Create Dual Boot

[huffman]

I have Windows XP installed on one Hard Drive and Windows 7 installed on a second Hard Drive (both are Sata Drives).

Presently I switch Operating Systems by internally switching the wires inside the case.

I would like to setup so that I am given the option of which Operating System to run when booting up.

Is there any easy way :huh: to do this?

 

[Jonathan_King]

Yes, there is. Use EasyBCD 2.0 to add the XP boot entry into the Windows 7 BCD.

EasyBCD 2.0 Beta Builds - The NeoSmart Forums

You will need to register for an account with Neosmart before you can download. It is free, however.

 

[gregrocker]

Why are you changing wires in the case?

You can manage the Dual Boot via the BIOS boot order and one-time Boot Menu.

Set the preferred HD to boot first in BIOS setup.

Then if you want to boot the other HD, tap the F-key given on first bootup screen for Boot Menu to choose the other HD instead.

Every make computer has an F-key to choose for one-time Boot Menu. If you cannot determine which yours uses, post back the make and we will find it for you.

This BIOS-managed boot method is a cleaner way to boot because the HD's remain independent, whereas when you set up a Windows-managed Dual Boot they become interdependent and harder to remove.

 

[huffman]

I used EasyBCD beta 2.0 and ran it. I followed the instructions given in this post. I can now boot either Windows 7 or Windows XP on bootup.

Easy actually put two Windows XP as options or like this:

Windows 7
Windows XP
Windows XP

So far I have only used the top Windows XP to boot and it works fine.

Thanks guys

 

[gregrocker]

You can remove the stray XP listing in msconfig>Boot tab. Or on Easy Add/Remove tab.

Now that you created a Windows-managed Dual Boot, you cannot remove XP HD without recovering the System Active MBR into Win7.

This is why a BIOS-managed dual boot I described earlier is better when you have separate HD's.