Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and Vista

How to Setup a Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and Vista​

   Information

This will show you how to install Windows 7 and Vista to dual boot with when you already have either Windows 7 or Vista 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

Windows 7 Minimum Hardware Requirements:

NOTE: For more iformation 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.

Vista Minimum Hardware Requirements:
NOTE: For more information, see: Microsoft Windows Vista: Recommended System Requirements

Vista Home Basic

• Processor: 1GHz (32 or 64 bit)
• System Memory (RAM): 512MB
• Hard Drive: 20GB with 15GB available for Vista
• Video Card: 32MB Memory and DirectX 9 Support
• DVD-ROM Drive

Vista Home Premium, Business, or Ultimate

• Processor: 1GHz (32 or 64 bit)
• System Memory (RAM): 1GB
• Hard Drive: 40GB with 15GB available for Vista
• Video Card: 128MB Memory, DirectX 9 Support with: WDDM Driver, Pixel Shader 2.0, 32bits per pixel
• DVD-ROM Drive

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.



Here's How:
1. If Installing Second OS on a Separate Hard Drive
NOTE: This is if you are going to install the second OS (Windows 7 or Vista) on a separate hard drive than the first OS in installed on.
A) Go to step 3.
2. If Installing Second OS on another Partition on the Same Hard Drive
NOTE: This is if you are going to install the second OS (Windows 7 or Vista) on a different partition on the same hard drive than the first OS is installed on.
A) If Vista was installed first, then create a new partition for Windows 7 (second OS) to be installed on later if you do not already have one to use. (See screenshot below)

B) If Windows 7 was installed first, then create a new partition for Vista (second OS) to be installed on later if you do not already have one to use. (See screenshot below)

3. Insert the second OS (Windows 7 or Vista) installation DVD, and restart the computer to start installing it.
A) If Vista was installed first, then select the new partition (step 2A) or drive and do a clean install of Windows 7 (second OS) on it. (See screenshot below)

B) If Windows 7 was installed first, then select the new partition (step 2B) or drive and do a clean install of Vista (second OS) on it. (See screenshot below)

4. When the second OS is finished installing you will now have the option to select which OS to start to in the Windows Boot Manager screen at start up. (See example screenshot at the top of the tutorial)
NOTE: Whatever OS you install last will be the OS listed first in the Windows Boot Manager screen at startup.

5. This is what you will see in Disk Management below if you installed the second OS on another partition on the same hard drive (step 2).
A) If Vista was installed first. (See screenshot below)

B) If Windows 7 was installed first. (See screenshot below)

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Use Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor
• How to Setup a Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and XP
• 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 Install with a Full Version of Vista
• How to Do a Clean Install of Vista with a Upgrade Version
• 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 Fix Missing Vista Hard Disk Partition Letter in Windows 7
• How to Do a Custom Installation of Windows 7
• How to Do a Custom Installation of Vista
• How to Recover a Partition Used by an Older OS in a Dual Boot
• How to Properly Delete a OS in a Dual Boot

 

[tintin184]

hey great tutorial but just 1 question that may be in the wrong place but is it possible to rename the windows in the boot screen so that i can see which 1 is 64 and 32 coz at the moment its just a guess to tell which 1 is which

thanks
TT

 

[Brink]

Hello TT, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Not at all. This tutorial below can help show you how to change the OS name to what you like in the Windows Boot Manager screen.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/5110-dual-boot-change-os-name-windows-boot-manager.html

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[tintin184]

thanks

 

[Brink]

You're welcome.

 

[free2mail]

Is it Mandatory to create a new partition?

Hi Brink,

I currently have Vista Home isntalled in C: drive. I also have D: and E: drives. I am thinking of installing Windows 7 in E: drive, as this has 97 GB free. Do i still need to create a new partition or i can install it in E: drive? PLease help?

Thanks,
Saba

 

[Brink]

Hello Saba, and welcome to Seven Forums.

No need to since you already have one. You can install Windows 7 on the E partition if you would like to.

 

[patch41]

Hi Brink,I think your tutorials are fantastic,and i thank you for your time and effort you must have put into them,
I was following your tutorial, Installing windows 7 on a separate hardrive, i tried installing windows 7 on a separate external hardrive, so i would still have vista on my internal hardrive,then a message popped up saying could not install useing usb cord, or firewire 1eee cord,is there any way around this, or does it have to be a internal hardrive,I know i can partition my c-drive and install it that way as another one of your tutorials show, but would like to have it on separate hardrive,thanks patch41.

 

[Dwarf]

Hi patch41 and welcome to Windows 7 Forums

Sorry, but you can only install the OS onto an internal drive. This drive can either be a partition on an existing HDD or a physically separate HDD.

 

[SIW2]

It is possible to install 7 , or Vista to a usb connected HD, but it is only something an advanced user would do.

Normally, you would then transfer the drive from the usb enclosure and attach it internally to another machine.

If you want 7 on a separate HD - I suggest getting a separate internal HD and install onto that, as Dwarf recommended.

 

[patch41]

Thanks Dwarf, and also SIW2,you cleared that up for me,i think the way to go would be a second internal hardrive, thanks again for your response....patch41
(ps i tipped the scales)

 

[Dwarf]

You're welcome.

Any problems, just ask. That's what we're here for.

 

[Dave76]

Hi Brink,I think your tutorials are fantastic,and i thank you for your time and effort you must have put into them,
I was following your tutorial, Installing windows 7 on a separate hardrive, i tried installing windows 7 on a separate external hardrive, so i would still have vista on my internal hardrive,then a message popped up saying could not install useing usb cord, or firewire 1eee cord,is there any way around this, or does it have to be a internal hardrive,I know i can partition my c-drive and install it that way as another one of your tutorials show, but would like to have it on separate hardrive,thanks patch41.

You can install Win7, or any OS, on an external hard drive if it has a eSATA cable.

It's the same as an internal SATA connection. There's no way for the system to know it's not internal.

 

[patch41]

Hi Dave 76,Thanks for your advise,I have a WD500gb external hardrive that only has a usb port, I wonder if i can buy an adapter to covert it to a esata cable, thanks again, and i tipped the scales....patch41

 

[Dave76]

Thanks patch,

I have never heard of an adapter to go from USB to eSATA.

You can buy external HDD enclosures with eSATA cables.
You might be able to pry the HDD from the WD external, but I would just buy a new HDD for it.

 

[pcdubu]

Hi Brink,
Sorry for the 'novice' question but just to be clear, when installing Win 7 on my fresh / new HDD#2, I don't need to disconnect HDD #1 (the one with an existing with Vista OS on it)? I already have 2 HDDs and intend to replace the existing HDD #2 with the new bigger faster HDD and install Win 7 on that.
Cheers

 

[Jonathan_King]

You can do either; it's probably easiest if you leave the Vista drive installed while you install Windows 7, so that you will be offered a choice of Operating Systems to boot from.

 

[bobbelt9]

Hi Brink,
Like everyone else i want to thank you for all your help and great tutorials. Here is my problem: I did a Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and Vista (windows 7 was already instaled) like i stated the dual install went fine but when i login the windows vista section it loads up, but no internet, drivers and things like that! What can i do?

 

[Brink]

Hello Bobbelt, and welcome to Seven Forums. Thank you.

It sounds like you will need to download your Vista drivers for all of your devices while in Windows 7, then copy them over into your Vista drive, then boot into Vista and install them.

 

[bobbelt9]

After i posted my question it hit me to go to dell and get all the drivers! Sure enough that was the problem! It took about 3hrs to download all drivers, install them, install the software i wanted on the new partition, and get all 103 latest updates but so far it was well worth it! thank you

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome Bobbelt. I'm happy to hear that it's all working for you now.