Dual boot system: XP and Windows 7

If you don't want to do without XP in times of Windows 7 and Windows 8, you can set up a dual-boot system with both operating systems. Depending on the application, you can decide which OS you want to start and use.

Preparation for the dual boot system

• This tip describes in-depth system interventions. In any case, therefore, make a backup of the current Windows XP on an external data medium.
• Then check whether there is enough free space on the hard disk. The installation of Windows 7 requires at least 10 GB. However, since you will be installing programs, you should provide at least 30 GB - better still more.

Partitioning the hard drive for Windows XP and 7

In the first step, you shrink the existing partition of XP to make room for Windows 7. This works without any paid partitioning tools using the on-board means of the Win7 installation DVD.

1. Start the computer from the DVD, select the installation language and click "Next".
2. In the "Install Now" dialog, use the key combination [Shift] + [F10] to open a command line window, type "diskpart" and press Enter.
3. After a short time, the changed prompt shows that you are now working with the Windows 7 partitioning program.
4. The "list volume" command provides an overview of the available drives. To install, select the previous system drive labeled "C" using the number above.
5. To do this, use the "select volume 1" command. Then enter the "shrink" command and wait for the process. The tool now shrinks the current partition by about half, creating space for Windows 7.
6. Then type "exit" twice in succession to exit Diskpart and the command line.

Install Windows 7 as a dual boot OS to XP

1. Back in the setup program, click on "Install now", accept the license conditions and select the "User-defined" variant in the next dialog.
2. Now determine which partition Windows should be installed on. There, select the "Unallocated space" entry to create a new partition in the free space.
3. After clicking on "Next", the setup takes the necessary steps. You only have to make a few basic settings after installation. Windows 7 has its own boot menu, which integrates XP as an "earlier version of Windows".
4. The free "EasyBCD" utility is suitable for future adjustments to the boot menu or resetting the installation.

Customize boot menu for Win 7 and XP

If Windows 7 has not assigned a drive letter to the XP partition, it will not appear in Windows Explorer of the new operating system.

1. To still be able to access it, click on "System and Security" in the Control Panel, then on "Administrative Tools" and double-click on "Computer Management" and once on the left on "Disk Management".
2. The primary drive shows the partition "C:" as the start partition and another partition without allocation. Right-click on it and open the context command "Change drive letter and paths". Select a free letter, for example "X", and confirm with "OK".
3. Now start the "EasyBCD" tool and click on "Change settings".
4. In the "Entry-Based Settings" area, select "Earlier Windows version". Below you can now change the name to "XP Professional", for example. Make sure to set the previously assigned drive under "Drive", in the example "X" before you save the change with "Save Settings". If the drive setting is incorrect, you can no longer start XP.
5. In the "Global Settings" area under "Default OS" you can also set whether you want to start "Windows 7" or your old version by default. In the "Bootloader Timeout" field you define the waiting time for selection when booting.

Dual boot system: Deactivate Windows 7 if necessary

• If you later deactivate Windows 7 because you like XP better, start "EasyBCD" and click on the "Manage Bootloader" button on the left. Activate the "Uninstall the Vista Bootloader" option there.
• Then click on "Write MBR". The program does not differentiate between Vista and Windows 7, but it works correctly. After restarting the computer, XP starts with its own boot menu. You can then delete the partition that is no longer required and expand the original partition again.
• Caution: This step removes the Windows 7 boot loader. To restore it, start the computer with the Windows 7 setup DVD and select the "Computer repair options" command when selecting the installation.