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

 

[doncarlos]

Trevor. I appreciate the suggestions you made to Crusnik, but I too have run into that exact problem of not getting XP to do a restart after it reaches the final installation stage.

I have used the W7 disc to repair so I can do a W7 boot at least.

Afterwards while in W7 I have found that the XP files are all on the new partition I made in W7. In fact, using bcdedit while in W7, I was able to get a bootladder that showed both W7 and XP when I did a restart. But when choosing XP it would never boot in to XP. It would just give me an error and freeze and i would have to do a repair with the W7 disc to start all over again.

Did this entire process a half dozen times, from the very first step to the last. Each time redoing each step anew.

I do believe that it would have worked if I would have installed XP first and then W7, but I didn't.

I believe this all has to do with the issue that XP never really really completes a full installation since it was unable to restart at the final stage. Wish I could just get that XP to restart after the install...Dang.

Any further thoughts or similiar problems or comments is appreciated.

 

[sandmanwv]

I had this same problem installing XP. Started install three times and got the same message. On the third try I got up to get a cup of coffee and when I got back the installation had resumed on it's own.
I think the trick is to "not" hit any key to boot from disk

 

[Bert Coules]

As I said above, my XP install went perfectly except that it didn't recognise the PC's Ethernet port or any of the PCI devices. Unfortunately, Hewlett Packard confirmed that XP drivers are not available for my particular model, so that would seem to be that.

Thanks for the various bits of advice.

Bert

 

[CrusnikVIII]

​

TrevorOzzy, Thanks for your suggestion. Your method worked perfectly. I know have a Windows 7 and XP dual boot.

 

[CrusnikVIII]

doncarlos, you need to install XP let it restart. repair the Windows 7 boot manager with the Windows 7 installation disc. boot into Windows 7 then use easybcd to create an entry for XP in the boot manager. Then restart, select XP in the boot manager with the XP installation disc in the drive. Don't press any keys and XP will complete its installation.

 

[Anthropos]

Another dual boot question

Sorry to jump on the band wagon so late, but my question is a little different. I have basically moved my old PC's hard drive which has windows XP installed on it, as a slave drive into my new PC which has windows 7 installed on the Master drive. How can I set up a dual boot option now (or is it even possible)? I would really like to accomplish this because I have (EDIT 1: 64 bit) windows 7 and many old programs I was using on XP will not install or function properly on my new OS. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

EDIT 2: By the way, I've tried booting with my windows 7 disk to use the repair option but my slave drive (with the winxp install) is not visible and I'm not sure how to change this.

EDIT 3: sorry to keep editing but I figure the more info I give the better. I wanted to mention that the slave drive is functional and once 7 is booted up I can access my slave drive and all files on it. So I'm pretty sure that it auto-installed correctly. It's not a SATA drive, btw.

Thank you!

 

[Bert Coules]

Anthropos,

I'm sure someone wil give you the info you need, but while you're waiting, just to check that the XP installation is fully compatible with your new PC (and I hope you're luckier than I was) why not temporarily change the boot-up sequence in your BIOS so that the slave drive is first in the chain?

Bert

 

[Anthropos]

Bert, thanks I will test that out first.

 

[haliml]

Alternative to doing a dual boot

I kept getting the BSOD when trying to get my laptop running windows 7 to dual boot with XP. I ended up installing Sun's VirtualBox and using that to run XP as a VM. Works fine and was a bit cheaper to buy a copy of XP than it would have been to have purchased the upgrade to Window's Professional so that I could have used Windows 7 XP mode.

 

[Anthropos]

Well, I changed the boot sequence but it won't boot from the XP hard drive. It just goes to the "windows stopped unexpectedly" screen but it won't even boot in safe mode. Probably because the hardware is much too different in this new PC from my old one?

 

[PE77]

Thanks for the guide! I installed Windows 7 (clean copy, not pre-installed) on a new hard drive, followed Method 2 and it worked exactly as described. Windows 7 and XP now co-exist perfectly on my computer. Seemed a lot cleaner than having XP installed first.

 

[Bert Coules]

Anthropos,

I didn't do exactly what you did: because I didn't have a second SATA cable to hand, I tested my XP-on-the-slave-drive by disconnecting the master HDD and connecting the slave in its place.

The XP installation booted perfectly, and though I did run into trouble with some hardware mismatches (no Ethernet, no PCI) they didn't stop XP running.

Perhaps you could try that?

Bert

 

[Anthropos]

Hmm, well - this drive is an older one, no SATA connection. Plus, if I set it as priority over the other HDD in the boot sequence and it didn't boot, what difference would disconnecting the other drive make (no offence)? But I will give it a shot, thanks.

 

[Bert Coules]

Plus, if I set it as priority over the other HDD in the boot sequence and it didn't boot, what difference would disconnecting the other drive make (no offence)?

None taken, and I don't know the answer to your question. But it has to be worth giving it a go, doesn't it? Just in case there is some sort of conflict between the two installations. Maybe another possibility would be to set up the machine with just the old HDD and then reinstall Windows on it in situ.

But I will give it a shot, thanks.

You're welcome.

Bert

 

[Anthropos]

Well, no luck... When disconnecting the new HDD didn't work I tried to repair XP. I changed the boot sequence to load from the dvd drive and then the old HDD. I booted up the XP installation disk and attempted to repair the old installation - it finished the file copying and restarted, and lo and behold XP began booting. However, It didn't get past the load screen before I got a flash of blue screen and white text (possibly BSOD, but then the PC automatically restarted -it happened too fast for me to read the text). So I tried it again. I got a message this time that "windows has already attempted to repair this installation - do you want to try again?" So I did, with the same results. I think I may have to just reinstall winXP altogether? Hopefully it's compatible with my new system...

 

[Bert Coules]

Sorry to hear that it didn't work. Maybe you'll have better luck with a complete reinstall; in any case it has to be worth a try. What are the specs of the PC you're trying all this on?

Bert

 

[Anthropos]

Well the complete reinstall of XP worked. I can now boot from my old HDD and run winXP. What I'd really like is to not have to change the boot sequence to do it! unfortunately I can't get my modem working in XP right now so I have to boot back up to windows 7 in order to get online, lol. But since I can access both HDDs from either OS I can download easyBCD here and then reboot to XP (or does it make a difference? I'm only planning on running it in XP because the guide said to...)

 

[SIW2]

Hi Anthropus,

In your case, it's simpler to install Easybcd 2.0 on 7 .

Then use Add/Remove entries to add XP to the 7 boot menu.

EasyBCD 2.0 Beta Builds - The NeoSmart Forums

 

[Grez]

Anthropos,

Please see my posts (pgs 47-50)...I was having somewhat similar problems to you (although not on an old PC), and basically this exact type of setup. I have Win7 64-bit Ultimate on one drive, and XP Pro SP3 on a physically separate drive. I am running dual boot successfully. Check out my posts to see if they answer all of your questions...if not, we'll figure out where to go from there.

 

[Bert Coules]

Anthropos,

...unfortunately I can't get my modem working in XP right now...

Sounds like a similar problem to mine. XP worked but couldn't access the Ethernet port. Glad to hear that the reinstall worked.

Bert