Solved Dual Boot - Windows 7 and Windows Server 2003

[SMetla]

I have Compaq laptop C700 with Windows 7 Ultimate 32 bit, Pentium Dual Core CPU and 2 GB RAM. I want to install Windows Server 2003 for dual boot on this laptop. Can I do it? I have one internal hard drive with 50GB free space. I will create a new partition for Windows 2003 installation. Is my situation similar to Windows 7 (followed by) Windows XP installations for dual boot? I see the threads for Win 7 and Win XP dual boot in this forum. If I need to be aware of any specific steps or possible issues, please advise. It will really help me know what to anticipate in this process and how to fix any issues that might arise. Thanks!

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello SMetla, welcome to Seven Forums!



I have no knowledge of 2003 as I've never fooled with it but you may need run startup repairs to get back to Windows 7 after you install 2003 and the startup repairs should add a boot entry to the Windows boot menu; start by having a look through this tutorial but do not change the "System" partition by marking anything as active before you start the installation process.

Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times


Do you have an external Hard Disk Drive you could save an image of the existing system to before you start; this is an excellent free program to use.

Imaging with free Macrium


Be sure to post back with any further questions you may have and to keep us informed.

 

[SMetla]

Thank you Bare Foot Kid! I was able to successfully load Windows Server 2003 in dual boot mode on my laptop. I could not get the hard disk image (backup) working since the recovery CD gave some errors. I skipped this step and proceeded with the Windows Server 2003 install. Following the other article on Windows 7 and Windows XP in dual boot, I used Easy BCD tool to fix the Boot Manger list from Windows Server 2003. Appreciate your quick response.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello again.



Good to see you got it running and thanks for the update.

 

[amit9253]

Hi SMelta,
Can you please guide me on how did you successfully manage to get a dual boot for Windows7 and Windows 2003. I tried and failed and kinda frustrated..I am kinda desparate to get help. My case is as follows:-

I have Dell Inspiron 15R N5110 Laptop came with Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit installed. I needed to install Windows Server 2003 R2 Enterprise. To install windows server 2003, I had to made my SATA mode from AHCI to ATA otherwise I was getting BSOD. Intial problem was, I was not getting the option for Dual booting to choose Windows 7 or Windows Server 2003. Then I followed one Microsoft Note from the link Windows no longer starts after you install an earlier version of the Windows operating system in a dual-boot configuration and was able to see the dual boot option, but when I was choosing windows server 2003 boot failure message was coming up. Therefore, effectively I landed nowhere...Can you please suggest me an exact step by step process for Windows 7 and Windows server 2003 dual boot with the following query:
1. What BIOS set up should I perform first, if any.
2. Which OS should I install first.
3. What are the steps should I follow to create any boot file, if any and under which OS....
4. What extra thing should I prepare.

In a nutshell, I need a detailed guide from you since you seems to be able to made it successful. I spent around a week with these and each day around 6-7 hours of breaking head for how to manage it...But I landed nowhere. Therefore you can imagine how much important this is for me to get a solution for the same.

Please help me.
Thanks in advance.

Amit