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

 

[Sibo]

Hello Sibo,

There has been many that had issues with their restore points and shadow copies in Windows 7 being deleted everytime they started XP. The workaround for that was to hide the Windows 7 partition/drive from XP inside XP.

System Restore Points - Stop XP Dual Boot Delete - Vista Forums

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Thanks for that. I felt uncomfortable with explorer showing the win 7 drive. Tried to avoid opening it by mistake. Now I know it can delete my restore points I will blind xp to 7 using the registry. Following the tutorial on this.

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome.

 

[jayjonbeach]

Yes, as explained you must have SP3 to have any chance to install XP on newest hardware.

HAH! As explained? I mention I am going to slip my XP with SP3 just for kicks (since my laptop is a 5 year-OLD compaq I didn't think this was the cause), THEN you mention I should do just that, after I posted about it!

Had you "mentioned" this as a possible cause to my issues from the beginning, you might have saved me 4 days of hair pulling! Ah well, at least its fixed now, what a grind it was though.

I am not even convinced that is what is "fixed" it, rather than installing on the C partition as I did both at the same time.

 

[Brink]

Yes, as explained you must have SP3 to have any chance to install XP on newest hardware.

HAH! As explained? I mention I am going to slip my XP with SP3 just for kicks (since my laptop is a 5 year-OLD compaq I didn't think this was the cause), THEN you mention I should do just that, after I posted about it!

Had you "mentioned" this as a possible cause to my issues from the beginning, you might have saved me 4 days of hair pulling! Ah well, at least its fixed now, what a grind it was though.

I am not even convinced that is what is "fixed" it, rather than installing on the C partition as I did both at the same time.

Greg did post that in reply to your first post here linked below.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/8057-dual-boot-installation-windows-7-xp-189.html#post2142647

An XPired OS won't install on new hardware and the answer is to get rid of Win7? :huh:

...and repeated it here:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/8057-dual-boot-installation-windows-7-xp-190.html#post2146591

 

[josh82]

Hey I'm trying to install XP on my Toshiba Satellite P850 12X (short model no. PSPKBE) but I can't find the correct driver for my HD. The HD is a Toshiba MQ01ABD100. I've looked on the Toshiba website here :

Laptop Driver Downloads:

...but can't find the right one. Can anyone please help me?

Thanks.

 

[gregrocker]

The SATA controller driver is an element of the chipset provided here: Driver Details - Toshiba

You'll have to run the .exe to extract the drivers noting the location, then browse into there with Nlite to try to pick up the SATA controller driver. Theog is an expert on doing this.

Have you tried virtualizing XP in Win7 using Virtual Player, VIrtual Box or VMWare first?

 

[josh82]

Virtual Box sounds good. The reason I need XP is cos I use alot of audio applications which don't run at all or won't run properly in Windows 7. If I'm using alot of RAM & CPU-heavy programs would Virtual Box be the best option or would that just be extra drainage on the laptop? It does sound like a much better option than the dual boot, to be honest.

 

[gregrocker]

What programs are so old they won't run in any Compatibility Mode?

 

[josh82]

It's kinda complex but : Guitar Rig 3 won't work & importing presets from GR3 into 4 doesn't work properly. Fruity Loops 6 doesn't work properly but Fruity Loops 10 does but a bunch of softsynths won't work in 10 so I have to use FL6 (I've tried 7,8 & 9 aswell). I'm doing an album which I started in FL6 so it's easier I guess to finish it off using Virtual Box & then upgrade my software. Thanks for your help.

 

[Domenico7]

I was installing XP on a new Dell Latitude 6530 laptop and no matter what I did it wouldn't install. I would get a BSOD on install every time. I thought initially it might have been a driver issue, but then realized that I had somehow blanked one important detail: The SATA controller was set to AHCI in the BIOS and that is why XP wasn't able to install.

If you're trying to install XP on newer equipment, please be advised that there is a setting in the BIOS for the SATA controller that can prevent you from installing. If the SATA controller is set to AHCI it won't work. If it's set to ATA it will.

BIOS > SATA > change "AHCI" to "ATA"

I hope this helps some folks.

 

[WindowsStar]

I was installing XP on a new Dell Latitude 6530 laptop and no matter what I did it wouldn't install. I would get a BSOD on install every time. I thought initially it might have been a driver issue, but then realized that I had somehow blanked one important detail: The SATA controller was set to AHCI in the BIOS and that is why XP wasn't able to install.

If you're trying to install XP on newer equipment, please be advised that there is a setting in the BIOS for the SATA controller that can prevent you from installing. If the SATA controller is set to AHCI it won't work. If it's set to ATA it will.

BIOS > SATA > change "AHCI" to "ATA"

I hope this helps some folks.

Or, if you are installing (fresh install) you could press the F6 and install the AHCI driver. -WS

 

[gregrocker]

Good points, both. But you may need to slipstream the AHCI driver since most PC's today which would need the driver don't have floppy support via F6.
SATA Drivers - Load in Windows XP Setup on Dual Boot
SATA Drivers - Slipstream into Windows XP CD

But try changing to IDE mode in BIOS first.

 

[jordanmak]

Can dual OS boot install on separate hdd...
- like windows 7 in one hdd, and windows xp in another hdd..

Thanks

 

[Brink]

Hello Jordan, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Yes, you sure can. You would follow the same steps, but just select to install it on the separate HDD instead. Be sure that you have both HDDs connected during installation.

 

[jordanmak]

Hello Jordan, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Yes, you sure can. You would follow the same steps, but just select to install it on the separate HDD instead. Be sure that you have both HDDs connected during installation.

Ok..noted..thanks

 

[primevyl]

Even if XP is already installed on the first hdd?

 

[gregrocker]

Yes. Win7 will configure a Dual Boot with XP on another HD or partition on same HD, when it is installed last.

 

[primevyl]

Brink, Gregrocker thanks this is great news

 

[Brink]

Glad we could help.

 

[yanniclord]

Blue Screen when Booting up XP Install CD

So when i boot up the Windows XP Professional CD i get to the part where is says Press F6 and F2 to do so and so and it starts loading the Drivers. Then when it says starting Windows it crashes giving me a Blue Screen. What can i do?