dual boot installation with windows 7 and xp

8/7/2019 Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and XP

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Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and XP

How to Setup a Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and XPPublished by Brink04-28-2009

Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and XP

How to Setup a Dual Boot Installation withWindows 7 and XP

InformationThis will show you how to install Windows 7 and XP to dual boot with when youalready have either Windows 7 or XP installed first.

NoteWith 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 wouldlike to start up to. This method is the easiest way of doing a dual boot with these twooperating systems.

TipWhen dual booting with another OS (ex: Vista or XP), you may not always have thatOS partition show up in Computer with a driver letter in Windows 7. If this happens,then you will just need to add a drive letterto the OS (ex: Vista or XP) partition inWindows 7 Disk Management for it to show up in Computer with a driver letter.

Warning

To stop XP from deleting your Windows 7 System Restore Points everytime XP isstarted, then see System Restore Points - Stop XP Dual Boot Delete to hideWindows 7 from XP.

Windows 7 Minimum Hardware RequirementsNOTE:For more information on this, see: Windows 7 system requirements

y 1 GHz 32-bit or 64-bit processor


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y 1 GB RAM for 32-bit Windows 7 OR2 GB RAM for 64-bit Windows 7y 16 GB available disk space 32-bit Windows 7 OR20 GB for 64-bit Windows

7y Support for DirectX 9 graphics with 128 MB memory (in order to enable Aero

theme)

y DVD-R/W Drivey Internet or phone access to activate Windows 7.

Windows XP Minimum Hardware RequirementsNOTE:For more information on this, see: System requirements for Windows XPoperating systems

y PC with 300 megahertz (MHz) or higher processor clock speed recommended;233-MHz minimum required;* Intel Pentium/Celeron family, AMDK6/Athlon/Duron family, or compatible processor recommended

y 128 megabytes (MB) of RAM or higher recommended (64 MB minimumsupported; may limit performance and some features)

y 1.5 gigabyte (GB) of available hard disk space.*y Super VGA (800 600) or higher resolution video adapter and monitory CD-ROM or DVD drivey Keyboard and Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device

EXAMPLE: Windows Boot ManagerNOTE:This is the boot screen where you select what operating system that youwould like to start. By default, you have 30 seconds to choose another operatingsystem before the default operating system will start automatically.

METHOD ONE


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When XP is Installed First

NOTE:If you have a RAID setup, you will need to have the Windows 7 RAID driverson a USB flash drive available to select and load while installing Windows 7.

1.To Create a New Partition from the XP Hard Disk Drive

A) With your Windows 7 installation disc boot into the Command Prompt fromtheSystem Recovery Options screen.NOTE:Make sure that the CD/DVD drive is selected first in the boot order intheBIOS.

B) In the command prompt, select and shrink the XP volume by how many MB(1024 MB = 1 GB) you want to have for this Windows 7 partition. (See screenshotbelow)NOTE:You would do steps 2 to 9 in METHODTWO at that link. Windows 7 will need aminimum of 16 GB (16384 MB).

C) Click on the X at the top right corner to close the command prompt. (Seescreenshot above)

D) Click on the X at the top right corner to close System Recovery Options. (Seescreenshot below)

E) Go to step 3.


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2.To Use a Separate Hard Disk Drive than the XP DriveA) Boot from your Windows 7 installation disc.NOTE:Make sure that the CD/DVD drive is selected first in the boot order intheBIOS.

3. Click on the Install now button. (See screenshot below)

4. When you get to this point, select the partition (step 1) or hard drive to installWindows 7 on. (See screenshot below)

5. Finish installing Windows 7.

NOTE:You would do step 9 on at that link to finish installing Windows 7.

6. When finished, restart the computer to have the option to boot from XP (EarlierVerision of Windows) or Windows 7. (See screenshot below)

NoteIf you are only booting into Windows 7 and do not have XP listed in the WindowsBoot Manager, then you can install EasyBCD (step 8 Method Two below) to add XP(or Windows 7) while started in Windows 7 the same way to the boot list.


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METHOD TWO

When Windows 7 is Installed First

Warning

y If you have a RAID setup, you will need to have the XP RAID drivers ona Floppy disc available to select and load at the F6 prompt while installing XP.

y If you have a SATA drive, then you will need to do either one of theseoptions to load the SATA drivers for XP.

o How to Slipstream SATA drivers into Windows XP setup CD withDual Boot of Windows 7 or Vista

o How to Load SATA Drivers in Windows XP Setup on your DualBoot PC with Vista or Windows 7 for how to load your SATA driversfrom a Floppy disc at the F6 prompt while installing XP.

1.To Create a New Partition from the Windows 7 Hard Disk

DriveNOTE:If you wanttoinstall XP on a separate hard drive instead, then skip thisstep and go to step 2.A) In Windows 7, select and shrink the Windows 7 volume in Disk Management byhow many MB (1024 MB = 1 GB) you want to have for this XP partition. (Seescreenshots below)NOTE:You would do all ofMethodOne at that link.


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2. Insert your XP installation disc, then restart the computer and press any key toboot from it when prompted. (See screenshot below)NOTE:Make sure that the CD/DVD drive is selected first in the boot order in

the BIOS.

3. From XP Setup, Press Enter. (See screenshot below)

Warning

y If you have a RAID setup, you will need to have the XP RAID driverson a Floppy disc available to select and load at the F6 prompt whileinstalling XP.


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y If you have a SATA drive, then you will need to do either one ofthese options to load the SATA drivers for XP.

o How to Slipstream SATA drivers into Windows XP setupCD with Dual Boot of Windows 7 or Vista

o How to Load SATA Drivers in Windows XP Setup on yourDual Boot PC with Vista or Windows 7 for how to load yourSATA drivers from a Floppy disc at the F6prompt whileinstalling XP.

4. Press F8. (See screenshot below)NOTE:On some multimedia keyboards, you may need to press the F-LockorFunction key before pressing F8.

5. Select the partition (step 1) or hard drive that you want to install XP on using the

arrow keys and press Enter.


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6. Finish installing XP.

TipIf you get Error loading Operating System after XP restarts:

y Using your Windows 7 installation disc, boot to the command promptat startup.

y Type in these comands below, and press enter after each one.o bootrec /FixMbro bootrec /FixBooto bootrec /RebuildBcd

y Exit the command prompt and restart the computer.y At this point, Windows 7 should boot up the same way before trying to

install XP.y Continue to step 8 below and run EasyBCD from Windows 7 instead.

7. In XP, download and install .Net Framework 2.0 (32-bit) verisonor.NetFramework 2.0 (64-bit) version and EasyBCD for your 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit(x86) XP.NOTE:In XP, Net Framework is required to be installed to run the free programEasyBCD.

8. Run EasyBCD.NOTE:This is required to repair the Windows 7 boot file and add XP to the WindowsBootManager list.

9. On the left side of EasyBCD, click on the Add New Entry button. (See screenshot

below)A) In the top section under Operating Systems, click on the Windows tab. (Seescreenshot below)B) To the right ofType, select Windows NT/2k/XP/2k3 from the drop down menu.(See screenshot below)

WARNING:Be sure to leave the Automatically detect correct drive boxchecked.


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C) To the right ofName, you can leave the default Microsoft Windows XP as thename to be displayed in the Windows Boot Manager, or you can typewhatever nameyou would like to have instead. (See screenshot below)

D) Click on the Add Entry button. (See screenshot below)

10.On the left side of EasyBCD, click on the Bootloader Setup button, select (dot)the Install the Windows Vista/7 bootloader to the MBRoption, and click onthe Write MBRbutton. (See screenshot below)

11. Close EasyBCD.

12. Restart the computer to have the option to boot from Microsoft WindowsXP or Windows 7. (See screenshot below)


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TipIf Windows 7 will not start up when selected, then use your Windows 7 installationDVD to do aStartup Repair.

dual boot installation with windows 7 and xp

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