Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and XP


  1. Posts : 8
    Windows 7 professional 64 bit
       #2170

    I was able to get a bit more direct dual boot procedure using XP and W7 image files:

    1. Restore the W7 image. (Select all options: Set Active, MBR, etc. Do NOT try to boot into W7.)
    2. Restore the XP image. (Select all options: Set Active, MBR, etc. This will result in the system directly booting into XP.)

    Use the W7 DVD repair options to:
    3. Do an automatic repair if one is found.
    4. Open a command window from the repair console and do bootrec.exe /fixmbr and bootrec.exe /fixboot.
    5. Use the recovery console and run the Startup Repair.
    6. You should now be able to boot directly in W7, where EasyBCD can add the XP boot option. Note: The XP partition may require a drive letter to be added from Disk Management before EasyBCD can find it.

    Much better than starting over.
      My Computer

  2.    #2171

    Win7 must be Partition Marked Active in order to repair it to boot using Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 30
    windows 10 pro (x64), windows 7 ultimate (x64), windows XP (64)
       #2172

    hey i hope someone can help me...after i installed 7 i try to install xp but i cant even do it cos after the files are loaded from the cd i see this error when the installation tries to continue
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and XP-20150424_155013.jpg  
      My Computer

  4.    #2173

    Please post back a screenshot of Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image
    from Win7.

    If Win7 will not now start, then confirm that your 100mb System Reserved partition (if you have it) or C partition (if you don't) is Partition Marked Active,

    then run Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times until Win7 starts again.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 30
    windows 10 pro (x64), windows 7 ultimate (x64), windows XP (64)
       #2174

    hey thanks for tryin to help me....here's the screen shot...I've tried to set up a simple stupid dual boot system for my parents and this mess has happened...Im thinkin I mite just have to start from scratch again if my drive partititions are messed up...
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and XP-disk-management.jpg  
      My Computer

  6.    #2175

    It would be better to shrink D to create a partition to Install XP onto with the Win7 hard drive unplugged while you do this. Then you can boot your choice via the BIOS BOot menu key, setting preferred OS HD first to boot in BIOS setup.

    But if you want to install to E, what I would do is boot into the XP CD to delete the 3.19 partition (after backing up any data on it) and the existing E partition, then create a New parttion to Full Format with the XP installer which has a slightly different partition table.

    Then install XP to the newly formatted partition. This will steal the boot from Win7 so you'll need to start it again using the steps I gave earlier, then add XP using EasyBCD.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 30
    windows 10 pro (x64), windows 7 ultimate (x64), windows XP (64)
       #2176

    um....well I can't install it on D cos that's an older drive that ive set up only for storage just incase it konks out..i created the 3.19 partition to simulate that small ACTIVE partititon that I accidentally removed when I created the E one on C drive...maybe I should just rip up everything and start over...I have a working version of 7 already installed on the C partition rite now that I'm using and I'd rather keep it...it was E that I tried to install the XP onto...i'll blow it all up if I have to but I'd rather save SOMETHING if that's possible...I've already spent days on this crap...this ALL shudda been very easy to do...but it's turned into a friggin nitemare...lol
      My Computer

  8.    #2177

    Why didn't you ask whether you needed to recreate the System Reserved partition, because obviously you don't since it boots and the flags are all correct (System Active) on C showing it is fully capable of booting itself. Don't get mad about things not going right when you make silly assumptions and don't even bother to ask us if this is needed here where we've helped with these by the thousands.

    If you want XP on the same drive and you created E to install it upon, I already gave you the steps to try: Boot the XP installation media, delete D and E then create a New partition in that space and full format it using the XP installer only since it has a slightly different partition table.

    If it again fails then you likely have a bad XP disk. When did it install correctly last? Where did you get it?
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 2
    Windows 7 Ultimate
       #2178

    I have a PC with 2 HDD's installed with XP installed on the first drive and 7 on the second and want to remove the XP drive. Win 7 is the active OS. If I delete the earlier version (XP) in EasyBCD can I remove the XP drive and the system will boot to the drive with Win 7 installed on it?
      My Computer

  10.    #2179

    It depends on if Win7 is marked System Active in Disk Mgmt when booted. If so then it can boot itself independently, otherwise you'll need first to move the Bootmgr - Move to C:\ with EasyBCD - Windows 7 Forums.

    Make sure when removing the XP drive that Win7 becomes set first to boot in BIOS setup.

    If any problems or questions post back a screenshot of Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image
    Last edited by gregrocker; 07 May 2015 at 09:49.
      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 07:31.
Find Us