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]

Since you are just testing Windows 7, I'd just plug in any hard you have on hand to use. No need to purchase one until you are ready to do so unless you catch a good sale.

 

[dav1129]

Since you are just testing Windows 7, I'd just plug in any hard you have on hand to use. No need to purchase one until you are ready to do so unless you catch a good sale.

Thanks again for your reply.

The only other disks I have are all ready for the trash apart from one relatively new 1TB disk which I use as 2nd HDD adapter. I guess I could use it but Kind f reluctant.

I am thinking to just throw caution to the wind, buy a solid drive and install Windows 7.

My main concern is that in XP I was able to and therefore knew how to get rid of all the eye candy and the OS for performance. I even have a couple of Hardware profiles which based on Black Viper's service configuration guides I have to start with as few services as I need.

If you know Windows 7 perhaps you could save me the trouble of a test install and confirm whether ultimately the same can be done for Windows 7.

My ocal computer shop also has this 120GB Intel solid state drive for only $74 which is about half what I had expected to pay so I about ready to just go with it. But I know nothing about what to look for in a SSD in terms of speed. Do you?

 

[Brink]

That's not a bad SSD at all for the price.

Here's a tutorial to help with optimizing Windows 7.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/11728-optimize-windows-7-a.html

 

[dav1129]

That's not a bad SSD at all for the price.

Thanks I'll go with that then

Here's a tutorial to help with optimizing Windows 7.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/11728-optimize-windows-7-a.html

Probably just what I need. Thanks

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome. Please let us know how it went.

 

[dav1129]

You're most welcome. Please let us know how it went.

I don't expect you will actually be able to comment or make any suggestions but here goes anyway.

I have a 120GB solid state drive and am looking forward to installing and trying Windows 7. One thing however. The Windows 7 discs I have are is an Lenovo OEM Upgrade disc, marked "For Distribution only to End Users who purchased a qualified Lenovo system with Windows Vista".


This ThinkPad did come with Vista and has a product key but I installed a retail copy of XP and no longer have the HDD with the Vista Recovery partition.

Do you have any idea if I do a clean install of Windows 7 how I will be able to activate it? The Vista key isn't likely to work is it? I suppose last resort I will have to call Microsoft or Lenovo.

 

[Brink]

Hello Dav,

Since this is an upgrade copy of Windows 7 you may have to use the method in the tutorial below to install Windows 7, but you should also follow the guidelines in the tutorial here on the first page while doing so to dual boot with XP.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html

 

[dav1129]

Hello Dav,

Since this is an upgrade copy of Windows 7 you may have to use the method in the tutorial below to install Windows 7, but you should also follow the guidelines in the tutorial here on the first page while doing so to dual boot with XP.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html

Thanks again. I haven't read the link yet as I just got up and read your post.

I just hope I don't have to install Vista first. Well I won't be able to because I don't have any media for VISTA.

I also actually found that the disk with an XP partition which I am using at the moment which I hought only had 45GB capacity is actually 500GB. I just hadn't initiated another partition.

I always have the OS on a relatively small partition and leave the lion share for a 'separate 'data drive. In this case I had just never got around to it and forgotten the space was there until I checked the disks out under Manage My Computer. Disk Management.

So I am going to try a Windows 7 install onto a new partition before I do it for real onto the solid state drive..

 

[Brink]

You shouldn't need to. That tutorial will show you how to do a direct clean install with an upgrade Windows 7.

 

[dav1129]

You shouldn't need to. That tutorial will show you how to do a direct clean install with an upgrade Windows 7.

Oh great, thanks. what a relief.

should have read the tutorial first sorry

I'll give it a go after breakfast.

 

[Brink]

You shouldn't need to. That tutorial will show you how to do a direct clean install with an upgrade Windows 7.

Oh great, thanks. what a relief.

should have read the tutorial first sorry

I'll give it a go after breakfast.

No problem. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.

 

[dav1129]

No problem. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.

Thanks.

Well I did a quick dual boot installation with XP yesterday and I must say, I think I could live with Windows 7 and learn to like it. So really before I waste too much time I should install it as a stand installation on my new solid state drive.

The only thing though is not being able to activate it.

I only have the Windows VISTA OEM license on the bottom of the laptop and the OEM Windows 7 Upgrade discs.The new discs don't have any keys. I never installed VISTA and I think, removed the hidden recovery partition from the factory.

So what can I do short of call Lenovo or Microsoft?

 

[Brink]

You could try calling Lenovo, but most likely you may end up needing to purchase a new copy of Windows for a key.

 

[dav1129]

You could try calling Lenovo, but most likely you may end up needing to purchase a new copy of Windows for a key.

You don't think Microsoft would be sympathetic?

I could also look and see if I really did delete the hidden partition - no wait I had to have because I don't think its the original disk.

 

[Brink]

I'm afraid not when it's a lost OEM key. I'm not thinking Lenovo will be either, but it can't hurt to try.

You can look in Disk Management (diskmgmt.msc) to see if you may still have the recovery partition or not.

 

[dav1129]

You can look in Disk Management (diskmgmt.msc) to see if you may still have the recovery partition or not.

Did that. Nothing. It's a new 500GB disk which I put in and then swapped the original into my other Thinkpad which I was using at the time - until I gently dropped it and suffered a catastrophic hard disk failure.

I'm afraid not when it's a lost OEM key. I'm not thinking Lenovo will be either, but it can't hurt to try.

I am or would be hoping that I might have a case with Microsoft well, it would be a plea more than anything else. I have the original OEM key for VISTA with the notebook and the Upgrade media just no Windows 7 key and no way of reinstalling VISTA.

I suppose it would be a lot of work to download VISTA somewhere, install just so I could upgrade to Windows 7. I don't think I have ever paid 4 Windows retail. What would 7 Ultimate run to?

Ooh. More than I thought. About $200 or more on eBay.

Actually if if I have to spend $200 on an OS I'd rather put it towards a more recent late model T series ThinkPad (the last before Lenovo made too many changes - I am a T series freak never owned anything else, not even a desktop!)

 

[Brink]

Sure, Ultimate would be fine to purchase and use on it as well. It's basically the same as Pro, but with more features.

 

[dav1129]

Sure, Ultimate would be fine to purchase and use on it as well. It's basically the same as Pro, but with more features.

:banghead: Dopey git that I am! The upgrade license was on the back of the CD envelope and activation worked. I just never looked because I just assumed I would have to install over VISTA for the installation to work.

So here's a question then. As this installation is temporary, is it hardware related and if so, what will I have to when doing a clean install with a new solid state drive?

 

[Brink]

LOL, don't feel bad. It happens.

You could just format the partition or drive this temporary installation is on, then install and activate it on the new SSD when ready.

 

[dav1129]

LOL, don't feel bad. It happens.

It was a relief especially that the key worked with a clean installation

You could just format the partition or drive this temporary installation is on, then install and activate it on the new SSD when ready.

Yes but is the activation at MS tied to a hardware key. If so, can I just re activate it if I change a hardware component.

I actually wasn't able to run Windows Update before and I thought activation might make a difference but I still seem unable.