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

 

[abkulp]

Windows XP Setup will not run

I am attempting to dual boot XP on a computer already loaded with Windows 7. I have attempted to reboot with the XP installation disc, but the computer will not recognize that the disc is there. I have used the exact same disc to setup XP on other computers, so i know the disc is good. I have feeling this is a hardware issue. How would I solve this problem?

 

[Brink]

Hell Abkulp, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Double check to make sure that you have the CD ROM drive listed first in the boot priority order list in BIOS and the hard drive listed second. Afterwards, see if you get the "Press a key to boot from CD" message at boot.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[abkulp]

RE: Windows XP Setup will not run

The boot priority is set for CD-ROM first and HDD second. I still do not receive a prompt to boot from the CD-ROM. The computer boots straight to windows 7.

 

[Brink]

Are you able to boot from the XP disc on another computer?

 

[Tbane39]

hi, im having some problems getting it to dual boot, i have windows 7 installed first, i boot from cd rom and install windows xp to the second partition, and install net 2.0 and the easyBCD on xp and follow all the steps, but windows 7 doesnt appear on the boot list only xp does. what am i doing wrong? :x

 

[SIW2]

Try this:

View attachment 5after6.zip

Extract the .zip and dble click on 5after6.cmd

Hope it helps.

hi, im having some problems getting it to dual boot, i have windows 7 installed first, i boot from cd rom and install windows xp to the second partition, and install net 2.0 and the easyBCD on xp and follow all the steps, but windows 7 doesnt appear on the boot list only xp does. what am i doing wrong? :x

 

[Tbane39]

Try this:

View attachment 53561

Extract the .zip and dble click on 5after6.cmd

Hope it helps.

hi, im having some problems getting it to dual boot, i have windows 7 installed first, i boot from cd rom and install windows xp to the second partition, and install net 2.0 and the easyBCD on xp and follow all the steps, but windows 7 doesnt appear on the boot list only xp does. what am i doing wrong? :x

uh am i supposed to run that in xp or 7?

ok nvm i figured it out heh, hope it works lol

 

[SIW2]

I thought you could only boot into XP ?

You can use it from either.

 

[Tbane39]

I thought you could only boot into XP ?

You can use it from either.

lol yeah when i couldnt get back to windows 7 i reformatted the drive and reinstalled 7, i think i might have had a bad installation. cause i just finished doing all the dual booting stuff in the guide works perfect. thanks for the help. and great guide

 

[StevenJD]

Hello,

Im getting hung up at step5 of method 2.

I dont see the new partition i created.

 

[Brink]

Hello,

Im getting hung up at step5 of method 2.

I dont see the new partition i created.

Hello Steven, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Double check in Windows 7 to make sure that the new partition is not "unallocated space" and that it has a drive letter. If it does, could you post a screenshot of your disk management (diskmgmt.msc) windows for us to see your drive layout to see what may be wrong.

 

[StevenJD]

Thx for the quick response

Here is the screenshot of my disk mgmt screen

 

[Brink]

Steven,

Try deleting the XP partition so that it's only unallocated space to see if it shows up during the XP installation that you can then select it and press C to create a partition from it.

 

[seannieboy71]

This might have already been covered, but I gave up reading all of the posts after 20 pages.

I have a gateway computer with Win7 64 bit installed and 1TB hard drive. I have tried in vain to install XP 32 bit as a dual boot. On my first attempt, I got through method 2, step 5 just fine. But then I got the blue screen of death when the GUI portion of the XP install should have appeared. I fixed that by going into the BIOS and changing the "on board SATA mode" from "RAID" to "Native IDE". XP then loaded and I finished the rest of the steps and everything seemed to be great.

Then I restarted the computer and chose Win7 at the boot prompt. I got a black screen of death and then realized that I had not changed the BIOS setting back to "RAID". So I changed the BIOS and win7 booted fine, but now XP will not boot, even if I change the BIOS setting to "Native IDE".

I would greatly appreciate any help.

thanks,
sean

 

[StevenJD]

Steven,

Try deleting the XP partition so that it's only unallocated space to see if it shows up during the XP installation that you can then select it and press C to create a partition from it.

Still not working.

 

[Brink]

Steven,

I'm afraid that I'm stumped as well as to why it's not showing up for you.

 

[DBDx316]

Hello,

I currently have Windows 7 and need to dual boot with Windows XP because I have a program that currently only works with XP or Vista. I have a copy of Windows XP, so I figure I will just use that.

My first question is: Is it possible to partition my hard drive without having my hard drive being wiped(or will all my programs and files be removed)? Or do I need to create a restore point, or do I have to reinstall Windows 7 after the partition?

Thank you in advance,
Dave

 

[Brink]

Hello Dave, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Yes, you can use step 1 in METHOD TWO of the tutorial on the first page to shrink a partition to create another one for XP to be installed on.

You could also install XP Mode if your computer supports it, then install the program in that and be able to run the program in Windows 7 as if it was running in XP.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[DBDx316]

Shawn,

Thank you for the quick reply. My computer cannot run the XP mode software, so I guess I will have to create a new partition. I was just worried because most of the information I have read states that my current files will get deleted when I either shrink or create a new partition. When I shrink the partition, does it just take the space you want to use from all the empty space and leave the current files alone? So, my computer will be exactly as it is, but have another option when I boot it up now?

Sorry for the basic questions, I just don't feel like reinstalling a lot of the software I have on my computer.

Thank you,
Dave

 

[Brink]

Dave,

No problem.

Yes, it will only shrink the patition by how many MB that you specify and will not affect the files on the partition that you are shrinking. After you shrink the drive, that new space will be unallocated space. You will then create a new partition from that unallocated space. The tutorial link in METHOD TWO will help show you how to step by step though.