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

 

[jstnk]

the disc is readable. i can open it and read the files. i clicked on the winnt.exe file in the i386 folder and the message that a newer version of windows is already installed.

 

[gregrocker]

That doesn't mean it's bootable. Did you try booting in another PC?

It must be booted, delete any partition you created for it to Create and Full Format using disk.

Do you have a UEFI BIOS?

 

[jstnk]

went with a vm as i wanted to in the beginning but not able to install xp in vm. realized i was selecting the wrong bit xp to install. works fine, deleted the partition and extended it to the C: drive. all is good. thanks kari!

 

[mcrans]

How do I upgrade a dual boot XP/XP system to Win 7/XP without losing dual boot options?


I have a dual boot XP / XP system . I use one install for normal everyday activity, and I have a pro tools digital audio workstation set up on the other install. I keep these isolated because I disable the network adapter on my pro tools installation. I want to keep it unmolested and as unchanging as possible.

The first XP install is the normal everyday setup, the 2nd has pro tools. I'd like to upgrade the first XP install (the everyday use install) to Windows 7. I'm not sure how to do this without potentially losing my boot options and losing access to my pro tools install. Do the steps in this tutorial apply? Is Easybcd the solution to recover the boot options if they're lost? Thanks!

 

[gregrocker]

Please post back a Disk Mgmt Screenshot with Paint and tell us what is on each drive and which you want to replace with 7. We'll give you the steps to Clean Install Windows 7 while reconfiguring a Dual Boot with XP safely.

 

[mcrans]

Thanks for the quick reply!

 

[mcrans]

There is only one physical drive. C drive is the XP install that I want to upgrade to windows 7. The partition with no drive letter assigned (Studio XP) is the Pro Tools install that I want to keep untouched.

 

[gregrocker]

OK, well C is the only partition that could boot the HD because it's Primary, but the Logical XP should nonetheless be configured correctly as a Dual Boot during install to C.

If not in Win7 Disk Mgmt temporarily add a Drive letter to XP, install EasyBCD to add XP on Add OS tab.

Look over these same steps for Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 which compile everything that works best for installing, setup and maintaining perfect Win7 based on tens of thousands of installs we've actively helped with here since beta.

 

[mcrans]

Great, thank you!

 

[Salmon]

Dual boot Xp and W7 on separate drives

First of all, thank you for a great forum and all the help I got this far just by reading the Q&As.
Still I have a few questions before I start setting up my own dual boot.

I have Xp on my old hard drive and I now want to install Windows 7 (home premium) on a new SSD as the main system drive (first in boot order).
If I install W7 on the SSD with the other HDDs disconnected, Will Xp appear in my boot menu When I connect the other HDD or do I need EasyBCD? Should the Xp drive be set as slave or master ?
I would prefer not to start from the Xp drive (as in the tutorial) because I want the SSD to be independent from the old drive.
Alternatively, can I boot into Xp through the "f8/f12 bios boot"?

What happens with the drive letters? IF both boot drives see themselves as C, when and how do I assign other letters for the other drive?

Thanks in advance for answers and help

 

[gregrocker]

Unplug the XP HD during Clean Install Windows 7 then after install plug it back in and boot it using the one-time BIO Boot Menu key. This keeps them independent.

If you don't like this arrangement then install EasyBCD to Win7 to add XP to a Windows Dual Boot menu, which will keep them independent but may be an easier GUI.

 

[Ratbert1009ca]

In step 3, it is mentioned that you need to put the sata drivers on a floppy and usb doesnt work. on my and many newer systems there isnt a floppy drive. only DVD and usb. is there an alternative? or does it always fail to see the sata hd's initially, or just in some cases?

 

[harleyf250]

I have read many tutorials on this subject and this one is the best, however, as I try to install and boot from the XP cd, which is brand new, after about a minute I get the followinf message "acpi.sys file is corrupted" and the installation fails. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[jstnk]

dual boot win 7

you probably want to discuss with more learned folks in the forum. i scrubbed the dual boot when i realized that win 8 in my laptop had the sp i need to run just one app i needed. so i installed it there. no need for an xp vm anymore. besides, i had all kinds of problems using import and export and i had to use a flash drive from host to vm and visa versa to transfer files. what a pain.

 

[gregrocker]

In step 3, it is mentioned that you need to put the sata drivers on a floppy and usb doesnt work. on my and many newer systems there isnt a floppy drive. only DVD and usb. is there an alternative? or does it always fail to see the sata hd's initially, or just in some cases?

Since almost no floppy support exists any longer the only real options is to slipstream the SATA driver into the XP with SP3 CD, which is explained here: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/72185-sata-drivers-slipstream-into-windows-xp-cd.html?ltr=S

However XP is so old now that it may have other problems with newer hardware that aren't as easily resolved as we were able to do for the first five years of WIn7. A better option now is to try installing older XP apps in Win7 http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/316-compatibility-mode.html or if that doesn't work try running it virtually with freeware like VMWare, Virtual Player, Virtual Box, XP Mode, etc.

 

[dav1129]

Hi. First time here so thanks.
I have one T60 and one T61p Thinkpads presently both running XP which I have purring and am extremely comfortable with. So I am actually to reluctant to upgrade.

But I am curious to check out Windows 7 and have the Lenovo upgrade disc to do it. I am also interested in perhaps miugrating my storage to solid state drives which I understand albeit arguably, XP does not natively support.

So Option One is clear. But step "3. To Use a Separate Hard Disk Drive than the XP drive " is not.

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.

Does this mean that it is possible to load Windows 7 from a setup disc i.e. without actually installing it? If so, this would be a great option to check it out first.

EDIT: Doh!! I think I get it now. Take a separate disk and then boot from the installation disc. Sorry.

Well in that case, I haven't yet bought a SSD for a proper Windows 7 installation and my current XP installation is on a 45GB disk. You indicate that Windows 7 requires 16GB but does it ideally need more? Given that I would prefer not to reinstall XP, how should I consider partitioning the disk? 50/50 or XP which is currently 16GB full, 20GB and Windows 7 25GB?

 

[Brink]

Hello Dav, and welcome to Seven Forums.

You could install Windows 7 on another partition on your XP drive, or on a separate hard drive. Either will do as long as there's enough free space on it.

It depends on how much you plan on installing in Windows 7, but I would have at least 40GB for a bare minimum of applications installed afterwards, and more if you plan on installing a lot of programs, games, etc...

 

[dav1129]

Hello Dav, and welcome to Seven Forums.

You could install Windows 7 on another partition on your XP drive, or on a separate hard drive. Either will do as long as there's enough free space on it.

It depends on how much you plan on installing in Windows 7, but I would have at least 40GB for a bare minimum of applications installed afterwards, and more if you plan on installing a lot of programs, games, etc...

Hi thanks for the welcome and suggestions. And thanks for the great guide.

So here's what I have I older T60 ThinkPad which due to a HDD failure sometime ago, has no HDD and currently decommissioned. But it is still perfectly adequate and I would like to recommission as an XP machine (OEM license) with the 46.5GB capacity HDD, which is currently in the T61p Thinkpad I use currently.

This T61p currently has XP (Retail license) with all my applications taking up 16.7GB. The free capacity is 29.8GB

So as I (1) suspect I might ultimately have to move on, and leave XP behind and (2) am intrigued to possibly to switch to solid state drives at least for the primary drives (I have 2nd HDD adapter in place of the optical drives), I would like avoid buying another mechanical disk.

So as I know XP really well and have it tweaked to perfection, I would at this stage just like to put my toes in the water like to see what Windows 7 is like, wha has changed and what I can now still do and no longer do. I don't anticipate needing to install any applications for this trial, other the required device drivers.

If I like, then I would buy a solid state drive and make the T61p a Windows 7 machine and put the 46.5GB drive which is in it now, in the T60 machine as a primary drive. I have a 1TB in a 2nd HDD adapter which I can interchange with the optical drives in both machines.

So as I cannot spare 40GB for Windows 7 how much of the 29.8GB free capacity should I leave with the 16.7GB XP installation, and how much then for a clean Windows 7 installation with few if any, applications. I could always setup a generous swap file located on the 1TB drive in the 2nd HDD adapter.

 

[Brink]

Since you only have 29.8 GB total, and 16.7 GB is used by XP, you really don't have enough space to dual boot both of them without the risk of running out of free space in both.

 

[dav1129]

Since you only have 29.8 GB total, and 16.7 GB is used by XP, you really don't have enough space to dual boot both of them without the risk of running out of free space in both.

I should have added it wouldn't be for very long. Just long enough to decide whether I could live with the upgrade. If yes, I would format the drive and move it to my older T60 and and do a clean WIndows 7 install on an SSD.

But otherwise thanks. Ill have to see if I have a spare SATA disk lying around else maybe use the 1TB drive which I currently use in a 2nd HDD adapter and has plenty of space.

Or I could just jump in now and buy a small solid state drive without experiencing 7 yet. If this option, do you have any idea what brand, technology or size I should go for, for a Windows 7 only install?

I know nothing except I like the idea of sticking with Intel. My local computer place also has Kingston and Samsung