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

 

[ultraman]

hi 220 volt im wondering if you had to check the 'mark partition as active' from the drop down menu of your newly created partition box before installing xp , im scared to check it cause of the message i get that says "your computer may stop working". i think im having the same problem as frank mango, xp won't install same bsod message warning me of computer damage,
Thanks to anyone for advice and great help

 

[ionica2911]

thousand thanx, it worked like a cham

 

[220volt]

hi 220 volt im wondering if you had to check the 'mark partition as active' from the drop down menu of your newly created partition box before installing xp , im scared to check it cause of the message i get that says "your computer may stop working". i think im having the same problem as frank mango, xp won't install same bsod message warning me of computer damage,
Thanks to anyone for advice and great help

You don't have to mark partition as active. I didn't. It gave me same warning message so I backed out. I would check your install CD. Maybe borrow friends or get another copy of XP just to test.

 

[halobiont]

Not recognizing hard drive?

I can't get to step 4 Method 2. I get a screen that says I have no connected hard drives. I went into BIOS and changed hard drive from DOS to Other but got the same error message. I have an original XP disk. Any ideas?

 

[Brink]

Hello Halobiont, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Could you tell us more about your system specs, and post a screenshot of Disk Management showing your drive layout? This may help to understand what may be causing the issue.

 

[rtprot]

hi everybody.im freshner here.i have this problem that is there any way to change the order of os's,imean in windows boot manager, automatically winxp will be selected.

 

[SIW2]

Hi rt,

The easiest way is type msconfig in start search box.

Click it when it pops up. Click the Boot Tab.

Click on the o/s you want for Default - to highlight it.

Click Set as Default. Apply. Ok

Exit without retart.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2282-default-operating-system-change-default-boot-os.html

Next time you start up - that will be the new default.

 

[rtprot]

Thanks buddy. is there any importance to have NTFS partitions for having 7 and xp together?

 

[7thangel]

great tut. i used this and a few others to dual boot and i have no issues.

a question though, i'm dual booting xp pro x86 and win 7 x64, my mobo has 2 drivers for x64 but wouldn't installing those create issues for my xp x86?

 

[JRC]

Dealing with original XP installation

Having used method one of your excellent tutorial to create a new partition in which I have successfully installed (he says hopefully!) Windows 7, I would now like to deal with the partition containing the original XP installation. Because I would like to retain a second partition in which to keep documents, can I simply format the XP partition to get rid of everything in it or would that create problems. Please forgive what is probably a very basic question but, although I've used computers for many years (too many maybe!), this is the first time I've dealt with partitions.

 

[SIW2]

You need to make sure the 7 partition is the System partition.

Look in Disk Management - you will probably see the XP partition labelled as System.

If so, rt click the 7 partition and Mark it Active.

Then run startup repair from the 7 dvd 3 times.

You should then boot into 7 - see it is labelled System - then you are OK to do what you want to the XP partition.

Hope it helps

 

[Brink]

great tut. i used this and a few others to dual boot and i have no issues.

a question though, i'm dual booting xp pro x86 and win 7 x64, my mobo has 2 drivers for x64 but wouldn't installing those create issues for my xp x86?

Hello 7thangel, and welcome to Seven Forums.

No, it shouldn't be a problem at all since they will be installed on separate hard drives or partitions.

 

[chrisf1955]

Additional info

when installing XP on a second boot, do not forget to setup sata and the windows updates service packs before you configure the boot, otherwise windows will have errors on reboot

 

[JRC]

Dealing with original XP installation

You need to make sure the 7 partition is the System partition.

Look in Disk Management - you will probably see the XP partition labelled as System.

If so, rt click the 7 partition and Mark it Active.

Then run startup repair from the 7 dvd 3 times.

You should then boot into 7 - see it is labelled System - then you are OK to do what you want to the XP partition.

Hope it helps

Thank you SIW2... mission accomplished. I really appreciate your help.

 

[SIW2]

You're welcome. Glad it's working for you.

 

[Stefan1971HH]

Thanks for this guide, but I keep on running into the following problem: I had Win 7 already installed, so went for method 2, trying to install XP on second hard disk. What happens is that during installation process after the first reboot, the system boots into Win 7 instead of continuing installation of XP. I already tried giving the second hard disk higher boot priority than the first (with highest still given to CD-rom), but it didn't help. The partition I prepared for XP is at the "end" of the second hard disk. Can this be related to the problem? Thanks, Stefan

 

[SIW2]

As long as XP is installed on a Primary partition - mark it active.

Set XP HD first in Bios boot order.

Install XP.

Then set 7 HD first in Bios boot order and add XP to 7 boot menu - using Easybcd 2.0 .

http://neosmart.net/forums/showthread.php?t=642




Hope it helps

 

[Stefan1971HH]

will try immediately, thanks Edit: No, unfortunately it still reboots to Windows 7 Edit2: I think the problem was that I didnt assign a drive letter to to Win 7's 100 MB hidden partition. I guess I even had read about this in one of the posts here bur got wrong which partition was meant. Edit3: Unfortunately it still doesn't work. I'm taken to Win 7 again during XP installation and am told I have to use system restore to be able to boot it properly.

 

[matthew17]

Ouch!

I went through method 2 and when it came time to install XP the disc only recognized 103000 or so of the 503766 bytes that were in the partition I set up for XP. I am not sure why, but I still proceeded with the steps hoping it was somehow supposed to read the wrong number (Ha!). XP loaded the neccessary files and when it restarted it went right back to the initial installation screen showing that I had 103000 or so bytes available and asking me if I wanted to do it all again. At this point I figured that there was not enough space available and I tried going back to Windows 7 in an effort to change the partition so that it would work. Unfortunately, Windows 7 will not boot up now...in fact, without a boot disk in my DVD drive, nothing boots up at all. All that I get is a black screen with a blinking cursor in the top left corner. I have run Windows 7 startup repair numerous times (on my fifth right now) and nothing. After it makes repairs it requests a restart and then goes right back to the install screen. Will I have to reformat and reinstall Windows 7? Will it even recognize all the space on my drive if XP couldn't? Without a disc in my DVD drive my computer does nothing now...Any and all help is greatly appreciated. And thanks!!!

 

[SIW2]

Hi Matthew,

please post a screenshot of the Disk Managemenet window.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/9733-how-post-screenshot-seven-forums.html