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WIN 7 PRO & WIN XP PRO "semi" dual boot?

Discussion in 'Windows 7' started by Krazykat, 2012/12/26.

  1. 2012/12/26
    Krazykat

    Krazykat Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    WIN 7 PRO & WIN XP PRO "semi" dual boot?
    Windows 7 Pro and Windows XP PRO "Semi Dual bootâ€

    My question is labeled "â€Semi Dual Boot" because I have a situation involving WIN 7 Pro and WIN XP Pro on the same computer.

    Background --How I got to where I need to make this post

    I had a WIN XP PRO, SP3 system installed,(100% genuine Microsoft product key). Desktop system, single hard drive, with 4 partitions, C, D, E, F with C the active boot partition. Works great, boots with no problems, but hardware and XP PRO beginning to show it’s age.
    I decided to UPGRADE to WIN 7 PRO. Bought a new motherboard, new processor, a new hard drive and a 100% genuine Microsoft WIN 7 PRO install disk. I wanted to have all of my XP PRO data files, email files, etc available for accessing, so I left the XP PRO hard drive attached to the system, but changed the "C" partition to NON BOOTABLEâ€.

    I installed the NEW hard drive, partitioned into C, D, E, F and set "C" to the boot partition. Install WIN 7 PRO to the NEW hard drive. Got all new hardware installed and working with no problems.

    The system now boots to WIN 7 PRO and functions as expected; internet through router and cable modem, printer access, wi-fi access, installed programs working, etc. When system boots, BOTH hard drives are listed; the NEW drive has partitions C, D, E, F, as expected, and the OLD XP hard drive has partitions G, H, I, J, as expected. All the OLD XP partitions are accessible eg, I can start the (installed on NEW hard drive) Excel program in WIN 7 and then open an Excel data file in partition H, no problem. OF course, none of the program files in the OLD XP hard drive will execute.

    The "semi dual boot" question. I know you can" Dual Boot" the WIN 7 PRO and the XP PRO systems, but all the instructions call for a fresh, new install of XP PRO, (assuming XP PRO is being added to the installed WIN 7 and the second part of the Dual BOOT).

    Since my "OLD XP Drive" has a fully bootable XP system installed on partition G (which is currently set to non bootable), is there a way to modify or create a boot manager or boot INI that will, at boot time, give me the choice to boot WIN 7 PRO or WIN XP PRO (from partition G by changing it to a bootable partition?

    I am new to WIN 7, but willing to learn, and have been told WIN 7 does not have "boot.ini. "

    Would appreciate suggestions, instructions and/or tips on how to solve my problem

    Thanks
     
    Krazykat,
    #1
  2. 2012/12/27
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    You can dual boot XP and Windows 7 easily by modifying the windows 7 boot menu. However, your problem will be that you changed the hardware and XP won't boot even after flagging its partition as bootable. XP will "think" it is now on a different computer, which in reality, it is a different computer, and you'll have to reactivate it, most likely by a phone call to MS.

    To dual boot your current system, first change the xp partition as bootable. Then boot to windows 7 and do:

    Assuming that you have Windows XP installed on G: and Windows 7 on C:
    Code:
    Open an Elevated Command Prompt and type

C:>bcdedit /create {ntldr} /d "Windows XPâ€

This will create a boot loader entry using NTLDR for your Windows XP installation.

C:>bcdedit /set {ntldr} device partition=G:C:>bcdedit /set {ntldr} path ntldr

C:>bcdedit /displayorder {ntldr} /addlast
    When you reboot you'll see Windows XP in the boot menu. Try booting XP. If it blue screens then boot using Safe Mode and install the necessary drivers if possible. You'll need the new MB chipset drivers and all other different hardware drivers. I say "if possible" because now even safe mode may fail. It will be hit or miss.
     
    TonyT,
    #2


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