Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and XP


  1. Posts : 10
    Windows 7 Ultimate (32bit) and Windows XP pro SP3
       #1390

    Hello,

    I have managed to make my C drive mark as active and convert it into a system drive (Current Disk Management Map/snip is uploaded with it). Now my C drive is system with windows 7 installed, D is primary with Windows Xp installed and G is also primary with no O.S. installed. Can I change D now into logical Drive (It was my system drive initially)

    Now coming back to my old problem. My Windows XP is no booting. In the boot manager the option is there but when I try to boot, it restarts to the same screen. I dont want to reinstall or repair it..so plze help me so that I can use both Windows7 and XP. Thanks.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and XP-disk-managemeng3.jpg  
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 22,814
    W 7 64-bit Ultimate
       #1391

    In disk management right click the D: and click open and post a snip of the contents.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 10
    Windows 7 Ultimate (32bit) and Windows XP pro SP3
       #1392

    Ok...here is the contents of the 'D' ....
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and XP-d-contents.png  
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 22,814
    W 7 64-bit Ultimate
       #1393

    Have a look at Option One of this tutorial at the link below to un-hide protected system files and post a snip of that, make sure they're all visible in the snip; be sure to re-hide them after you get the snip.


      My Computer

  5.    #1394

    You can try installing EasyBCD 2.02 to Win7 to delete XP listing, then Add it again.

    If Xp still won't boot then it has become corrupted and you'll need to run an XP Repair Install to correctly write the System boot files to D which cannot exist on the existing Logical partition.

    You will know if you have an intact XP installation if it will run the Repair Install following the steps given in the tutorial I posted above.

    If so, after Repair install add Win7 from XP following Steps 7-12 in Method Two of tutorial.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 2
    Windows 7
       #1395

    First of all, thanks for the tutorial. Really nice and complete :)

    Secondly, I have this configuration on my machine, and I'd like to know where should I make the XXgb partition for installing Windows XP (I'm on Windows 7 right now).
    The Disk 1 is a SSD disk, from where Windows 7 boots. The other ones are SATA drivers...
    Disk 2 and Disk 3 are currently used for files storage




    My question is, should I create a partition (let's say 20gb) on the C:\ SSD drive, or should I make it anywhere else?

    Thank you again
      My Computer

  7.    #1396

    I'd unplug the other HD's, set Disk2 as first HD to boot in BIOS setup after DVD drive, then boot XP CD to full format a Primary Partition for install.

    If XP CD doesn't see the SATA drive you'll need to add the SATA controller drivers:
    SATA Drivers - Load in Windows XP Setup on Dual Boot
    SATA Drivers - Slipstream into Windows XP CD

    Once XP is installed, plug back in the other HD's, set preferrred OS as first HD to boot in BIOS setup, then boot the other OS when needed by using the one time BIOS Boot Menu key to trigger it's HD to boot.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 2
    Windows 7
       #1397

    Thank you very much :)
      My Computer

  9.    #1398

    You have green Free Space which indicates the former presence of a Logical Extended partition on Disk2. You should be able to format a Primary partition on it with XP CD by Creating a New Partition of desired size to full Format. If not, follow these steps to wipe the HD first: SSD - HDD Optimize for Windows Reinstallation
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 3
    Windows 7 32
       #1399

    Changing drive letter for XP OR hiding the XP partition for Win7 runni


    I installed Windows 7 standalone on new HD . No issues, went fine

    Place power cable in PC back on the previous HD that had Windows XP installed. SEt it to HD boot priority 2 in Bios. new HD with Win 7 is the First disk in priority

    Start PC, Windows 7 comes up and loads.

    using EasyBCD, I add the entry for Win XP. Autodetect

    Reboot, and now I have dual boot dialog screen, with Windows XP. Success.

    Can boot into Windows 7 and it is seen in Win7 as the C:drive parition. Win7 still running too, I see the D: drive partition is the WinXP partition

    All is well. When I boot into Windows 7 from Dual Boot screen, the WinXP partition is seen as C: while the XP is running. And the Win7 is seen as D:

    So what's the problem... my data drive for everything, including My Documents has been on a D: partition. So, all drive paths for everything in the previous WinXP installation point to D: for data.

    This means that the XP will never work correctly. And I could not now install any software to access data on a :
    D: partition

    The Best Solution would be to change a Drive Letter on the WinXP partition to Z:

    I know that if an original install was done this way, Windows would still see it as C; when it booted up and all is well, BUT I've never done this with Win7 dual boot.

    Can anyone comment please? Once I change the drive letter in XP it could cause havoc. Even with ghost image backups it could be a mess.

    If anyone has knowledge or experience, it would save me a Ship Load of time.

    Thanks very much

    J Gregory
      My Computer


 

  Related Discussions
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 7 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 7" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:35.
Find Us