enzo

 

[gregrocker]

You may have an insurmountable problem with the RAID5 since the BSOD occurs before and after slipstreaming.

Have you used XP SP3 installer and correctly slipstreamed the correct SATA driver? The problem could be bad slipstream, driver or burn.

May I suggest trying a free virtual software like XP Mode, Virtual Player, VMWare or Virtual Box to run XP from with Win7. It is a lot less trouble.

 

[ik8ozv]

Thanks for the reply.
I have made the Windows XP SP2 as suggested in the guide.
Yes i Made the SATA drivers slipstreaming After have copied the drivers
Folder called it Drivers and paste it in the WinXP Image folder
Before Burning it.
To avoid drivers mistake, with nLite i have
Selected all of them.
Where am i mistaken.
Unfortunately the programm that i have to use
under XP does not install under virtualitation
Any other help?
Thanks
Enzo

 

[gregrocker]

Sometimes too many drivers inserted will cause problems. Try to limit the slipstream to SATA, IDE and AHCI drivers. If you need to determine which, google them. It may also be detailed in the chipset's ReadMe file.

 

[ik8ozv]

Please how to know which one i need?
As motherboard i am using an
ASUS P8Z68-VLE.
Will you be so kind to give me na hand to select the right one?
Thanks in advance
Enzo

 

[gregrocker]

The latest SATA driver for XP is there on the Downloads webpage: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. -Support- Drivers and Download P8Z68-V LE

Once you extract the files from the download, did you browse to Drivers and choose iastor.sys? Nlite should see and pick it up.