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

 

[SIW2]

Good, that means it is already Active.

Run startup repair from the Vista/7 dvd - may take a couple of runs.

 

[jroberts]

also, I am booting from a dvd-r that I made from an iso file. I know it works fine, but in order to get the computer to boot from the dvd-r, I have to enable AHCI, which seems to wreak havoc on my xp. I don't know why I have to use AHCI to get it to boot from dvd-r, cuz this isn't the case with factory discs. I just dont have an actual windows 7 install disc, only the dvd-r. By the way, I said vista in a previous post. I meant Windows 7

 

[SIW2]

See if you can run bootsect and bcdboot from XP - I don't know if you can run the latter - I don't have XP.

They are in the bin folder that is part of easybcd. Bcdboot is already on the 7 partition - bootsect is not.

You need to run them from the command prompt.

copy bootsect.exe into your XP Windows\System32 folder . Open command prompt and type :

cd /d c:\windows\system32

press enter, then type :

bootsect /nt60 /sys /force

see if that deos it.

Otherwise you need to try running bcdboot , like this from a command prompt ( replace z with the letter of you 7 partition ):

cd /d z:\windows\system32

bcdboot z:\windows /s z:

then press enter.

 

[jroberts]

System repair made Windows 7 boot correctly, but now XP won't boot. Can someone tell me what to do now in Windows 7 to get XP to be able to boot as well? Thanks

 

[SIW2]

Sure, open an elevated command prompt, ( type cmd in start search - when the black box pops up, rt click it and run as admin )

then type the following (press enter after each line ) :

bcdedit /create {ntldr} /d "Windows XP"

bcdedit /set {ntldr} device boot

bcdedit /set {ntldr} path \ntldr

bcdedit /displayorder {ntldr} /addlast

close cmd prompt.

 

[jroberts]

ok, it's finally working right. Thanks a lot. One (hopefully) last question. The boot manager is showing W7 as "Windows 7 Ultimate (Recovered)" is that because I used the repair, and does it mean I have to do anything else to get it back to normal?

 

[Brink]

J.Roberts,

You can use this to change the name to what you would like instead.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/5110-dual-boot-change-os-name-windows-boot-manager.html

 

[wsyaeger]

Cant complete second OS install

Thanks for the guide, Shawn.
I'm having some trouble getting past step 6 of method 2.
I'm running windows 7 (64-bit) and trying to install XP (presumably 32-bit) on a new partition of the same drive.
I can start the XP installation on the new partition, but after setup finishes copying the files and requires a reboot, the system reboots (with the install disc in the cd drive), asks to press any key to boot to disc and when no key is pressed, the system freezes.
If i remove the installation disc and reboot the following message appears, "a disk read error occured."
The only way to boot to Windows 7 is by inserting the win7 install disc and selecting repair start up.
how can i complete the XP install and dual boot?

 

[SIW2]

Download Free Partition Wizard Bootable CD Burn it to cd as an image,.

Boot the cd. Make sure NUM LOCK is on when it asks about screen resolution. Press 1 , press Enter.

Click the Disk 0 at the top of the screen. Click Partition Recovery in the left pane. Do a quick scan .

Adikontact
i was trying to install windows xp after i was installing windows 7 . i shrink a partition and after i rebbot the computer when i was starting to format the partion the hard drive was empty all my partition was gone , my hardrive was empty , only the new partion that i want to install xp is showing. i reboot the computer without the install and the computer doesen"t boot.i put the hard drive in another computer and i said that the hard drive it isn"t allocated. i want all my data back
any sollutions?

Tick ALL the partitions you want back . OK . Apply.

 

[ndoggfromhell]

I can't get to XP from the Windows 7 bootloader.
The problem seems to be that I have the following layout on the HD.
1Gb system partition (this is default active and will boot windows 7)
345Gb windows 7 partition
120Gb Windows XP partition (which when set active will boot xp)
20Gb HDD Restore partition (hidden)

I just want to leave the 1Gb system partition as the active one and have bootloader on it give me the choice of either XP or 7. I used EasyBCD (not as easy as it says) to add the windows xp entry to the bootloader, but when i select it on boot the system just restarts. Any idea what i'm doing wrong?

Nevermind, I wasn't thinking and forgot to copy the NTdetect.com over to the System Partition. That along with bootini and ntldr and it's all working good.

 

[jroberts]

Ok, I made the assumption that everything was finally working because both OSs were listed on the boot manager. In a moment of stupidity, I said everything was working correctly, without trying to boot windows XP. When I tried to boot it, I go a message saying that ntoskrnl.exe was missing or corrupt and I would have to reinstall it before I could boot XP. I found out somewhere online that to do this I run a repair setup on XP and type 'd:\i386ntoskrnl.ex_ c:\windows\system32' into the prompt. If I do this, is it going to interfere with Windows 7 and not allow it to boot?

 

[sal289r]

dualboot

hi, i need help, i have c drive and a d drive, i have windows 7 loaded onto my c drive, i wanted to load windows xp on my d drive, so when i boot my pc it gives me the option to chose either windows, and also would 2gig of ram be enough for the both windows, i dont want to create another partition as i allready have d partition, what is the easyiest and simple way of doing it? or isn't that possible.

 

[Brink]

Hello Sal, and welcome to Seven Forums.

If you have enough space on your D partition for XP, then you should be able to use METHOD TWO in the tutorial to install XP to dual boot with Windows 7 on your C drive.

 

[mrwinston]

I must be doing something wrong here.

I have completed all the steps you outlined (thank you, BTW), but my system won't boot the windows xp install disk! Even though I've selected the boot device in the BIOS set up, nothing happens! The Windows 7 system simply boots cheerfully as though all were right with the world and nothing had happened.

 

[theog]

I must be doing something wrong here.

I have completed all the steps you outlined (thank you, BTW), but my system won't boot the windows xp install disk! Even though I've selected the boot device in the BIOS set up, nothing happens! The Windows 7 system simply boots cheerfully as though all were right with the world and nothing had happened.

Your first boot device should be CD/DVD.

 

[getyerkix]

easy bcd?

the easy bcd link mentions vista, does this make any difference when trying to do this with xp, I'm guessing it doesn't?

 

[Brink]

Hello Getyerkix, and welcome to Seven Forums.

No difference. It works in XP well.

 

[Calpert4]

cannot finish winxp installation

Thank you for the great tutorial. I already had win7 installed. I "think" I followed the instructions exactly. I partitioned the hard drive in order to add winxp. Everything went well with the xp installation and all the files seem to load on the new properly lettered partition. The computer rebooted to "finish" the installation and I received the error msg "disk read error" press clt-alt-dlt to reboot. It will not allow the completion of the win xp installation. I had to use the win7 disk to get back to win7. What did I miss? Thank You.

 

[beamer56]

Please Help

Hello,
I just discovered this great site a couple of days ago. Anyway, I have XP Pro 32 bit installed first on a split 1 Terra-byte hard Drive and then installed Win 7 64 bit to the other partition. I installed easy BCD to Xp because no boot screen and it tells me I need Vista installed for it to work. Also I have NET framework 3.5 service pack 1 installed. I'm stumped. any thoughts you can give me will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
Ron:drool:

 

[theog]

Hello,
I just discovered this great site a couple of days ago. Anyway, I have XP Pro 32 bit installed first on a split 1 Terra-byte hard Drive and then installed Win 7 64 bit to the other partition. I installed easy BCD to Xp because no boot screen and it tells me I need Vista installed for it to work. Also I have NET framework 3.5 service pack 1 installed. I'm stumped. any thoughts you can give me will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
Ron:drool:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/8057-dual-boot-installation-windows-7-xp.html?ltr=D
Use EasyBCD 2.0 in Win 7.

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

A bit more reading.

http://www.sevenforums.com/installation-setup/58188-added-xp-7-but-now-wont-boot.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/installation-setup/58680-solve-dual-boot-problem-windows-7-a.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/installation-setup/57634-dual-boot.html