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.
Example.jpg



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).
XP-W7_1.jpg
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)
XP-W7_2.jpg
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)
XP-W7_3.jpg
5. When you get to this point, select the partition (step 2) or hard drive to install Windows 7 on. (See screenshot below)
XP-W7_4.jpg
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.

Example.jpg



OPTION TWO

When Windows 7 is Installed First





   Warning

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.
W7-XP-1.jpg

W7-XP-2.jpg

W7-XP-3.jpg
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.
Step1.jpg
3. From XP Setup, Press Enter. (See screenshot below)



   Warning

W7-XP-4.jpg
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.
W7-XP-5.jpg
5. Select the partition (step 1) or hard drive that you want to install XP on using the arrow keys and press Enter.
W7-XP-6.jpg
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)
W7-XP-7.jpg
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)
W7-XP-9.jpg
11. Close EasyBCD.

12. Restart the computer to have the option to boot from Microsoft Windows XP or Windows 7. (See screenshot below)
Example2.jpg
   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






 
Last edited:

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

You can only use a floppy disk.

Have look at the HP/Compaq link in above link.

General XP Downgrade Guide for HP Laptops - HP Support Forum
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

ME/XP/Vista/Win7
OS
ME/XP/Vista/Win7

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

You can only use a floppy disk.

Have look at the HP/Compaq link in above link.

General XP Downgrade Guide for HP Laptops - HP Support Forum

Thanks! I'll have a look.
 

My Computer My Computer

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Windows 8 Pro 64 bitIntel T42004 GB
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
HP G60-230CA
OS
Windows 8 Pro 64 bit
CPU
Intel T4200
Memory
4 GB
Dual boot snag

I just bought an ASUS G60Vx with windows 7 and need to dual boot XP. I did the partition and then instructed my BIOS to boot from the CD. With the CD in I booted my computer and and it gave me the screen "click any button to boot from the cd". I clicked the any button and the screen says its analyzing the hardware, but then gets stuck. There is no activity on the HD light and the DVD/CD drive quits spinning.

I dont know where to go from here. I have heard ASUS computers have a background OS running in addition to windows 7 and this may be a problem when creating dual boots. Any ideas?
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

windows 7Core Duo 2.13 GHz280GBNvidia
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
ASUS
OS
windows 7
CPU
Core Duo 2.13 GHz
Motherboard
unknown
Memory
280GB
Graphics Card(s)
Nvidia
Sound Card
unknown
Monitor(s) Displays
notebook
I just bought an ASUS G60Vx with windows 7 and need to dual boot XP. I did the partition and then instructed my BIOS to boot from the CD. With the CD in I booted my computer and and it gave me the screen "click any button to boot from the cd". I clicked the any button and the screen says its analyzing the hardware, but then gets stuck. There is no activity on the HD light and the DVD/CD drive quits spinning.

I dont know where to go from here. I have heard ASUS computers have a background OS running in addition to windows 7 and this may be a problem when creating dual boots. Any ideas?

What screen the install stop at?
 

My Computer My Computer

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ME/XP/Vista/Win7
OS
ME/XP/Vista/Win7
Its a blank screen that appears immediately after the press any key screen. So its black with a single line stating "Setup is inspecting your computer's hardware configuration..." and then it stalls on me
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

windows 7Core Duo 2.13 GHz280GBNvidia
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
ASUS
OS
windows 7
CPU
Core Duo 2.13 GHz
Motherboard
unknown
Memory
280GB
Graphics Card(s)
Nvidia
Sound Card
unknown
Monitor(s) Displays
notebook
Its a blank screen that appears immediately after the press any key screen. So its black with a single line stating "Setup is inspecting your computer's hardware configuration..." and then it stalls on me

Also of note, I did not activate the proposed xp partition in fears it may mess things up, do i need to activate it?
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

windows 7Core Duo 2.13 GHz280GBNvidia
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
ASUS
OS
windows 7
CPU
Core Duo 2.13 GHz
Motherboard
unknown
Memory
280GB
Graphics Card(s)
Nvidia
Sound Card
unknown
Monitor(s) Displays
notebook
Its a blank screen that appears immediately after the press any key screen. So its black with a single line stating "Setup is inspecting your computer's hardware configuration..." and then it stalls on me

Sounds like bad CD.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

ME/XP/Vista/Win7
OS
ME/XP/Vista/Win7
huh, i've tried with with two different xp disks and get the same thing tho
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

windows 7Core Duo 2.13 GHz280GBNvidia
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
ASUS
OS
windows 7
CPU
Core Duo 2.13 GHz
Motherboard
unknown
Memory
280GB
Graphics Card(s)
Nvidia
Sound Card
unknown
Monitor(s) Displays
notebook
Hi, nice forum you got here

I followed this awesome tutorial you made and, to make the long story short, i end up in a loop. I cannot enter one OS without damaging the boot loader of the other. For example, right now i am running windows 7(32bit), if i want to dual boot with windows XP(32bit) i have to open easyBCD and uninstall the boot loader. After i do that i can boot into windows XP (dual boot screen doesn't appear) but then if i want to boot back into windows 7 i have to reinstall the boot loader(dual boot screen appears) and so i end up with the same problem, so on and so on.... I think I'm stuck somewhere in the steps you provided. Do you know where i went wrong? please, I'm waiting for a reply :confused:

I tried to read all the post made about this topic so that i wont ask a question that maybe was already here. Found out that Holtsaber had the same problem as me, but i never found the post where he got this problem solved..



Here are some screens from my bcdedit and my windows xp root folder:
 

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Last edited:

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7/XPintel core 2 duo2GBNvidia
OS
Windows 7/XP
CPU
intel core 2 duo
Motherboard
Intel
Memory
2GB
Graphics Card(s)
Nvidia
Hi, nice forum you got here

I followed this awesome tutorial you made and, to make the long story short, i end up in a loop. I cannot enter one OS without damaging the boot loader of the other. For example, right now i am running windows 7(32bit), if i want to dual boot with windows XP(32bit) i have to open easyBCD and uninstall the boot loader. After i do that i can boot into windows XP (dual boot screen doesn't appear) but then if i want to boot back into windows 7 i have to reinstall the boot loader(dual boot screen appears) and so i end up with the same problem, so on and so on.... I think I'm stuck somewhere in the steps you provided. Do you know where i went wrong? please, I'm waiting for a reply :confused:

I tried to read all the post made about this topic so that i wont ask a question that maybe was already here. Found out that Holtsaber had the same problem as me, but i never found the post where he got this problem solved..



Here are some screens from my bcdedit and my windows xp root folder:

Try this:

Use EasyBCD 2.0 in Win 7.

EasyBCD 2.0 Beta Builds - The NeoSmart Forums
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

ME/XP/Vista/Win7
OS
ME/XP/Vista/Win7
Dual Boot - Method 2

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

You can only use a floppy disk.

Have look at the HP/Compaq link in above link.

General XP Downgrade Guide for HP Laptops - HP Support Forum

Thanks! I'll have a look.

Success!!!

You're advise was perfect!!!

The link to the drivers on the HP site was critical to the success.

Once I had the drivers I used nLite and the instructions at the following sight to create a new install CD with the drivers slipstreamed.

maxEasyGuide: A) Slipstreaming SATA driver into WinXp boot cd using nLite

Thanks again!!!
Jim
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 8 Pro 64 bitIntel T42004 GB
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
HP G60-230CA
OS
Windows 8 Pro 64 bit
CPU
Intel T4200
Memory
4 GB
You can only use a floppy disk.

Have look at the HP/Compaq link in above link.

General XP Downgrade Guide for HP Laptops - HP Support Forum

Thanks! I'll have a look.

Success!!!

You're advise was perfect!!!

The link to the drivers on the HP site was critical to the success.

Once I had the drivers I used nLite and the instructions at the following sight to create a new install CD with the drivers slipstreamed.

maxEasyGuide: A) Slipstreaming SATA driver into WinXp boot cd using nLite

Thanks again!!!
Jim

That is good news.

You are welcome.
 

My Computer My Computer

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ME/XP/Vista/Win7
OS
ME/XP/Vista/Win7
Excellent tutorial! !
I installed win7 pro in a new HDD and have ended up with a dual boot capability. Couple of surprises at least to me.. in my BIOS I have the drive with XP pro as the first boot drive, and I get the dual boot option screen. It goes by really fast. Is there a way to make it last longer? Funny to me is that I don't have the win7 drive as second choice.
 

My Computer My Computer

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win xp, win 7
OS
win xp, win 7

My Computer My Computer

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64-bit Windows 11 Pro for WorkstationsIntel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600...ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Self built custom
OS
64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
CPU
Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
Motherboard
ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
Memory
64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz
Graphics Card(s)
ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
Sound Card
Integrated
Monitor(s) Displays
2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
Screen Resolution
2560x1440
Hard Drives
1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
TerraMaster F8 SSD Plus NAS
PSU
Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
Case
Thermaltake Core P3
Cooling
Corsair Hydro H115i
Keyboard
Logitech wireless K800
Mouse
Logitech MX Master 4
Internet Speed
2 Gb/s Download and 100 Mb/s Upload
Antivirus
Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
Browser
Google Chrome
Other Info
Logitech Z625 speaker system,
Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
Galaxy S23 Plus phone
works smoothly now, thanks for the help, you guys rock!!!
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7/XPintel core 2 duo2GBNvidia
OS
Windows 7/XP
CPU
intel core 2 duo
Motherboard
Intel
Memory
2GB
Graphics Card(s)
Nvidia
I followed the tutorial but now when the pc starts it only boots in windows xp.
If i open BCD, at first it shows the message ' No valid entries found', then the program opens up just fine but when i go to Add/Remove Entries, it doesn't see Windows 7 in the upper right part.

What should i do ??

I tried a dual boot Windows 7 to Xp (Windows 7 install first) and now it starts with Windows Xp but it doesn't see windows 7 at all. I opened the boot.ini of Windows 7.

There is a line :

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(4)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional"/noexecute=optin /fastdetect

What can i write so it will see Windows 7 in the boot ini file ???
 
Last edited by a moderator:

My Computer My Computer

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Windows 7
OS
Windows 7
Hello BootC, and welcome to Seven Forums.

While still in XP, try step 7 in METHOD TWO to add Windows 7 to the boot list.

Hope this helps,
Shawn
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

64-bit Windows 11 Pro for WorkstationsIntel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600...ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Self built custom
OS
64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
CPU
Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
Motherboard
ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
Memory
64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz
Graphics Card(s)
ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
Sound Card
Integrated
Monitor(s) Displays
2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
Screen Resolution
2560x1440
Hard Drives
1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
TerraMaster F8 SSD Plus NAS
PSU
Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
Case
Thermaltake Core P3
Cooling
Corsair Hydro H115i
Keyboard
Logitech wireless K800
Mouse
Logitech MX Master 4
Internet Speed
2 Gb/s Download and 100 Mb/s Upload
Antivirus
Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
Browser
Google Chrome
Other Info
Logitech Z625 speaker system,
Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
Galaxy S23 Plus phone
I did try this step but it doesn't see Windows 7.

And when i restart my pc, there's this black screen and the message :

File:\Boot\Bcd

That's why i thought of the boot.ini solution.

It starts in Windows Xo but there's no choice for windows 7 as well. I tries the recovering .....tutorial too but it doesn't work.

Ahhh what do you guys suggest ???

Also when i tried adding Windows 7 to the entry list, it wrote " No valid entry "

:mad:
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7
OS
Windows 7
I did try this step but it doesn't see Windows 7.

And when i restart my pc, there's this black screen and the message :

File:\Boot\Bcd

That's why i thought of the boot.ini solution.

It starts in Windows Xo but there's no choice for windows 7 as well. I tries the recovering .....tutorial too but it doesn't work.

Ahhh what do you guys suggest ???

Also when i tried adding Windows 7 to the entry list, it wrote " No valid entry "

:mad:

Boot from your Windows 7 installation disc, and see if doing a startup repair may be able to add Windows 7 back for you.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

64-bit Windows 11 Pro for WorkstationsIntel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600...ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Self built custom
OS
64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
CPU
Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
Motherboard
ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
Memory
64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz
Graphics Card(s)
ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
Sound Card
Integrated
Monitor(s) Displays
2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
Screen Resolution
2560x1440
Hard Drives
1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
TerraMaster F8 SSD Plus NAS
PSU
Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
Case
Thermaltake Core P3
Cooling
Corsair Hydro H115i
Keyboard
Logitech wireless K800
Mouse
Logitech MX Master 4
Internet Speed
2 Gb/s Download and 100 Mb/s Upload
Antivirus
Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
Browser
Google Chrome
Other Info
Logitech Z625 speaker system,
Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
Galaxy S23 Plus phone
i tried to install xp on a different partition but after i installed it there was an error. i think it was disk read error or something. it won't boot to win7 after that. i just repaired it using the installer and after that it worked and i don't know what happen to the installation of xp
 

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Windows 7 Ultimate x64
OS
Windows 7 Ultimate x64
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