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

 

[Dinesh]

Hi Shawn, if i no more need win xp, can i just go to windows 7 and open diskmgmt and delete the xp partiton?

I shrinked the C drive and when i try to format it, it gives this error.

I m trying to format this partition.

 

[Brink]

Hello Dinesh,

You can only have up to 3 primary and 1 logical partitions on a single hard drive.

 

[pparks1]

Hello Dinesh,

You can only have up to 3 primary and 1 logical partitions on a single hard drive.

Actually you can have up to 3 primary and 1 extended partition. Within the extended partition you can create numerous logical partitions. I know that you are aware of this, just clarifying the statement in case it causes confusion to others.

 

[Dinesh]

Actually you can have up to 3 primary and 1 extended partition. Within the extended partition you can create numerous logical partitions.

how can i make it extended? i have shrinked the C drive so i guess that would not be possible.

 

[Brink]

This can help show you how to Dinesh.

Create a partition or logical drive: Storage Services; Local File Systems

 

[Dinesh]

This can help show you how to Dinesh.

Create a partition or logical drive: Storage Services; Local File Systems

didn't work.

 

[Brink]

What message did it give you?

You will most likely need to extend C: back into the unallocated space first to only have 3 partitions, then see if you may be able to create the extended partition.

Diskpart

Select Disk 0

Create primary partition extended size=1000 noerr

assign

exit

 

[SIW2]

Hi Dinesh,

Not entirely sure what you are trying to do, but if you have a Primary adjacent to an Extended - Paragon can convert the Primary to a Logical drive.

That should free up a partition slot.

 

[Dinesh]

thanks, will try the paragon mgr. the d/l is big. will try that at night.

 

[chuckr]

Hi Dinesh,

Not entirely sure what you are trying to do, but if you have a Primary adjacent to an Extended - Paragon can convert the Primary to a Logical drive.

Unfortunately, he has no 'Extended'.

Can Paragon change a 'Primary' to --> Extended ?
Seems 'Right-most' volume should...

 

[Dinesh]

Seems 'Right-most' volume should...

Yeah the right most drive could be changed from logical to extended.

 

[SIW2]

Hi Dinesh,

Your D logical drive is already within an Extended partition.

The idea is to get the E partition inside the Extended partition as well.

You can use either the PM 9.5 PRO, or the Hard Disk Manager 9.5 ( the boot disc from both also has that function and will work for any bit version.

It is very straightforward - just rt click E , select Make Partition Logical. Click Yes :









I tried it myself - took only a few seconds and worked flawlessly without any data loss.

Never a bad idea to back up anything vital before any kind of operation ( you probably have done that already).

 

[Dinesh]

Hi Dinesh,

Your D logical drive is already within an Extended partition.

The idea is to get the E partition inside the Extended partition as well.

You can use either the PM 9.5 PRO, or the Hard Disk Manager 9.5 ( the boot disc from both also has that function and will work for any bit version.

It is very straightforward - just rt click E , select Make Partition Logical. Click Yes :

View attachment 24871

View attachment 24872

View attachment 24873



I tried it myself - took only a few seconds and worked flawlessly without any data loss.

Never a bad idea to back up anything vital before any kind of operation ( you probably have done that already).

View attachment 24869

Yep that was so simple to do it. I just wanted to dual boot xp with 7. Thanks SIW.

 

[SIW2]

You're welcome Dinesh

Probably a good idea to reboot so Windows updates Disk Management .

 

[Arknx]

Hi thnaks for all the informations how ever after spending last 24 hours try to reboot windows 7 and XP i failed

i have 1 HDD which i shrinked into 2. C: for Windows 7 RTM x64 vurrently
using, and a F: for Windows XP SP3 x86 D: and E: are for the DVD-RW and the virtual drive and G: is External

Now i want to make a dual boot system with Win 7 x64 and Win XP x86

i prepared a 40G volume F: for XP and will install XP

Here's the Screenshot of my HDDs
http://img56.imageshack.us/img56/7779/hdd.png
http://img56.imageshack.us/img56/7779/hdd.png

After i install XP i will lose the option for win 7 and i will use Easy BCD under XP to resore the boot screen right.and it will restore right
cause i spent a whole day without any guides trying to dual boot them

SO far im good and just need to install xp right

 

[Brink]

Hello Arknx, and welcome to Seven Forums.

So far it looks like you are on track.

 

[Arknx]

Thanks for your support I have a nice Windows 7 Configuration and i dont wanna mess it up I ll install Win XP in a couple hours thanks again

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Arknx. Please let us know how it went for you.

 

[Arknx]

Well it went pretty well and now Im on my XP and you are the man for that
but i have a minor(ish) problem

Here it is
In Win 7 i had
C: for Windows 7 RTM x64
F: for Windows XP SP3 x86
D:for the DVD-RW and
E: the virtual drive and
G: is External
----------------------------
But now in Windows XP
C: for System Reserved ?? ,
D: for Windows 7 RTM x64
E: for Windows XP SP3 x86,
F:for the DVD-RW and
G: the virtual drive
H: is External

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/5139/86058415.png Screenshot is here

There aren't any problems they all work pretty well by the way

 

[Brink]

While it's normal for each OS to see itself as the C: drive when it's running, it is a bit odd that it changed the drive letters for every drive like that though. I suppose that as long as everything is running smoothly, it may be fine though.