Thread: Installing XP after Windows 7

What you are describing is called a 'Dual boot' this is when you have two opertaing systems installed on one computer, and when you boot your computer, you have the option to boot into either one. The way you do this is simple, first of all you need to split your hard-drive into two partitions, one one partition will be Windows XP and on the other Windows 7. To do this, follow these instructions:
1) In Windows 7 go to 'Start' and right click 'Computer', then click 'Manage' you will recieve a UAC promt, click accept.

2) Once the window appears, on the left hand bar, click 'Disk Management' wait for it to load and then right click your current partition (Usually named local disk and it has the letter 'C:' and click 'Shrink Volume'

3) When another new window appears, select how big you want the new partition to be (By default it splits it equally into two) once you have decided, click 'Shrink'

4) Once you have clicked 'Shrink' Windows will split the partition into two, and all the Windows will close, on the diagram in the remaning Window, you will se a block named 'Unallocated Space' this means that Windows has completed this succesfully, although, if you selected 'Format this drive' during the shrinking process, this will be given a letter, either way, youre done here.

5) Now, Install Windows XP on the new partition, either 'Unallocated Space' or 'E:, F:' or another letter.

6) After this, you will have discovered Windows XP boots without a choice, to get a choice (If not already there) instert your Windows 7 disc and go to 'Repair my computer' follow the setup and the next time you boot your PC, you will have the option of XP or 7!

Hope this helped, if you have any questions, just leave a reply...

Originally Posted by JackHayward

What you are describing is called a 'Dual boot' this is when you have two opertaing systems installed on one computer, and when you boot your computer, you have the option to boot into either one. The way you do this is simple, first of all you need to split your hard-drive into two partitions, one one partition will be Windows XP and on the other Windows 7. To do this, follow these instructions:
1) In Windows 7 go to 'Start' and right click 'Computer', then click 'Manage' you will recieve a UAC promt, click accept.

2) Once the window appears, on the left hand bar, click 'Disk Management' wait for it to load and then right click your current partition (Usually named local disk and it has the letter 'C:' and click 'Shrink Volume'

3) When another new window appears, select how big you want the new partition to be (By default it splits it equally into two) once you have decided, click 'Shrink'

4) Once you have clicked 'Shrink' Windows will split the partition into two, and all the Windows will close, on the diagram in the remaning Window, you will se a block named 'Unallocated Space' this means that Windows has completed this succesfully, although, if you selected 'Format this drive' during the shrinking process, this will be given a letter, either way, youre done here.

5) Now, Install Windows XP on the new partition, either 'Unallocated Space' or 'E:, F:' or another letter.

6) After this, you will have discovered Windows XP boots without a choice, to get a choice (If not already there) instert your Windows 7 disc and go to 'Repair my computer' follow the setup and the next time you boot your PC, you will have the option of XP or 7!

Hope this helped, if you have any questions, just leave a reply...

Thank you Jack for the reply,

I have a question on the "shrink" option. I want to put 15 Gigabytes on the second drive for Windows XP. This comes out to be 15360 Megabytes.

Well, I went to the disk management, right clicked on my C: drive and went to shrink and am a bit confused on the process which the drive will undergo.

By shrink does it mean it is changing the C: drive from 326 gigabytes all the way down to the 15 gigabytes and deleting the information that doesn't fit?

Or is it going to create a new partition with 15 gigabytes left? Is it going to change the C: drive to 15 gigabytes and create a new partition with the 300+ gigabytes?

I also have another quick question. When it automatically boots from the XP at start up, when I repair my computer with the windows 7 CD's is it going to delete any files? Should I back up my computer?



Thank you again Jack for all of your support.

Hi,

Shrinking with Disk Management only shrinks free space - it will not damage anything.

Your original 7 partition will seem exactly the same - just a bit smaller - it won't be affected in any other way.

Th C drive will then be 311gb approx and you will have 15gb "unallocated space".

Rt click the unallocated space , select New Simple Volume , and format as ntfs ( select Quick ) - it will also offer a drive letter for the new partition - accept that , click Finish - that's it.

Startup Repair with 7 dvd should not damage any of your files.

Originally Posted by SIW2

Hi,

Shrinking with Disk Management only shrinks free space - it will not damage anything.

Your original 7 partition will seem exactly the same - just a bit smaller - it won't be affected in any other way.

Th C drive will then be 311gb approx and you will have 15gb "unallocated space".

Rt click the unallocated space , select New Simple Volume , and format as ntfs ( select Quick ) - it will also offer a drive letter for the new partition - accept that , click Finish - that's it.

Startup Repair with 7 dvd should not damage any of your files.

Thankyou kind sir,

I have no more questions at this time and I will see how it goes, if I have any questions I will post here.

Its great to have this forum as Microsoft does not offer any official support.

You might find this useful - it says Vista - it's the same thing, as I'm sure you know:

How to manage your disks using only Windows Vista's Disk Management tool | Windows Vista for Beginners

Originally Posted by SIW2

You might find this useful - it says Vista - it's the same thing, as I'm sure you know:

How to manage your disks using only Windows Vista's Disk Management tool | Windows Vista for Beginners

Thanks for the link. The results were successful and I have a 15.01 GB NTFS New Volume as my F: drive, now onto the hard part of installing Windows XP on it, I'll let you know how it goes.

This is actually giving me quiet a headache, I installed windows XP on the F: drive like you said and it worked perfect. My computer was booting in Windows XP each time. What is becoming extremely stressful is the fact that it wont connect to the internet. I have the Ethernet cable connected the modem that works just fine in Windows 7 and worked fine in my Windows XP before I had Windows 7. Everything is hooked up and its not connecting. I am not sure if this forum is the right place to get help for that issue since it is a Windows XP problem.

Anyhow, I put in the windows 7 disc, repaired it and now it only boots in Windows 7, there is nothing that asks me to choose Windows XP or Windows 7.

Did I do something wrong? If you need any more information just let me know, thank you.

I am not sure about XP internet problem .

Otherwise all is as it should be.

You now add an XP entry to 7 bcd.

You can do it with the command prompt - but will find it easier to let EASYBCD (free) to do it for you - it's useful to have if you are dual booting.

http://neosmart.net/downloads/softwa...CD%201.7.2.exe

Download EasyBCD 1.7.2 - NeoSmart Technologies

On Easybcd program main window, Click Add/Remove Entry.

Make sure NT/2K/XP/2K3 is selected in "Type" exactly as in the screenshot.

The drive letter needs to be the letter of the System , Active partition .

Click Add entry.

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