Which OS should I install first dual boot Win10/Win7


  1. Posts : 37
    Windows 7 home premium 32 bit
       #1

    Which OS should I install first dual boot Win10/Win7


    I'm planning to install Windows 7 and Windows 10 dual-boot on my laptop. I have deleted all partition and now my HDD is all unallocated. Now I wonder which OS should I install first. As you know, System reserved of Windows 10 is about 300MB and Windows 7 is just 100 MB, so I don't know how Win 10 uses that partition if I install Win 7 first. I also see on tenforums the thread about Dual Boot Windows 10 and Windows 7, with Win 7 first. So which is better, Win 10 first or Win 7 first?
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  2. Posts : 3,785
    win 8 32 bit
       #2

    You must always load the oldest first as it won't understand the boot sequence of new systems. Why not install Windows 10 then load 7 as a virtual system
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  3. Posts : 13,576
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       #3

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  4. Posts : 7,351
    Windows 7 HP 64
       #4

    Win 7 isn't compatible with Secure boot.
    On BIOS, disable Secure boot and Fast boot.
    I would create 3 partitions
    - Win 7 - 85G
    - Win 10 - 100G
    - Data - remaining space
    Once you have both (7&10) installed, change My Documents, Pictures etc to the data partition.
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  5. Posts : 6,330
    Multi-Boot W7_Pro_x64 W8.1_Pro_x64 W10_Pro_x64 +Linux_VMs +Chromium_VM
       #5

    I would also create a small (5-6 GB) partition for portable programs.
    I multi-boot and have a 6 GB portable apps partition with 50-100 portable programs on it.
    It's nice being able to use one instance of a program by all OS's, less maintenance to update a program.
    Also i can restore a backup image of any OS and all portable programs are untouched by the restore.
    For me the biggest problem can be finding the portable version of a program, those download links are often harder to find.
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  6. Posts : 37
    Windows 7 home premium 32 bit
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Thanks for all your replies. My laptop doesn't have secure boot on BIOS, only legacy as default because it's a 2012 model. I just wonder which OS I should install first.
    Here I have Win 10 first https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...e-bd507273a57d
    and here win 7 first : Dual Boot Windows 10 with Windows 7 or Windows 8 Windows 10 Installation Upgrade Tutorials


    Both win 7 or win 10 first is the same idea and I got it.
    I just think about the System reserved partition. is there one better or the same?
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  7. Posts : 7,351
    Windows 7 HP 64
       #7

    On OEM (Dell, HP, Lenovo etc) the System partition has the boot loader and the program to launch Factory Restore.
    If you install with a M$ installation disk, when you create a partition (from unallocated space) to have Windows installed, it also creates a M$ Reserved partition (120M). This partition is useless if you don't use bitlocker.
    As suggested, install Win 7 fist. It will create a useless M$ Reserved partition. After you have installed, with disk manager, shrink C: and create 2 partitions. One for Win 10 and other for Data.
    Boot from win 10 installation disk and install on the fist empty partition. It won't create another M$ reserved partition.
    Last edited by Megahertz07; 12 Aug 2017 at 16:42.
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