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

 

[theog]

As i said, no need to play in the BIOS.
Reset the BIOS to default, Acer Recovery disk will work.
Than try installing Win XP.

Eh, I tried. I left the BIOS the same as it was at first, and made slipstreamed the SATA drivers to the installation CD. Just wasn't recognized at all. Maybe Acer just doesn't have them directly for XP, since they only have one SATA driver download there...

EDIT: Scratch that. FINALLY found the correct SATA controller drivers and were able to slipstream them into the installation disk, and it doesn't blue screen anymore! Will install XP tomorrow.

Well done.
It does work better with the right drivers.

 

[ShadowMario3]

Well done.
It does work better with the right drivers.

Haha, yeah, it does. Only problem is the WLAN card (Broadcom 802.11n Network Adapter) doesn't work at all. It's just not being recognized. This seems to be a problem with most laptops after a clean install, but eh. At least I have a Wireless USB card lying around.

 

[theog]

Well done.
It does work better with the right drivers.

Haha, yeah, it does. Only problem is the WLAN card (Broadcom 802.11n Network Adapter) doesn't work at all. It's just not being recognized. This seems to be a problem with most laptops after a clean install, but eh. At least I have a Wireless USB card lying around.

Broadcom 802.11n Network Adapter, have look here:
Broadcom.com - Wireless LAN

 

[Jgalt]

Hello,
I own a HP Pavilion dv8-4180us Entertainment Notebook. I recently discovered that several programs from my desktop computer, which is currently running XP, were not compatible with windows 7. I followed this tutorial in an attempt to create a duel boot system using method 2. I have no RAID on my laptop but I did have to slipstream my SATA Drivers onto a new install disk. I am attempting to install the duel boot onto a removable hard drive. I have tried to install several of my operating systems such as: Windows XP 32 bit Home Edition SP3, Windows XP 32 bit Professional SP3, and Windows XP 32 bit Home Edition (No Service Pack). Every single time I boot from disk my computer begins to load the setup, but at the end of the step before it asks you to accept the agreement, it crashes. Now, the SATA drivers I downloaded were from Intel's website. I used textmode and I slip streamed all of them, hoping the computer would grab what it needs. I do not know if this is the problem because it never actually says "No Drivers Found", or "Could Not Locate Hard Drive". When it crashes it goes to a blue screen of death and says, (Paraphrased) "The computer has ended operations due to a detected threat. If this is the first time you have received this message, please restart your computer, if not their may be viruses or new hardware installed that is causing a problem...". I thought it might be my external hard drive so I to install without it. No change in the result. I have read many forums looking for a result and I looked at many of the previous posts here without any luck. I really want to see this work and have been trying everything from loading different drivers to (very carefully):shock: removing RAM sticks from the motherboard. I appreciate any responses or new ideas and appreciate you reading this long drawn out post.

 

[gregrocker]

You cannot install WIndows to an external HD connected by USB.

 

[Jgalt]

I thought it said you could:
1. To Create a New Partition from the Windows 7 Hard Disk Drive
NOTE: If you want to install XP on a separate hard drive instead, then skip this step and go to step 2.

Nevertheless, that still doesn't explain why when I unplug the hard drive it still crashes.

 

[Brink]

Hello Jgalt,

You can only install a OS on a internal HDD, and not on a external HDD unless the external HDD was connected with a eSATA connection without any adapters used in the connection.

 

[Jgalt]

Okay Thanks. I partitioned my HD but it still gets the same error. Nothing but the power cord is plugged in.

 

[gregrocker]

If this is the error you quoted earlier about possibly threats, install, update and run a full Malwarebytes scan.

Next I would try another internal HD with the Win7 HD unplugged. If that fails, reset the CMOS: Clear CMOS - 3 Ways to Clear the CMOS - Reset BIOS

Check in BIOS setup if Win7 is installed in AHCI mode. If so you'll need to try to find AHCI SATA drivers for your computer.

We will continue to help you troubleshoot to resolution however you might also try installing your XP Programs in Win7 Compatibility Mode or try running XP virtually from within Win7 using freeware like Virtual Box, VMWare or Virtual Player.

 

[theog]

Okay Thanks. I partitioned my HD but it still gets the same error. Nothing but the power cord is plugged in.

Are you using both setup inf, & Multiple drivers. Also add all Sata Controllers.

 

[iamjaggernaut]

Drive letter problem

Im running XP and want to install 7 in dual boot.

My problem:huh::
Will installing 7 have drive letter complications and create problems for my already running XP windows? I have a whole bunch of stuff installed in XP and will be using XP as my default, only turning to 7 when i have directx 10 or directx 11 softwares/games.

I want my XP to be as it is after installing windows 7.
i will be using a seperate 100GB drive for 7.

Please help....

 

[gregrocker]

Using separate HD's is the best way to dual boot:

Unplug the XP HD during Win7 install, set Win7 to boot first in BIOS setup.

After 7 install, plug back in XP and boot it using the one-time BIOS BOot Menu key given on first boot screen.

This keeps the OS HD's independent to come and go as you please, whereas leaving XP plugged in during Win7 install to configure a Windows-managed Dual Boot interlocks them requiring major surgery to remove XP later.

 

[Jgalt]

I figured it out! My dumb computer says that it is an X86. I got a notification today that my PC needed windows seven service pack 1. I Installed it and wouldn't you know, its not 32 bit! I don't know why it says X86 instead of X64 but it does. I actually took the advice of using the Virtual XP Mode and everything's working great. Thanks for the help and rapid response.

 

[distrohopper]

First I want to say how awesome this entire post and guide has been. It has saved me this week with installing XP 32bit and Win7 X64 in a RAID setup. Once I found the proper drivers for XP, NTlite and booting to install XP worked just fine, and using EasyBCD to restore the MBR worked like magic. I verified twice before handing the machine to the client - when booted into Win7, C: was Win7 and E: was XP, and on the XP side, C: was XP and D: was Win7.

However, I have run into an issue. Apparently the client now needs to install an application that must use the C: to install and now when you boot into XP, it shows the 100MB system folder as C: drive, the Win7 partition as drive D: and where XP is install as drive E:. On the Win7 side there is no real issue, win7 is C: and E: is XP.
I need to be able to have XP as the C: when booted into XP.

Attached are screenshots of EasyBCD settings as well as the disk management from Win7 and the drive letters as seen in XP. Is there something I am missing or is this a pain to fix?

Thanks in advance!

 

[theog]

Try removing the drive letter of System 100mb partition.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/82994-drive-letter-add-change-remove-windows-7-a.html

 

[gregrocker]

I do not know why a booted XP installer would not install itself as C unless you installed it to a Logical partition which couldn't host it's boot files so they were placed on the Win7 100mb System Reserved partition.

In any case I would remove the drive letter from 100mb in XP Disk Management so nothing will write to and corrupt it.

 

[distrohopper]

Try removing the drive letter of System 100mb partition.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/82994-drive-letter-add-change-remove-windows-7-a.html

I tried to do that from within XP as that is the only partition I see that 100MB system partition. I was unable to change the letter drive of that or of the E:. The error was along the lines of "unable to change the drive of boot partitions and/or system folders"."

I do not know why a booted XP installer would not install itself as C unless you installed it to a Logical partition which couldn't host it's boot files so they were placed on the Win7 100mb System Reserved partition.

In any case I would remove the drive letter from 100mb in XP Disk Management so nothing will write to and corrupt it.

Not sure why it did either. I did the install on Monday/Tuesday and I verified twice making sure the machine would boot into both OS's just fine and that there were no hickups. I saw that on Tuesday in XP, C: was the XP partition and D: was the Win7 partition. Somehow something 'broke.' And of course, the client's application MUST be installed in C: for some reason(can't choose which drive to install to...)

 

[gregrocker]

Are you saying the XP drive letter changed? Because then it may change back. I'd boot into XP and remove the 100mb SysReserved drive letter to see if XP reverts after several reboots.

If not, Paragon Rescue CD is used specfically to change slipped drive letters however we've only ever used it when the OS isn't bootable because of it. Paragon Rescue -change drive letters

As a rule of thumb changing OS drive letters will otherwise always bork the installation.

 

[distrohopper]

I suppose I am saying the drive letters slipped and somehow changed(learn something new every day!). I'll try tomorrow and see if I can remove the 100MB system partition drive letter and see if that fixes this issue.

If not, I'll give that Paragon Rescue CD a go.

Thanks for the help and quick responses. I really appreciate it!

 

[theog]

Paragon would be the way to go, or major repairs.