Triple boot XP, Win7-32bit, Win7-64 bit

[edenforge]

Hi folks

My computer has 4 hard disks. The first drive contains XP Pro, the second drive contains Win 7 Ult (32bit) in a dual boot configuration.

I would like to test Windows 7 64 bit, is it possible to install it as a triple boot with the other two OS's?

If so, how do I go about it?

Regards
Bob Nicholson

 

[DocBrown]

If you have enough extra room on HD-1 or HD-2, you could add a new partition to the free space & install the 64 bit there. Check out our tutorials section.

 

[gregrocker]

When you install 64 bit, it should configure a Windows Multi-Boot Menu.

If not, install EasyBCD 2.0 beta to the new OS and Add your other two OS's on the Add/Remove tab.

Once multi-booted via Windows Boot Menu, the OS HD's become interlocked and cannot be easily removed without recovering the System MBR into remaining OS's.

This is one good reason to instead use a BIOS managed Dual Boot, where you install each OS to its own HD, set the preferred OS HD to boot first in BIOS Setup (after DVD drive), then access the other two OS's by tapping the F2 key at bootup for Acer one-time Boot Menu.

This BIOS Multi-Boot keeps the HD's independent to come and go as you please. We can give you the steps to reconfigure this way.

 

[edenforge]

Hi gregrocker

This is not on the laptop, as I said the machine concerned has 4 hdd's so 64bit could be on a separate hd.

Details of the steps to set up BIOS muti-boot would be most helpfull but as this is for a machine at home I will need to check the BIOS make and version later and get back to you. I "think" it is an AMI BIOS, but can not be certain....

Regards
Bop

 

[gregrocker]

Try looking on the first boot screen for the key given for one-time Boot Menu. It should be shown there.

Otherwise it will be in the manual found on Support Downloads webpage for your mobo model.

Separate HD's with BIOS managed boot is the way to go, to keep your HD's independent to come and go as you please.

But if you decide you want a Windows-managed Dual Boot, we can help you with that too.

 

[edenforge]

As my current setup is dual boot (XP + Win7-32) if I just set 64bit to install on one of the other HD's, will it set up a "triple boot" or will I need to intervene?

Bob

 

[theog]

As my current setup is dual boot (XP + Win7-32) if I just set 64bit to install on one of the other HD's, will it set up a "triple boot" or will I need to intervene?

Bob

Yes, this should work OK.

 

[DeaconFrost]

It should work, but there's little to no reason to run a multi-boot setup anymore, especially when two of the OSes are the same. Given your system specs, just simplify. Run Windows 7 x64, and the run XP in XP Mode. You wouldn't even be using your license for XP, which would be freed up to use on another computer, as would your license for Windows 7 x86 (32 bit). You do have a separate license key for both versions of Windows 7, right? If not, I can stop you right there, as you won't be able to install both 32 bit and 64 bit with the same key. Even if you do have separate keys, it still would be a waste of time and space.

 

[gregrocker]

As my current setup is dual boot (XP + Win7-32) if I just set 64bit to install on one of the other HD's, will it set up a "triple boot" or will I need to intervene?

Bob

Is that what you want: a Windows-managed Dual boot which interlocks the HD's? If so, then installing 64 bit with the other HD's plugged should configure it.

If you want the BIOS-managed Dual Boot I suggest and have confirmed you have a one-time BIOS Boot Menu, then unplug all other HD's during 64 bit install.

But first consider what DeaconFrost offers because it provides an all-in-one-OS solution.

If you want to test 64 bit for the 30-days before it needs to be activated, then install it with all other drives unplugged and boot it via BIOS Boot Menu.

 

[edenforge]

Run Windows 7 x64, and the run XP in XP Mode. You wouldn't even be using your license for XP, which would be freed up to use on another computer, as would your license for Windows 7 x86 (32 bit). You do have a separate license key for both versions of Windows 7, right?

Yes, separate license keys.
Bob

 

[edenforge]

If you want the BIOS-managed Dual Boot I suggest and have confirmed you have a one-time BIOS Boot Menu, then unplug all other HD's during 64 bit install.

But first consider what DeaconFrost offers because it provides an all-in-one-OS solution.

I've had a look at the first boot screen:
ASUS P5E3 ACPI BIOS Revision 1002
AMI BIOS

The only key stroke it shows are:
DEL: setup
F8: BBS Popup

Cheers
Bob

 

[gregrocker]

BBS = BIOS Boot Screen.

Press F8 to choose drive you want to boot.

If you want to try Dual or Multi booting via BBS, suggest you first do it with your new install, by unplugging all other drives during install, then setting target HD as first HD to boot in BIOS setup (after DVD).

After install plug the HD's back in and boot them via BBS. 32 bit WIn7 may need to have it's System MBR recovered from XP to boot on its own, then the Windows Dual boot can be removed at msconfig>Boot or using EasyBCD Remove tab.

 

[edenforge]

Try looking on the first boot screen for the key given for one-time Boot Menu. It should be shown there.

This is an ASUS P5E3 m/b with an AMI BIOS.
The only keys shown on the first screen are:
DEL: Enter Setup
F8: BBS Popup

Bob

 

[edenforge]

error

 

[edenforge]

BBS = BIOS Boot Screen.
32 bit WIn7 may need to have it's System MBR recovered from XP to boot on its own, then the Windows Dual boot can be removed at msconfig>Boot or using EasyBCD Remove tab.

OK, how do I recover the system MBR from the XP drive to the Win7 drive? so that I can remove XP.

Cheers
Bob
(youv'e probaly gathered that I am a novice at this stuff

)

 

[gregrocker]

Have you installed 64 bit Win7 to the new HD yet? I think you should do that first with the other HD's unplugged to test that your BIOS will indeed boot multiple HD's separately from the BiosBootScreen.

You will need to set the 64 bit target HD as first to boot in BIOS (after DVD) for install, but afterward change that back to present Boot HD so your computer starts up to the Dual Boot Menu as usual. Then try starting the new 64 bit Win7 install HD from the BBS.

Once you confirm this with your new install and decide this is the way you want to boot all of your HD's then post back a screenshot of your full Disk Management drive map and listings with all drives plugged. Use Snipping tool in Start Menu. We will give you the steps to do a full BIOS-managed multi-boot via BBS.

 

[edenforge]

many thanks.

The 64 bit version has not arrived as yet, and I will be away for a few days, so I'll get in touch in a couple of weeks, with luck.

Thanks again for your advice.
Bob

 

[Dixon Butz]

All you have to do is boot off the Win7 64bit disc and make sure to install to the correct drive. This will give you a triple boot menu. No need to unplug drives or use BBS popup (F8).

It is always a good idea to have a multi boot PC. When one OS won't boot, or something goes wrong, you always have others that will boot.

 

[gregrocker]

All you have to do is boot off the Win7 64bit disc and make sure to install to the correct drive. This will give you a triple boot menu. No need to unplug drives or use BBS popup (F8).

It is always a good idea to have a multi boot PC. When one OS won't boot, or something goes wrong, you always have others that will boot.

When a Windows-managed Dual- or Multi-boot is established in cases where each OS is on a separate HD, the HD's become interdependent and cannot come and go as you please. This is not optimal for most users who keep such a rack of HD's.

What works better in these cases is installing each OS with the other HD's unplugged and then boot each via the BIOS boot order or the BBS key - if the mobo has such a key.

Love the screen name. You know Seymour? I come from a long line of Butz.

 

[Dixon Butz]

I got that nick from SNL.

Funny transcript

SNL Transcripts: Joshua Jackson: 03/11/00: Let's Talk Books

That the link in my sig.