Multiboot win8 Win7 xp possible?

[mini]

Can I have a multiboot system with wwin8 Win7 and xp all on one hard drive. Without causing system crash or slowing it down. Just that most of programmes that I have only work on one or the other. All help is appreciated.
Thank you in advance.

[ifred]

You would have to create hidden partition for win 7 and win 8 not to have problems
Also with win 8 it now has UEFI secure boot that can cause major problems
Hopeful someone with more knowledge will pass by soon
And give you a proper solution

[mini]

Laptops come preinstalled with windows 8. I would like win xp not really bothered about Win7.

[mini]

Any suggestions? ???

[m9g]

I dual boot 7 and xp, partition the hd and use EasyBCD to create the boot and install XP, havent used 8 so dont know if the same but might help you

[alec]

Any suggestions? ???

First put on XP and partition the drive, and then put on win 8.
I have one desk top with xp, win7 and win8 are different partitions, and 4 on a partition I called store, which I used to store any information or programs for the 3 OS.

[mini]

Onlu problem is laptop came pre installed with win 8. Dont want void warranty by taking it off. I'll try easy bcd. Thanks

[manxspud]

Just run xp in a virtual drive ... this way you can both os at the same time and not have to restart your lappy every time you need to change os

[mini]

No idea about vitual drive. New to all this but acquick Lerner, would hiren boot cd be able to help? ???

[m9g]

hiren more of a diagnostics software - very useful tools

easyBCD - If you went down the root of dual booting and install the first OS it will have its own bootloader (instructions to start that OS), when you then partition your drive and install the second OS that OS bootloader will become what the system is looking at to load thus loosing the first bootloader - what you are wanting is both bootloaders to appear and the system give you the choice of which one you want to run this is where easyBCD comes in - So you install both OS and run which ever one fires up, once in desktop, install and run easyBCD and choose the other OS bootloader and this will allow both bootloaders to appear when you turn your pc or laptop on giving you the choice of which OS to run.

Excellent idea manxspud and he is right there will be no need to shut down pc each time you want to change between operating systems you can just access XP from windows 8

Virtual drive - Get VMware Workstation and install on windows 8 - easy next next next instructions. It will create a partition of your hard drive. Run VMWare and then click on create new virtual machine and follow easy step by step instructions to install XP from either disc or image file (whatever you have) - installs just like it was a fresh main operating system

You now have a virtual xp accesible direct from windows 8 and can install all your XP software and run it in the virtual machine

Aswell as dual booting I also from time to time prefer this option as its easier to setup than dual booting and no need to do a fresh install of windows 7/8

If your into messing about and having a go at stuff then try the dual booting but if you want easy convenient no hassles then go down the virtual machine route

Hope this helps

[mini]

Having issues with easy bcd, do I have to first uninstall win8 as it still wont let me install win 7. I dont want to uninstall win 8 as not void warranty. Is there some EASY guide to use easybcd???

[m9g]

Read my above post - you dont need to do anything with easyBCD until you have both OS installed.

Have you partitioned your hard drive?

Thats the first thing to do then re-start pc and go into boot menu and choose boot from disc with the windows 7 disc in the drive then choose your new partition to install on.

Really need to consider the virtual drive option you might find it easier

[mini]

I think I've messed things up royally, its stuck on the acer start up screem. Only futher ir goes is to multik boot options where I have seven win7 options nand one win8. Which neither work. I'm trying repair but that doesnt seem to be going well. Pls I need some serious help.

[m9g]

I think I've messed things up royally, its stuck on the acer start up screem. Only futher ir goes is to multik boot options where I have seven win7 options nand one win8. Which neither work. I'm trying repair but that doesnt seem to be going well. Pls I need some serious help.

Seems to me with 7 windows 7 options on the boot screen you have been messing with easyBCD - DONT TOUCH EASYBCD TIL BOTH WINDOWS 7 AND 8 ARE INSTALLED.

HAVE YOU PARTITIONED THE HARD DRIVE????????????

If you have then stick your windows 7 disc in the cd drive, change your primary boot option to cd drive either F8 button does it or ESC button, even if you get into the bios change it in there to cd drive and then go through the windows 7 setup

I would think your windows 8 is still there

[m9g]

You really need to partition your drive first so you can install windows 7 on it

The only reason for using easyBCD is when you install an OS (windows 7) over another (windows 8) the windows 7 bootloader that tells the pc to boot that OS will overwrite the one already in there( windows 8), EasyBCD will help you put the original bootloader (windows 8) back in along side the one one you just installed (windows 7)

Heres another small guide i found for you that might help -

When you install a previous Windows version when a newer already present the boot environment of the newer Windows version (Windows 8 in your case) is replaced by the older Windows version (Windows 7 in your case).


BEFORE YOU DO ANY OF THE BELOW YOU NEED TO PARTITION DRIVE AND INSTALL WINDOWS 7 - HERES A GUIDE HOW TO DO IT


After both windows7 and 8 are installed heres what you could do:

1. Download and install Visual BCD (latest version is 0.9.3.1) in Windows 7.

2. Run "Dual-boot Repair" tool which has an "Automatic Repair" option, one click to repair boot environment.

After restart you should have a dual-boot menu with Windows 7 and Windows 8 (Win 8 will be default OS to boot).


Note:
If Windows 7 is missing from boot menu:

1. Install in Win 8 Visual BCD and run Visual BCD Editor.

2. Select "Create missing Windows loaders" from pop up menu. This will add Windows 7.



In both cases process is automated - no parameters, drives e.t.c to specify.