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

 

[TheDave]

Thanks, I'll try it out and let you know how it goes. One question though, can I save the drivers to a USB drive? (like my iPod classic with usable disk). I dont have a floppy on my computer.

Dave

 

[Brink]

Sorry but no. You can only use a Floppy drive with XP since XP doesn't support a USB flash drive at boot.

 

[TheDave]

Is there another solution? like placing the drivers somewhere specific on the hard drive? I dont have a floppy drive, are there any other possibilities or am I doomed?

Dave

 

[Brink]

I'm pretty sure that you can only have it on a floppy to do this, but I can't remember if it gives you any other option to select the drivers from another location than a floppy. You might try saving the extracted SATA drivers on the Windows 7 partition to see if you have the option to browse to and select the drivers after pressing F6 during the XP installation.

 

[TheDave]

Question: is it possible to take the floppy from my older computer (pentium4) and plug it into my motherboard and then use the floppy drive?

And no, it only said to press ENTER when i put the right disk in drive A:
Maybe there's a way to simulate the existence of drive A:?
Dave

 

[Brink]

Yes, you can do that. You might need to boot into your BIOS and make sure that the floppy drive is enabled in the CMOS settings section, and that the floppy is listed first in the boot order in BIOS though.

 

[TheDave]

Are there any drivers for floppy disks? are they available online? where do I look?

 

[SIW2]

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


Standard XP SATA drivers d/l here

Shawn's link looks right:

GA-790XT-USB3 (rev. 1.0) - GIGABYTE - Support&Download - Motherboard - Driver


Direct Download Link America

Try slipstreaming them to a cd - install with that.

 

[theog]

Question: is it possible to take the floppy from my older computer (pentium4) and plug it into my motherboard and then use the floppy drive?

And no, it only said to press ENTER when i put the right disk in drive A:
Maybe there's a way to simulate the existence of drive A:?
Dave

Hi TheDave

Are you Win XP sp2?

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/66010-sata-drivers-load-windows-xp-setup-dual-boot.html
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/72185-sata-drivers-slipstream-into-windows-xp-cd.html

 

[TheDave]

I'm running with windows 7. I'm going to try installing XP with a friends CD with integrated SATa drivers. I'll post back for an update.

Dave

 

[Vratar]

Thank you Thank you Thank you!!

Brink,

This was an awesome tutorial! It took a little doing, but I now have my first dual-boot system, running 7 Pro and XP Pro.

I'd like to make a suggestion: It seems that a lot of people (myself included) are running into a snag after Step 6 in Method 2. After XP installs, upon reboot we get the message "Error loading Operating System". When I got that, I had no idea what to do and no way to look it up from home. I think it would be helpful to put a note and a link in your tutorial on what to do if someone gets that error. For me, the next day I read through half the comments and found out how to fix it. A mention of that error and a link to a solution would probably help a lot of people.

Thanks again!

 

[Brink]

Hello Vratar, and welcome to Seven Forums.

What was the solution that you used?

 

[Vratar]

Here's the basic steps I used when the XP install failed at the first reboot. I'm not sure if this is perfect recollection, though -- feel free to alter the steps if I got something wrong...

1) Reboot with the Win7 DVD
2) When the GUI pops up, select language, keyboard, etc. and hit "Next"
3) Select "Repair your computer"
4) Select the OS you want to repair (for me, the only choice was Win7)
5) Choose to go to a Command Prompt
6) Use the command "bootrec" three times, as follows:
bootrec /FixMbr
bootrec /FixBoot
bootrec /RebuildBcd
7) Exit the command prompt and reboot the computer.
8) At this point, Win7 booted up the same way it did before I tried to install XP
9) Run EasyBCD from Win7, then continue with your tutorial at Step 9.

Now, after rebooting, I got the choice of OS. When I selected WinXP, the installation process picked up where it left off from the day before, and I was able to finish it up without any more problems.

Thanks again!

 

[Brink]

Thank you Vratar. The tip has been added to help others.

 

[Vratar]

Good deal! Thank you Brink!

 

[Frenchy]

Just finished dual booting XP and Win 7 by following the steps in this great tutorial.

This is only my second Win 7 installation and I'm glad I found this outstanding forum when I was looking for tutorials to get me up to speed on this killer new OS.

Thanks!

 

[adgower]

Brink!!

I have windows 7 pro 64bit installed working fine... so I was trying this guide to install windows xp pro 32bit and I had a partition from previous dual boots of ubuntu and what not of 60gb and so I choose to quick format and install the windows xp on there, but when it restarts It doesn't load anything up after I install xp it just goes to the flashing "_" and I can't do anything...

Hows do I get this working?

Thank you sir!

 

[Vratar]

adgower:

Your problem sounds similar to what a lot of others here had, myself included, after the initial "DOS" portion of the XP install -- a system that won't reboot. I'm guessing that you have a bad BCD now (or at least one the system can't find), and it needs to be rebuilt. Try the steps I just wrote about a few days ago, four posts before yours. Actually, before trying the command prompt and "bootrec" commands, I'd just try the Startup Repair Tool and see if that gets you into Windows 7. If that doesn't work, try the bootrec commands.

Good luck!

 

[stella]

Hello! Newbie here, hoping to install Win XP so I can dual boot my Inspiron. I've been studying the tutorial and have read every post in this thread.

My question, which probably is elementary but I can't seem to think of the answer, is: To accomplish Item 6 in Method Two, can I boot to a command prompt with the Win 7 Reinstallation DVD that Dell sent me, and if so, how do I do that? There are six folders on the disk (boot, efi, langpacks, sources, support, and upgrade) and four other files (autorun.inf, bootmgr, bootmgr.efi, and setup.exe).

Also, does it matter as far as using the Reinstallation DVD, if that's possible, that it is for 7 Home Premium and I have upgraded to 7 Professional?

 

[Jonathan_King]

Welcome stella!

First, the command prompt should be on the disc Dell sent you. Press Shift+F10 on the language screen, or select Repair My Computer later on, and open one there.

Now what are you trying to do with the DVD? If you are not reinstalling 7, the second part shouldn't matter.