Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and Vista

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    Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and Vista

    Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and Vista

    How to Do a Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and Vista
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    Designer Media Ltd


    How to Setup a Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and Vista

       Information
    This will show you how to install Windows 7 and Vista to dual boot with when you already have either Windows 7 or Vista 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
    Windows 7 Minimum Hardware Requirements:

    NOTE: For more iformation 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.
    Vista Minimum Hardware Requirements:
    NOTE: For more information, see: Microsoft Windows Vista: Recommended System Requirements

    Vista Home Basic
    • Processor: 1GHz (32 or 64 bit)
    • System Memory (RAM): 512MB
    • Hard Drive: 20GB with 15GB available for Vista
    • Video Card: 32MB Memory and DirectX 9 Support
    • DVD-ROM Drive
    Vista Home Premium, Business, or Ultimate
    • Processor: 1GHz (32 or 64 bit)
    • System Memory (RAM): 1GB
    • Hard Drive: 40GB with 15GB available for Vista
    • Video Card: 128MB Memory, DirectX 9 Support with: WDDM Driver, Pixel Shader 2.0, 32bits per pixel
    • DVD-ROM Drive

    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.
    Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and Vista-boot_manager.jpg

    Here's How:
    1. If Installing Second OS on a Separate Hard Drive
    NOTE: This is if you are going to install the second OS (Windows 7 or Vista) on a separate hard drive than the first OS in installed on.
    A) Go to step 3.
    2. If Installing Second OS on another Partition on the Same Hard Drive
    NOTE: This is if you are going to install the second OS (Windows 7 or Vista) on a different partition on the same hard drive than the first OS is installed on.
    A) If Vista was installed first, then create a new partition for Windows 7 (second OS) to be installed on later if you do not already have one to use. (See screenshot below)
    Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and Vista-create_windows7_partition_.jpg
    B) If Windows 7 was installed first, then create a new partition for Vista (second OS) to be installed on later if you do not already have one to use. (See screenshot below)
    Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and Vista-create_vista_partition_.jpg
    3. Insert the second OS (Windows 7 or Vista) installation DVD, and restart the computer to start installing it.
    A) If Vista was installed first, then select the new partition (step 2A) or drive and do a clean install of Windows 7 (second OS) on it. (See screenshot below)
    Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and Vista-windows7_partition.jpg
    B) If Windows 7 was installed first, then select the new partition (step 2B) or drive and do a clean install of Vista (second OS) on it. (See screenshot below)
    Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and Vista-vista_partition.jpg
    4. When the second OS is finished installing you will now have the option to select which OS to start to in the Windows Boot Manager screen at start up. (See example screenshot at the top of the tutorial)
    NOTE: Whatever OS you install last will be the OS listed first in the Windows Boot Manager screen at startup.

    5. This is what you will see in Disk Management below if you installed the second OS on another partition on the same hard drive (step 2).
    A) If Vista was installed first. (See screenshot below)
    Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and Vista-disk_management-windows7.jpg
    B) If Windows 7 was installed first. (See screenshot below)
    Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and Vista-disk_management-vista.jpg
    That's it,
    Shawn






    Related Tutorials




  2. XGUNTHERC
    Posts : 440
    Windows 7 Ultimate Edition x64
       New #1

    Thanks. This is exactly what I needed to know.
      My Computer
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  4. Brink
    Posts : 72,714
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       New #2

    You're welcome Gunther. :)
      My Computer
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  5. rohit
    Posts : 8
    W7
       New #3

    can i install W7 on the same Partition..as a Fresh OS
    i am using XP

    This will not disturb the Data in d other Partitions.

    I M Using C for Installing OS
    D:\ for Softwares
    E:\Movies
    F:\Music

    kindly help
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  6. nonpasaran
    Posts : 84
    vista
       New #4

    hi


    i m sory but my english not so good.There fore i cant understand this tuttorial perfectly want to ask you some questions
    i have an asus notebook f3sv.i have one hdd with two partition as C: and D:
    In C: allready vista installed.Now i m downloading seven rc .
    i want to be sure this tuttorial is fit to may pc
    1-when i ll finish download i will burn it a blank dvd
    2-then i will boot may pc from dvd
    3-then i will choice custom installation and i ll choice D: partition for installation seven
    4-and ı will have two os
    is that all steps correct?

    note:i have a recovery partition in C in same time and i dont want to loose it because i have no recovery dvd.if i install seven in C over vista will i loose that recovery partition?
      My Computer
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  7. Brink
    Posts : 72,714
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       New #5

    Hello Nonpasaran, and welcome to Seven Forums.

    Almost. After your step 1, you will need to create a new partition (Step 2A in tutorial) to install Windows 7 to. You cannot use the D: partition since that is your recovery partition.

    Hope this helps,
    Shawn
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  8. Brink
    Posts : 72,714
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       New #6

    rohit said:
    can i install W7 on the same Partition..as a Fresh OS
    i am using XP

    This will not disturb the Data in d other Partitions.

    I M Using C for Installing OS
    D:\ for Softwares
    E:\Movies
    F:\Music

    kindly help
    Hello Rohit, and welcome to Seven Forums.

    This tutorial can help show you how to dual boot with Windows 7 and XP instead.

    Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and XP

    Hope this helps,
    Shawn
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  10. nonpasaran
    Posts : 84
    vista
       New #7

    Brink said:
    Hello Nonpasaran, and welcome to Seven Forums.

    Almost. After your step 1, you will need to create a new partition (Step 2A in tutorial) to install Windows 7 to. You cannot use the D: partition since that is your recovery partition.

    Hope this helps,
    Shawn
    hi shawn
    i m sory but i can t understand
    you said you have to create a new partition but where?
    in C which one still installed vista? and how? is there any tutorial about it?
    this is my disk. its in fact same disc D is only a partition.i have just one hdd

      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  11. Brink
    Posts : 72,714
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       New #8

    Nonpasaran,

    You can see if you are able to shrink your C: Vista partition to have enough unallocated space to create a new partition for Windows 7 with. :)

    Disk Management - Shrink Partition - Vista Forums
      My Computer
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  12. SIW2
    Posts : 16,461
    7 X64
       New #9

    Hi nonpasaran,

    Try shrinking the C partition to create unallocated space.

    Then right click the unallocated and create a partition to install 7 on.

    Disk Management - Shrink Partition - Vista Forums

    Disk Management - Delete and Extend - Vista Forums

    Hope it helps
    Last edited by SIW2; 06 May 2009 at 16:48. Reason: Shawn - you're too quick , lol
      My Computers
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