Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and XP

I have 500 gb hard disk
Step 1 Install windows xp 32 bits Image on blank hard disk .
Step 1a While installing add name of C: drive as XP.
Step 1 b partition for my 500 gb hard drive is for C : drive 80 (for xp)
D: drive 80 for (Win 7 64 bits) E: drive 170 F: drive 170
Step 1 c to check if drive is SATA or Raid . I guess it will b SATA
As RAID is old .
Now my windows XP 32 bits via its image is installed on C:drive with 80 gb
D: drive 80 E: drive 170 F: drive 170

Now I will go to STEP 2 i.e. installing windows 7 64 bits on D: drive via its image ?
Step 2 intalling window 7 image at D:drive
Step 3 now windows 7 is installed and I restart computer & Mark its partition active
From windows 7 .
Step 4 Install EASYBCD in windows 7 to add XP from Add os Entry Menu , accept XP
boot files let it autocomplete , save , reboot .

Now my Ques 1 where is need to shrink hard drive in my process?
Ques 2 Is my hard disk Partition rite .
Ques 3 when to do this step which is
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. ???

Please guide me thanks as I m confused but when I do it once ill get confidence thanking in advance

gregrocker said:

Image XP to a partition on the target HD, get it started.

Then image Win7 to another partition, Mark its Partition Active and if necessary run Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times to get it started.

Install EasyBCD to Win7 to add XP from Add OS Entry menu, accept XP boot files, let it autocomplete, Save, reboot.

Your steps are confusing and make no sense. You start by installing XP and then a few steps later apply an XP image. You don't need to use an XP image if you plan to install it.

Just install it first, then create a second partition to apply the Win7 image onto, start Win7 then add XP using EasyBCD.

You only need to mark Active Win7 partition to run Startup Repairs if it doesn't start on it's own and show the System Active flags on its partition.

If you need to create partitions to apply the images onto then use free Partition Wizard bootable CD to create and resize as needed: Partition Wizard Create Partition Video Help
Partition Wizard Resize Partition Video Help.

hello

im having some trouble, when i set the dvd drive as 1st priority it didn't work the first time so i 'disabled' the others and they just disappeared instead of saying [disabled] next to them and so i saved and exited, i followed the steps and installed xp and then it restarted but then it kept installing but then it kept doing that and i think that is because it is still booting off the cd/dvd and the drive/drive section that i made disappeared.

It would really help if you could tell me how to re-select the drive to load up? i tried to find a way by putting the windows 7 boot disk in but it was just rejected and it would only work when i put the xp boot disk in.

sorry if this question has been asked before i could not be bothered to read the 150+ pages of replies

thanks, Ben

jcb840, just run it for awhile and see. Let us know if any issues arise.

yes issue have come up
1. getting this error when i click on touchpad icon on taskbar in windows xp restarts
the error it shows is c000021a{fatal system error}
the windows subsystem process terminated unexpectedly with a c0000005 {0x7c910f2b 0x00c7ef2c}
2. internet working very very slowly in win xp
3. cannot update windows xp it shows this error 0x8024400A
4.as of now windows 7 working smoothly .

Try installing the XP drivers for your model computer or devices. Start with chipset, then network driver, sound, display.

Do you have SP3 installed? If not download and run it's standalone installer.

i have win xp sp 2
and wt is standalone intaller ??? srry if question is dumb.

It would have been better with more chance for success if you'd used a SP3 installer since XP is only complete with SP3.

Sorry I assumed you had the ability to google XP SP3 standalone installer: Download: Windows XP Service Pack 3 Network Installation Package for IT Professionals and Developers - Microsoft Download Center - Download Details