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

 

[ik8ozv]

The latest SATA driver for XP is there on the Downloads webpage: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. -Support- Drivers and Download P8Z68-V LE

Once you extract the files from the download, did you browse to Drivers and choose iastor.sys? Nlite should see and pick it up.

Yes i did,
but when i choose iastor.sys, i get more then one
driver. I get:

Intel(R) 5 Series 4 Port SATA AHCI Controller
Intel(R) 5 Series 6 Port SATA AHCI Controller
Intel(R) 5 Series/3400 Series SATA AHCI Controller
Intel(R) Desktop/Workstation/Server Express Chipset SATA AHCI Controller
Intel(R) Desktop/Workstation/Server Express Chipset SATA RAID Controller
Intel(R) ICH10D/DO SATA AHCI Controller
Intel(R) ICH10R SATA AHCI Controller
Intel(R) ICH7M/MDH SATA AHCI Controller
Intel(R) ICH7MDH SATA RAID Controller
Intel(R) ICH7R/DH SATA AHCI Controller
Intel(R) ICH7R/DH SATA RAID Controller
Intel(R) ICH9M-E/M SATA AHCI Controller
Intel(R) ICH9R/DO/DH SATA AHCI Controller
Intel(R) Mobile Express Chipset SATA AHCI Controller
Intel(R) Mobile Express Chipset SATA RAID Controller

I've been in Control Panel\Device Managements, under Storage Controller i read:

Intel(R) - controller SATA RAID ICH8R/ICH9R/ICH10R/DO.

Which is the correct one to select?
The only Driver that has Raid i can see is just the ICH7, while my one starts
with ICH8R and higher.

How i said before i have selected all of them and burned the CD.
Tried to install Windows XP and it goes trough without any problem
till the first reset.
At the first reboot, i can see the windows XP logo for a couple of seconds then i get
the Blue creen error.
I have also tried wit Windows XP SP3 but had the same results.
I attach to the message the Blue screen error.
Thanks.
Enzo

 

[gregrocker]

7B stop error is most likely related to the storage driver, so while it's making the drive visible for install it appears it's being rejected later in the install.

Since there is an XP driver on manufacturer's Support page it may be the wrong driver is being chosen. Let me see if I can get more help to choose the correct driver.

 

[ik8ozv]

How I said before in my last reply, I have also tried with Windows XP SP3 but had the same results.
Any other suggestions?
Thanks
Enzo

 

[gregrocker]

I have asked for more help from driver experts to choose the correct driver for slipstreaming. You can also post up the menu in our Drivers forum for help in choosing.

 

[ik8ozv]

Sorry what you mean?

 

[gregrocker]

I have asked for help in our lounge for Driver experts but you may get faster help from those who specialize in drivers by posting the choices in our Drivers sub-forum so that one of the experts there can help you choose.

 

[ik8ozv]

OK but honestly i do not know where to post and what to ask.
Will you be so kind to help me?
Thanks in advance.
Enzo

 

[gregrocker]

I have asked for help in our Guru lounge. If you want to ask for help choosing the drivers from the list you gave then post up a new thread explaining what you are trying to do in Drivers - Windows 7 Forums. I cannot do this for you.
http://www.sevenforums.com/drivers/

 

[ik8ozv]

Any news from the Guru?

 

[gregrocker]

Heard from Theog who passed this along:

A few maybes:

Raid

UEFI bios, (32 bit not supported.)

SATA 3 Hard Drive, (no drivers in XP)


Using Intel Sata Controller Drivers:

Choose both setup inf files.
Choose all drivers.
Choose all sata controllers.

Where did you buy your WinXP CD from?

 

[ik8ozv]

Sorry do i have to select all the files or just the two with the arrow?
I ask because i read on the topo of the picture:

Choose both setup inf files.
Choose all drivers.
Choose all sata controllers.

How to select just the two files?
I have copied the files into a pendrive but when i click
on multiple drivers, i browes to the pendrive which is k:\
and get again all the drivers:

Thanks

 

[gregrocker]

Ask theog directly.

 

[ik8ozv]

How to ask him?
Do i need to resend all my questions?

 

[igotmyhealth]

Installing Windows 7 in Windows Xp dual boot mode

I followed your instructions as given here on my friend's laptop and it worked perfectly! Not a single problem.

I read everything carefully. Made sure I searched on all things I did not understand such as "boot to the command prompt". I backed up the C Drive entirely. I also removed all the document files to a back up drive and defragmented the C Drive.
Then I reduced the size of the C drive, created unallocated space, allocated that space to a new drive letter, named it, then installed Windows 7, then installed Office 2010, then re-oaded the document files.

It took some time. two days and one night to be exact. The back-up of the C Drive was SLOW. Then the defrag was really slow also. So that was all one day and one night. Then the downloading was really fast. Then I had to se up the Office Outlook and link up all the email systems... which took a little time. Then I adjusted the fonts and all that to make it friendly for my friend.

I cannot thank you enough! So I will just say "Thank You!"

 

[gregrocker]

An easy way to link to your User folders in XP is by rightclicking on each from Explorer in Win7 to link to the related Library - Include a Folder - Windows 7 Forums. Then those files will show up whenever you click on Documents, Music, Pictures, etc.

Later when you're ready to get rid of XP you can copy the files in and Recover Partition Space Used by an Older OS.

 

[jcb840]

in the tutorial it is shown how to dual boot with installation dvd but i have images for windows 7 64 bits & windos xp 32 bits can anybody help plz wt to do

 

[gregrocker]

Image XP to a partition on the target HD, get it started.

Then image Win7 to another partition, Mark its Partition Active and if necessary run Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times to get it started.

Install EasyBCD to Win7 to add XP from Add OS Entry menu, accept XP boot files, let it autocomplete, Save, reboot.

 

[ik8ozv]

Hi Folks,
i have followed the tutorial at the first post.
T the end of the settings with EasyBCD when i reset the PC instead to read in the menu:

Windows 7
Windows XP


I read:

Windows 7
Ramdisk Options

Where has Windows XP gon?
What did i miss?
Thanks inadvance for help
Enzo

 

[SIW2]

It looks like you didn't add the XP entry

OR

you added it as a ramdisk

 

[gregrocker]

In EasyBCD Edit OS Menu, highlight the Ramdisk mistake and delete it.

Then from the Add New Entry tab add XP under the Operating System section, accept offered boot files, let it autocomplete, Save, Reboot.