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

 

[Brink]

is that the only way? because i really dont want to factory reset my computer

You could create a new thread with the details about this in the Installation & Setup forum area to try and get it converted back to basic without having to do a factory restore if you are still able to, but it's the only way that I know of when you converted your system drive to dynamic like that.

Maybe someone may know a way to be able to.

 

[Dominic Warden]

thanks for your help.
how do i create a new thread?

 

[Brink]

You're welcome. Here you go: Windows 7 Forums - FAQ: Board FAQ

 

[Dominic Warden]

thanks so much for your help but i have found a way for vista to recognize my S: drive now.

 

[Brink]

That's great news Dominic. What method did you use for it to find it?

 

[Gomer]

Hi Gomer
Win XP SP2 is good enough for now until it is installed.
You can download Intel drivers from here:
http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Det...&OSFullName=Windows XP Professional*&lang=eng

Ray? This file I downloaded is a zip file. Do I unzip it and insert all files or just some?

 

[theog]

Hi Gomer
Win XP SP2 is good enough for now until it is installed.
You can download Intel drivers from here:
http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Det...&OSFullName=Windows XP Professional*&lang=eng

Ray? This file I downloaded is a zip file. Do I unzip it and insert all files or just some?
View attachment 177822

Unzip & insert all.

Take a look at step 11.(option Multple Drivers)



Choose both setup inf files.

Choose all drivers.

Choose all sata controllers.



View attachment 149858



View attachment 149859

 

[Dominic Warden]

i used the command prompt to make it recognize dynamic hard drives.

my Vista installation says cannot install required files. what could i do to fix this problem.

thanks

this dual boot thing isn't working for me so is there a way i can make windows 7 look and act like windows xp?

 

[warrickroy]

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for this really nice detailed guide. I am in the process of getting a dual boot (forced by circumstances of my curiosity/stupidity) which led me to the point that I have a Win 7 (SATA) and a Win XP (ATA) on 2 separate hard drives in my computer.

I followed method 2 since I had a Win 7 before I reinstalled my old XP. I am at the point where I have Win XP booting up and I have also changed the BCD using EasyBCD. However, when I reboot, I still come back to Win XP without getting the options to choose between the 2 systems.

I made some testing and changed the hard drive boot sequence in the BIOS, making the hard drive of Win 7 load first.. However, I get the "Error loading Operating System" message and cannot push through booting or even getting the boot options of a command prompt or the other options like safe mode.. I go back to booting the Win XP hard drive, but I only boot back to Win XP without boot options for Win 7 and Win XP

I suspect that I am making a mistake in the boot sequence in the BIOS. Should I prioritize the Win XP drive or the Win 7 drive in the boot listing? And should I reinstall Win 7 at this point to get it fixed?

Some more information on my setup too. When I am in Win XP, Win XP is my Drive c, The hard drive of Win 7 is in Drive E, and I have another Drive D where the boot folder is kept.

I hope you could give me some advice on how I can move this forward and fix my dilemma. Thanks

 

[gregrocker]

Best method when you have separate HD's is to boot via the BIOS Boot Order or BIOS boot menu F-key at boot. This keeps the HD's independent to come and go as you please whereas config'ing a Windows Dual Boot interlocks them requiring surgery to remove one later.

However if you've already used EasyBCD to add Win7 from XP, then you need the XP HD set first to boot for it to work correctly. Try that now. If it works and you want to change to BIOS-based Dual Boot then we can help you change it. If it doesn't we need the screenshot anyway.

To help you do this, or if you prefer press on to get a Windows Dual Boot, please post back a screenshot of your maximized Disk Mgmt drive map with listings - using the Snipping Tool in Start Menu.

 

[warrickroy]

Best method when you have separate HD's is to boot via the BIOS Boot Order or BIOS boot menu F-key at boot. This keeps the HD's independent to come and go as you please whereas config'ing a Windows Dual Boot interlocks them requiring surgery to remove one later.

However if you've already used EasyBCD to add Win7 from XP, then you need the XP HD set first to boot for it to work correctly. Try that now. If it works and you want to change to BIOS-based Dual Boot then we can help you change it. If it doesn't we need the screenshot anyway.

To help you do this, or if you prefer press on to get a Windows Dual Boot, please post back a screenshot of your maximized Disk Mgmt drive map with listings - using the Snipping Tool in Start Menu.

Thanks for the quick reply gregrocker. It was 4am when I made my last post and I fell asleep so I wasn't able to answer sooner.

I have used the WinXP HD as primary boot and am now in my XP OS. Here is an image of my Disk Management in XP.



Drive C: is where my current WinXP OS is. Drive E: is where I installed my Win7. And Drive D: is where I found the BCD file so it's where the dual boot menu should supposedly come from.

Sorry I couldn't get the Win7 image map since I couldn't access it as it gets an "Error loading Operating System" message right at the startup.

I read your suggestion and it's ok if I could make them separate startup systems and make Win7 the Primary boot. I actually just want to get my Win7 to open again. Thanks and I will wait for any suggestion you have. I'm also combing through the thread one more time to see if I missed something that could help me make it work. Thanks!

 

[warrickroy]

Hi Guys,

Just wanted to report that my dual boot system is working well now. I followed the suggestion of SIW in page 9 so thanks SIW. Thanks gregrocker for helping me out

 

[Gomer]

Update on my progress

Good Morning All,

After finishing the installation of XP, it booted up, but was unable to connect me to the internet. "No modem, etc." As I have a D-Link router connected to a DSL router, I needed to go into the properties via Win7, which I could not boot to. I tried the only disk I had from Dell with the new computer, but it was just for the monitor. Dell's "Setup guide" states under "Starting Diagnostics from the Drivers and Utilities Disc: NOTE: Drv and Utl disc may not ship with your computer". How nice! While not relishing the deep dark hole of dealing with someone from Customer Service, they surprised me and sent off both the Drv & Utl and Win 7 disks, FedExing them to me overnite!

Booting from the disk, I was able to get to the Command Prompt and run the fixes in the Tip of Step 6, and Win7 booted up as it had in the past.

In running EasyBCD, I found that it is a newer version 2.1 than the pics you have posted. Please note that they have changed "Bootloader Setup" to "BCD Deployment". Here is a screenshot


At this stage, I can boot up to WinXP, but will need to get drivers for the Ethernet that I use. Will let you know if I encounter any other problems.

If not, let me thank you all for your great help. Your collective knowledge is vast, but what makes you all Geek Heros, in my book, is that you are willing to give of your time to walk those-of-us-without-a-clue through the process. If the rest of the world worked with this kind of selflessness, patience, and willingness to help others in distress, what a fantastic world it would be. And BTW, Microsoft OWES YOU BIG TIME!!! Without you they would not be selling so much software. (A case in point being the Help files of Office. Ask a simple question in Word and get nothing relating to the keyword, plus much that has to do with Excel, Access, et al.)

I would also like to compliment the Ladies and Gents who have set up this Sevenforums website. It is actually easy to use, navigate, etc. I do believe that before I die, I will see a computer and internet that is truly "User Friendly"

Thank you muchly

 

[theog]

Hi Gomer

Well done.
You are welcome, we are here 24/7.

 

[dividschmivid]

hello all. i stumbled upon this forum and it saved me a call to the computer guy. i'm good with computers, but booting and mbr and the like are new hat to me. anyhoo, since this site saved me a bunch of time, i thought i would give a run down of my situation in case it might help others with the same setup.

i have a single boot drive divided into 3 partitions. xp pro, 7 pro 32 and data.
partition 1 (c: ) - win xp pro
partition 2 (d: ) - win 7 pro 32

-the win xp holds the mbr or would be termed the 'booting drive'
-the win 7 bootloader loads from there with win 7 on the bottom as default and 'earlier version of windows' on the top as the other option.

long story short, i had a net-worm.win32.kido.ih infecting my usb drives (got it from a coworker) so i ran kaspersky in safe mode to kill it. then i tried a few restore options with ubcd4win which led me to repartition the hard drive and feed a ghost image back onto the drive. but i neglected to backup the mbr. doh! so i couldn't get the thing to boot. put the win 7 disk back in repaired the bootloader for win 7, but couldn't dual boot anymore.

then i saw this forum entry referring to the god-sent EasyBCD.

what i had to do, and this is the most relevant piece of info for those of you who have xp installed on the first partition, and 7 on the second is this:

-edit the boot menu in EasyBCD in win 7
-in advanced settings switch the mbr from "c:" (win 7 at this point. win 7 shows as c: obviously) to "d:" (which is really c: )
-restarted and i even had a windows xp option on the bottom instead of 'earlier version of windows' option on top.

honestly i wish i could somehow fix the problem without the tailor-made program cus i'm oldskool like that, but it saved me from agitating my pregnant wife anymore than i had to, so it did the trick, what can i say. thank you.

 

[edison]

Dual boot useing 2 seperate hard drives.

Hi I know just enough to get in trouble. I already have my pc up & running with XP. I would like to install a new sepperate Hard drive & install windows 7 So that I can have a dual boot pc. I have many programs that will not work on 7 that is why I need to do this. When I install the new drive & start to install windows 7 will be nessary to disconnect the drive with xp on it while I am installing 7? When I am done installing 7 will I get a choice on boot up automaticly? I have done much reading on the internet on how to do this but I am still confused. I would appreciate it if you could possiably send me step by step instructions Remembering that I want to leave the original xp drive as it is.

Thanks Edison oFrank)

 

[ShadowMario3]

Edison, I highly doubt that you will need to disconnect the hard drive, especially since you're installing 7 after XP, the boot manager will be there automatically (XP will be named "Earlier Version of Windows" and 7 will be "Microsoft Windows 7"). If, for some reason the XP boot files are removed (which shouldn't happen), EasyBCD will fix that.

 

[gregrocker]

If you want to keep the HD"s independent to come and go as you please, then unplug the XP HD during install. Afterwards plug it back in, set preferred HD to boot first in BIOS setup, then boot the other one when needed by using the one-time Boot Menu key given on first screen.

If you want to interlock the HD's so that you'll need surgery to remove one later, leave the XP plugged in and Win7 will configure a Dual Boot menu during install.

If you try the BIOS boot method and don't like it, you can always add XP by installing EasyBCD (older versions are still free) to Win7 and adding XP on Add OS entry tab.

 

[edison]

Hi thanks for your imput. What do you mean by surgey to remove one later? I would like to boot up & have a choice as to what OS I want to use. Also would I still be able to have a third drive to back up both of the other drives?

Thanks edison (Frank)

 

[gregrocker]

Yes. Windows should configure a Dual Boot during install if you keep XP HD plugged in.

This will only update the System boot files on XP partition so that Win7 will have no System boot files of its own as it would if installed without XP plugged in, according to the steps I gave you above.

To later add the System boot files to Win7 so it can boot on its own, e.g. to remove XP HD, you'd need to mark Win7 partition Active then boot the DVD Repair console or Repair CD to Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times.
Partition - Mark as Active (Method Two)