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

 

[bolekilolek]

@debugged At this point, I just can't delete/format/corrupt my win 7 - It would be an epic catastrophe for me :/

@gregrocker Converted XP partition to Primary (all went smooth), but still can't add a new entry with Win XP.

If not, try running an XP Repair Install to load XP's boot files into its partition. PC Support - By Category

More or less, but basically this looks like re-installing the whole system - but I guess it is the only available option for me.

[+]
http://pcsupport.about.com/od/operatingsystems/ss/instxprepair1_4.htm

What about Recovery Console, could it be any use for me?

 

[gregrocker]

Try Rebuild MBR on PW CD Disk tab, then try adding XP again.

You can also boot Repair CD or DVD Repair to run Startup Repair to see if it finds any issues to resolve. These two operations may restore the MBR to where XP can be added.

Reconsidering Repair Install, I'd do it from Win7 desktop to give Win7 the chance to correctly configure the Dual Boot as it does when it's installed last. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html?ltr=R

If this fails, you can assume the boot sector is corrupted requiring the HD to be wiped before reinstalling XP and then Win7. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/91339-ssd-hdd-optimize-windows-reinstallation.html

 

[bolekilolek]

I'm after the xp repair/reinstalling. Still no luck. Opened EasyBCD (under xp):

Windows Boot Manager
--------------------
identifier              {9dea862c-5cdd-4e70-acc1-f32b344d4795}
device                  partition=C:
description             Windows Boot Manager
locale                  en-US
inherit                 {7ea2e1ac-2e61-4728-aaa3-896d9d0a9f0e}
default                 {0f07142c-323b-11e0-9522-f7a3e052e6be}
resumeobject            {0f07142b-323b-11e0-9522-f7a3e052e6be}
displayorder            {0f07142c-323b-11e0-9522-f7a3e052e6be}
toolsdisplayorder       {b2721d73-1db4-4c62-bf78-c548a880142d}
timeout                 30

Windows Boot Loader
-------------------
identifier              {0f07142c-323b-11e0-9522-f7a3e052e6be}
device                  partition=F:
path                    \Windows\system32\winload.exe
description             Windows 7
locale                  en-US
inherit                 {6efb52bf-1766-41db-a6b3-0ee5eff72bd7}
recoverysequence        {0f07142d-323b-11e0-9522-f7a3e052e6be}
recoveryenabled         Yes
osdevice                partition=F:
systemroot              \Windows
resumeobject            {0f07142b-323b-11e0-9522-f7a3e052e6be}
nx                      OptIn

I've tried to add xp entry - same error as before. I've tried add another win 7 entry - Entry #2 looked almost the same as the one above (it was one or two lines shorter). Reboot. XP auto booting. I had to run again win 7 dvd to fix win 7 booting. Now I run EasyBCD under win 7 a still the same dead end.

Here's a screen from driver manager from xp:


I have two thoughts:
1. I'm guessing that the thing that made xp partition Logical during the first installation, was the quick ntsc format during pre-instaltion, coz thats the only thing that I didn't done during the second time - now the partition is Primary.
2. Maybe all the problem is because of the folder name - WINXP. Maybe the "add new entry" option can't handle this situation, where win xp is in WINXP folder instead of WINDOWS?

 

[theog]

I'm after the xp repair/reinstalling. Still no luck. Opened EasyBCD (under xp):

Windows Boot Manager
--------------------
identifier              {9dea862c-5cdd-4e70-acc1-f32b344d4795}
device                  partition=C:
description             Windows Boot Manager
locale                  en-US
inherit                 {7ea2e1ac-2e61-4728-aaa3-896d9d0a9f0e}
default                 {0f07142c-323b-11e0-9522-f7a3e052e6be}
resumeobject            {0f07142b-323b-11e0-9522-f7a3e052e6be}
displayorder            {0f07142c-323b-11e0-9522-f7a3e052e6be}
toolsdisplayorder       {b2721d73-1db4-4c62-bf78-c548a880142d}
timeout                 30
 
Windows Boot Loader
-------------------
identifier              {0f07142c-323b-11e0-9522-f7a3e052e6be}
device                  partition=F:
path                    \Windows\system32\winload.exe
description             Windows 7
locale                  en-US
inherit                 {6efb52bf-1766-41db-a6b3-0ee5eff72bd7}
recoverysequence        {0f07142d-323b-11e0-9522-f7a3e052e6be}
recoveryenabled         Yes
osdevice                partition=F:
systemroot              \Windows
resumeobject            {0f07142b-323b-11e0-9522-f7a3e052e6be}
nx                      OptIn

I've tried to add xp entry - same error as before. I've tried add another win 7 entry - Entry #2 looked almost the same as the one above (it was one or two lines shorter). Reboot. XP auto booting. I had to run again win 7 dvd to fix win 7 booting. Now I run EasyBCD under win 7 a still the same dead end.

Here's a screen from driver manager from xp:


I have two thoughts:
1. I'm guessing that the thing that made xp partition Logical during the first installation, was the quick ntsc format during pre-instaltion, coz thats the only thing that I didn't done during the second time - now the partition is Primary.
2. Maybe all the problem is because of the folder name - WINXP. Maybe the "add new entry" option can't handle this situation, where win xp is in WINXP folder instead of WINDOWS?

Your System Reserved partition should not be C:

 

[bolekilolek]

Works now.

I had to borrow diffrent copy of win xp, one with system folder name WINDOWS instead of WINXP.

I've installed winxp, booted with win 7 dvd, fixed autoboot, loaded win 7, opened EasyBCD and added a new entry:

EeasyBCD log from Win XP:

Windows Boot Manager
--------------------
identifier              {9dea862c-5cdd-4e70-acc1-f32b344d4795}
device                  partition=C:
description             Windows Boot Manager
locale                  en-US
inherit                 {7ea2e1ac-2e61-4728-aaa3-896d9d0a9f0e}
default                 {0f07142c-323b-11e0-9522-f7a3e052e6be}
resumeobject            {0f07142b-323b-11e0-9522-f7a3e052e6be}
displayorder            {0f07142c-323b-11e0-9522-f7a3e052e6be}
                        {0f071433-323b-11e0-9522-f7a3e052e6be}
toolsdisplayorder       {b2721d73-1db4-4c62-bf78-c548a880142d}
timeout                 30
displaybootmenu         Yes

Windows Boot Loader
-------------------
identifier              {0f07142c-323b-11e0-9522-f7a3e052e6be}
device                  partition=G:
path                    \Windows\system32\winload.exe
description             Windows 7
locale                  en-US
inherit                 {6efb52bf-1766-41db-a6b3-0ee5eff72bd7}
recoverysequence        {0f07142d-323b-11e0-9522-f7a3e052e6be}
recoveryenabled         Yes
osdevice                partition=G:
systemroot              \Windows
resumeobject            {0f07142b-323b-11e0-9522-f7a3e052e6be}
nx                      OptIn

Real-mode Boot Sector
---------------------
identifier              {0f071433-323b-11e0-9522-f7a3e052e6be}
device                  partition=G:
path                    \NST\ntldr
description             Windows XP

and log from Win 7:

Windows Boot Manager
--------------------
identifier              {9dea862c-5cdd-4e70-acc1-f32b344d4795}
device                  partition=\Device\HarddiskVolume1
description             Windows Boot Manager
locale                  en-US
inherit                 {7ea2e1ac-2e61-4728-aaa3-896d9d0a9f0e}
default                 {0f07142c-323b-11e0-9522-f7a3e052e6be}
resumeobject            {0f07142b-323b-11e0-9522-f7a3e052e6be}
displayorder            {0f07142c-323b-11e0-9522-f7a3e052e6be}
                        {0f071433-323b-11e0-9522-f7a3e052e6be}
toolsdisplayorder       {b2721d73-1db4-4c62-bf78-c548a880142d}
timeout                 30
displaybootmenu         Yes

Windows Boot Loader
-------------------
identifier              {0f07142c-323b-11e0-9522-f7a3e052e6be}
device                  partition=C:
path                    \Windows\system32\winload.exe
description             Windows 7
locale                  en-US
inherit                 {6efb52bf-1766-41db-a6b3-0ee5eff72bd7}
recoverysequence        {0f07142d-323b-11e0-9522-f7a3e052e6be}
recoveryenabled         Yes
osdevice                partition=C:
systemroot              \Windows
resumeobject            {0f07142b-323b-11e0-9522-f7a3e052e6be}
nx                      OptIn

Real-mode Boot Sector
---------------------
identifier              {0f071433-323b-11e0-9522-f7a3e052e6be}
device                  partition=C:
path                    \NST\ntldr
description             Windows XP

Your System Reserved partition should not be C:

Unfortunately (or not), this part looks exactly the same as in the previous installation. But it works perfectly. I have switched between both systems few times and can't see any downsides of this situation.

 

[toobyteme]

Lost

Hi, I have windows 7 on my laptop. I created a primary partition for XP but when I try to load it I get a message that says "windows can not find any drives on this computer". What part of the tutorial did I miss?

Someone replied to my query, and said that I had too many partitions (thank you). I reformatted to 3 partitions(see attachment), and still get the same message. The laptop is a Gateway CX2618 with a SATA drive. I inserted the drivers with nLite as per the first page....no luck. Please help.

 

[EverWin]

Hi, I have windows 7 on my laptop. I created a primary partition for XP but when I try to load it I get a message that says "windows can not find any drives on this computer". What part of the tutorial did I miss?

Someone replied to my query, and said that I had too many partitions (thank you). I reformatted to 3 partitions(see attachment), and still get the same message. The laptop is a Gateway CX2618 with a SATA drive. I inserted the drivers with nLite as per the first page....no luck. Please help.

Your PC has Intel 915 chipset, no need to any sata drivers, Partitions are oki.

You need to Bring Windows XP SP3 CD to Install Windows XP on That Laptop. Your CD does not contain necessary Drivers.

 

[theog]

Hi, I have windows 7 on my laptop. I created a primary partition for XP but when I try to load it I get a message that says "windows can not find any drives on this computer". What part of the tutorial did I miss?

Someone replied to my query, and said that I had too many partitions (thank you). I reformatted to 3 partitions(see attachment), and still get the same message. The laptop is a Gateway CX2618 with a SATA drive. I inserted the drivers with nLite as per the first page....no luck. Please help.

First check for all the Win XP drivers for your hardware.

If your Win XP CD, does not support your Sata Controller, you will need to load drivers to uses at F6.
Load Sata Controller drivers with a floppy disk is the best way.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/66010-sata-drivers-load-windows-xp-setup-dual-boot.html
OR
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/72185-sata-drivers-slipstream-into-windows-xp-cd.html

As your Gateway CX2618 has the Intel Sata Controller, did you Slipsteam in both Setup inf files & all Sata Controller models ?

 

[RJBuild]

Hey Brink, I've Successfully installed WinXP Pro on the second HDD using your "Method 2" Tutorial. TKS very much, But now I have a small problem . On the "Boot Manager" Screen lists Win 7 and 2 Win XP Pro's, all 3 listing work I must have hit the add button twice not realizing EasyBCD had already finished. How do I delete one?? I've tried "administrative Tools/Boot But win XP Pro is not listed. Any Ideas??
TKS RJBuild

 

[debugged]

In EasyBCD:
1. "View Settings" button: look here first to make sure you know which entry you want to get rid of.
2. "Edit Boot Menu" button. Delete the redundant entry.
3. "Save Settings" button.

 

[jwdonal]

Great tutorial!

Dude, this tutorial made my life so much easier!! Thanks so much for your help!! Worked perfectly! Just FYI, I used the "Windows 7 already installed, then install XP" route.

THANKS AGAIN!! :-D

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome Jwdonal, and welcome to Seven Forums.
Thanks to all those (you know who you are ) that helped make it easier to use.

 

[MrRiddick]

Hello
I have 1st installed Win 7,i installed XP downloaded netfreamwork and easyBCD,runed easyBCD did all that u said and when i restarted my pc i dont get the option to pick from windows 7 or xp,it just start windows 7...what i did wrong??? pls tell me...
cheers

 

[gregrocker]

Install EasyBCD 2.02 to Win7 to add XP on the Add OS tab, accept any offered boot files, Save, restart to Dual Boot menu.

If this fails, please post back a screenshot of the full Disk Mgmt drive map using Snipping Tool in Start Menu.

 

[MrRiddick]

i need to go in disk mng from XP? cause i dont know how to enter in xp... sorry i am new to these things xD
if u could tell me how to enter win XP if i need that would be great...if i need to do it from win 7 i think i know how to do it..

 

[gregrocker]

Since you are in Win7 now, install EasyBCD 2.02 to add XP on the Add OS tab. Accept offered boot files, it will autocomplete, save, restart.

If you dont' get a working Dual Boot Menu, please post back a screenshot of your full Disk Mgmt drive map in Win7, using Snipping Tool in Start Menu. Type Disk Management in Start Seach box.

 

[MrRiddick]

i deleted win 7 and installed win xp,in few days i will try with windows XP first...cause when i had windows 7 didnt know...thanks for ur help

 

[dan1983]

Hi guys,

Thanks a lot for this tutorial...

It's great but... well, I got a problem.

I've installed Windows 7 first in C:. Then I 've created another virtual partition in my hard drive where I wanted to install Windows XP. I named it "B:"

I followed the steps in the tuto to step 5.

Unfortunately when rebooting for the first time during the installation, I got the message "Error loading operating system".

I did what you said in the Tip between step 6 and 7 (EasyBCD installed etc.)

It seemed to work : I got the dual boot screen where I have to choose which OS to run. It works with W7 but when I choose Windows XP it said something like "no such file in B:\NST\ntldr"

I browsed in B:\ (the partition where I installed XP) and there was no directory like "NST" so it seems there an error in the path but I have no idea to repair it....


Thanks for your help...

 

[theog]

Hi guys,

Thanks a lot for this tutorial...

It's great but... well, I got a problem.

I've installed Windows 7 first in C:. Then I 've created another virtual partition in my hard drive where I wanted to install Windows XP. I named it "B:"

I followed the steps in the tuto to step 5.

Unfortunately when rebooting for the first time during the installation, I got the message "Error loading operating system".

I did what you said in the Tip between step 6 and 7 (EasyBCD installed etc.)

It seemed to work : I got the dual boot screen where I have to choose which OS to run. It works with W7 but when I choose Windows XP it said something like "no such file in B:\NST\ntldr"

I browsed in B:\ (the partition where I installed XP) and there was no directory like "NST" so it seems there an error in the path but I have no idea to repair it....


Thanks for your help...

Drive letters "A" & "B" are Reserved for floppy drives.
Drive letter assignment - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[SIW2]

What do you mean by a virtual partition ?

Please post a scrrenshot of your disk management window.