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]

Larry,

No problem. These may be listed as the motherboard chipset drivers.

 

[Josh Strube]

I was getting the blue screen of death while trying to install WindowsXP on a new partition of a new Windows 7 64-bit laptop. I purchased the external floppy drive and put the driver files for the motherboard on there. The drivers are picked up automatically during setup from the disk. It says it is installing various Sata drivers, but still goes to the same blue screen. What do I do now?

 

[tonecrafter]

You will need a floppy drive.

32-bit Floppy Configuration Utility

64-bit Floppy Configuration Utility

The above Floppy Config Utilities from Intel, are these essentially Drivers that will control virtually any SATA hard drive? Or, are these actually used to access an external floppy drive via a usb port? I am just trying to use nLite to insert my correct SATA drivers into the Windows XP install CD. I think I can find them, but if the above drivers do the same thing, then I will just use them.

Any help is appreciated!
--KT

 

[kjgarrison]

Configuring new drive for Win7

Hello everybody. Great tutorial.

I'll be upgrading XP SP3 to Win7 Pro, with Win7 on a new HDD. So, I will be using METHOD ONE, Step 2:

When XP is Installed First

2. To Use a Separate Hard Disk Drive than the XP Drive

Looks pretty straightforward, but I have a couple of questions. Just trying to keep from getting down on the floor and opening up the case any more than once.

The new HDD is 1TB SATA. Is that anything of significance? (No RAID involved)

Does the master/slave issue come into play? (Not sure if new HDDs even still do that. I searched the tutorial and couldn't find a definitive answer.)

I already have two IDE HDDs installed. Any issues with this? (I'm thinking no.)

and finally, any concern that my Win7 Pro is an upgrade version? (I'm hoping no.)

I have a floppy drive fwiw.

Thanks for any advice.

 

[wpaul281]

very helpful I have both xp and 7 up and running well.
Thanks

 

[taber big]

GRT8 FORUM i have dual os win xp pro (c drive) and win 98 (d drive) on two seperate drives 80gb and 40gb. So till now no problem. but recently i installed win 7 on 40gb drive to make it second os after formatting and removed win98. meanwhile i had disconnected my 80gb drive and booted thru win7. everything went on fine till here. then i connected my 80gb drive with xp on it and booted thru it, everything also was fine. Until i restarted the system and went in bios to select drive1 40gb and win7 started system scan and detected win xp drive and started to truncate it. after somtime i realised somthing not right so restarted it again wit win 7. again the same thing happened and the whole drive c was truncated. i could not view any file or folder of drive c and it had funny named symbols. i lost only few files since had taken backup recently. so what could be d problem? i am bk at winxp and win98 but want to install win 7 on seperate drive and make it second os. i got ide drives wit 80gb as master and 40gb as slave. CAN SUMBODY HELP ME!!

 

[Bakfin]

BSOD

My compliments on the quality of your documentation!!!

I did a clean install of Windows 7 Pro 32-bit and now I need to install XP on a separate partition. I have a licensed copy on an installation CD.

I'm using Method 2 and everything worked perfectly until I rebooted from the XP installation CD. It loaded the setup files then when it tried to start the Windows Setup routine I got a BSOD with the error message that the hard disk was corrupted or had a virus and it suggested running chkdsk. The error numbers included 0x0000007B, 0xF78D2524, and 0xC0000034.

I ran chkdsk and it didn't find any errors and I'm quite sure that I don't have any viruses.

Any suggestions would be very much appreciated.

Thanks,
Jim

 

[Brink]

Hello Jim, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Do you have a RAID setup?

If so, you will need to have RAID drivers for XP available on a floppy disk to load (F6) during the start of the XP installation.

Hope this helps for now,
Shawn

 

[Dwarf]

Hello Jim, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Do you have a RAID setup?

If so, you will need to have RAID drivers for XP available on a floppy disk or USB flash drive to load during the start of the XP installation.

Hope this helps for now,
Shawn

XP only accepts storage device drivers, such as RAID drivers, from a floppy disk via the F6 prompt.

 

[Brink]

Thank you Dwarf. Updated.

 

[Dwarf]

No problem, Shawn.

The ability to install these drivers other than from a floppy drive, i.e. from a USB flash drive (including an external USB HDD) or a CD, was added in Vista. The floppy drive is, of course, still supported.

 

[Bakfin]

BSOD

Hi Shawn:

No, I don't have a RAID setup.

It's an HP G60-230CA laptop with a 200 GB HDD.

I created a second partition (40 GB), formatted it and assigned drive x: to the partition. The file system is NTFS.

Thanks,
Jim

 

[theog]

Hi Shawn:

No, I don't have a RAID setup.

It's an HP G60-230CA laptop with a 200 GB HDD.

I created a second partition (40 GB), formatted it and assigned drive x: to the partition. The file system is NTFS.

Thanks,
Jim

Try loading your SATA drivers at F6.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/66010-sata-drivers-load-windows-xp-setup-dual-boot.html

 

[Bakfin]

BSOD

Unfortunately, I don't have the driver for this HDD.

The current driver that is loaded is from Microsoft, dated 2006-06-21. I assume that it was part of the Windows installation disk.

I checked for an update and it said that the current version was the latest.

Thanks,
Jim

 

[theog]

Unfortunately, I don't have the driver for this HDD.

The current driver that is loaded is from Microsoft, dated 2006-06-21. I assume that it was part of the Windows installation disk.

I checked for an update and it said that the current version was the latest.

Thanks,
Jim

You need your SATA Controllers drivers, not HD drivers.

Go to the link above.

 

[Josh Strube]

I have just purchased a new VAIO laptop with Windows 7 64 Pro on it. I have a previous VAIO with XP Pro. I used Acronis True Image to create a back-up of the old laptop. On the new laptop I created a new partition to handle XP. I then recovered the backup onto the new partition using Acronis Bootable Agent. All the information is there on the partition. I cannot get into XP. I installed EasyBCD in windows 7 and followed the steps given. When I reboot and select windowsXP it just loops back to the boot manager. Any suggestions? I know this should work in theory.

I was getting the blue screen of death while trying to install WindowsXP on a new partition of a new Windows 7 64-bit laptop. I purchased the external floppy drive and put the driver files for the motherboard on there. The drivers are picked up automatically during setup from the disk. It says it is installing various Sata drivers, but still goes to the same blue screen. What do I do now?

Could I get a response from someone on these 2 posts?

 

[Bakfin]

BSOD

Sorry, what link above?

Thanks,
Jim

 

[Brink]

Here you go Jim.


Click here:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/66010-sata-drivers-load-windows-xp-setup-dual-boot.html

 

[theog]

I have just purchased a new VAIO laptop with Windows 7 64 Pro on it. I have a previous VAIO with XP Pro. I used Acronis True Image to create a back-up of the old laptop. On the new laptop I created a new partition to handle XP. I then recovered the backup onto the new partition using Acronis Bootable Agent. All the information is there on the partition. I cannot get into XP. I installed EasyBCD in windows 7 and followed the steps given. When I reboot and select windowsXP it just loops back to the boot manager. Any suggestions? I know this should work in theory.

I was getting the blue screen of death while trying to install WindowsXP on a new partition of a new Windows 7 64-bit laptop. I purchased the external floppy drive and put the driver files for the motherboard on there. The drivers are picked up automatically during setup from the disk. It says it is installing various Sata drivers, but still goes to the same blue screen. What do I do now?

Could I get a response from someone on these 2 posts?

1) Will not work.

2) You will need to load SATA drivers first screen, press F6.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/66010-sata-drivers-load-windows-xp-setup-dual-boot.html

 

[Bakfin]

BSOD

Here you go Jim.


Click here:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/66010-sata-drivers-load-windows-xp-setup-dual-boot.html

I don't have a floppy disk drive.

I changed the letter of one of my USB drives to A: and copied the 4 files (atapi.sys, ataport.sys, msahci.sys and pciidex.sys) onto it but when I hit F6 it wouldn't recognize the USB drive. It wanted a floppy disk drive.

Thanks,
Jim