How do I create a dual boot system

[PETERG]

Hi all hope someone can help.
I have just upgraded to windows 7 pro so I had access to XP MODE, unfortunately I have discovered my laptop does not support virtualization, so that has gone tits up. Somebody has said I may be able to create a dual boot system by putting a partition on the hard drive, can anyone give me any advice / instructions how to do this?
I am not brilliant with pc's so as simple as possible would be appreciated.
also how to reduce the amount of space taken up by windows 7

[sheepfromek]

Howdy, not sure exactly what you are after here. Dual booting 7 and XP? Starting from scratch with an empty drive?

Anyway, have a look at :
The definitive dual-booting guide: Windows 7, Linux, Vista and XP step-by-step

Sections on dual booting a variety of OS`s Last section shows XP and windows 7 with XP installed already.

Have a look at link and see if that helps or give a bit more info on current state of play and what end result required is.

Good luck!

[PETERG]

Howdy, not sure exactly what you are after here. Dual booting 7 and XP? Starting from scratch with an empty drive?

Anyway, have a look at :
The definitive dual-booting guide: Windows 7, Linux, Vista and XP step-by-step

Sections on dual booting a variety of OS`s Last section shows XP and windows 7 with XP installed already.

Have a look at link and see if that helps or give a bit more info on current state of play and what end result required is.

Good luck!

Hi M8
I have 7 on my laptop, but want the option to run XP. My ideal would be to install XP on an external hard drive & have the option to boot from the ext hard drive via a usb connection.
canI add the option to boot from a usb device, if so how?

[chroma]

you might be able to boot from usb from your bios.

check in there, if youve got that option then its just a matter of slapping xp on the external and then making sure usb is your primary boot device.

That way when you dont want xp you just need to unplug before starting the machine to boot back into win7

[sheepfromek]

Agreed, should just be a case of checking start options in BIOS. Push USB up ahead of internal drive in boot order.
Problem with this is that you will probably not get anything like the level of performance you expect, running an OS from an external USB drive v internal hard disk. Suppose you try and see. (Here is a page on installing XP to USB Ngine.de - How to install and run a FULL Windows XP from a USB drive ). Might be better getting a 2nd hard drive?
Have fun.

[m9g]

I just created a dual boot with windows 7 first then installed XP. follow these instructions How to dual boot Vista and XP (with Vista installed first) -- the step-by-step guide with screenshots

It is for vista first but its the same for 7.

If you do 7 first then xp then xp will overwrite the windows 7 bootloader so everytime you fire up it will boot in xp so you need to re-install the 7 bootloader, use easybcd How to dual boot Vista and XP (with Vista installed first) -- the step-by-step guide with screenshots and when done you will get option of 7 or xp on startup.

Works perfectly and easy to do.

Other option is to download from microsoft the virtualXP for windows 7, this is pretty good and works fine.

Regards

M9G