How to Do a Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and XP

Information This will show you how to install Windows 7 and XP to dual boot with when you already have either Windows 7 or XP 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 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.

Windows 7 Minimum Hardware Requirements:
NOTE: For more information 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.

Windows XP Minimum Hardware Requirements:
NOTE: For more information on this, see: System requirements for Windows XP operating systems

• PC with 300 megahertz (MHz) or higher processor clock speed recommended; 233-MHz minimum required;* Intel Pentium/Celeron family, AMD K6/Athlon/Duron family, or compatible processor recommended
• 128 megabytes (MB) of RAM or higher recommended (64 MB minimum supported; may limit performance and some features)
• 1.5 gigabyte (GB) of available hard disk space.*
• Super VGA (800 × 600) or higher resolution video adapter and monitor
• CD-ROM or DVD drive
• Keyboard and Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device
  METHOD ONE: When XP is Installed First

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

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

  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 screenshot below)
  NOTE: You would do steps 2 to 9 in METHOD TWO at that link. Windows 7 will need a minimum of 16 GB (16384 MB).

  
  

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

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

  
  

  E) Go to step 3.
  

  2. To Use a Separate Hard Disk Drive than the XP Drive -

  A) Boot from your Windows 7 installation disc.
  NOTE: Make sure that the CD/DVD drive is selected first in the boot order in the BIOS.
  

  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 install Windows 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 (Earlier Verision of Windows) or Windows 7. (See screenshot below)

  
  

  
  METHOD TWO: When Windows 7 is Installed First 1. To Create a New Partition from the Windows 7 Hard Disk Drive -
  NOTE: If you want to install XP on a separate hard drive instead, then skip this step and go to step 2.

  A) In Windows 7, select and shrink the Windows 7 volume in Disk Management by how many MB (1024 MB = 1 GB) you want to have for this XP partition. (See screenshots below)
  NOTE: You would do all of Method One at that link.

  

  

  
  

  2. Insert your XP installation disc, then restart the computer and press any key to boot 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)

  
  

  4. Press F8. (See screenshot below)
  NOTE: On some multimedia keyboards, you may need to press the F-Lock or Function 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.

  
  

  6. Finish installing XP.

  7. In XP, download and install .Net Framework 2.0 and EasyBCD.
  NOTE: Net Framework is required to run the free program EasyBCD.

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

  9. In EasyBCD, click on Add/Remove Entries (left side). (See screenshot below)

  
  

  10. In the bottom right section under Add and Entry, select Windows NT/2k/XP/2k3 from the Type drop down menu, and type Microsoft Windows XP (name displayed in Windows Boot Manager) for the Name. If you have selected to use a separate hard drive to install XP on than Windows 7, then select the drive letter (ex: C: ) Windows 7 is installed on from the Drive drop down menu. Click on the Add Entry button. (See screenshot above)
  NOTE: You can type whatever name you would like to have displayed in the Windows Boot Manager for XP though.

  11. You will now notice that this has added Microsoft Windows XP to the upper right section. Click on the Save button. (See screenshot below)

  
  

  12. In EasyBCD, click on Manage Bootloader (left side). (See screenshot below)

  
  

  13. In the upper right section under Bootloader Installer Options, select (dot) Reinstall the Vista Bootloader, then click on the Write MBR button. (See screenshot above)

  14. Close EasyBCD.

  15. Restart the computer to have the option to boot from XP or Windows 7. (See screenshot below)