Existing Windows 7 - Adding XP On VHD (external) To Make "dual Boot"?

Oct 12, 2012

A while ago I was using Windows XP Pro on my laptop. I was then forced to switch completely to Windows 7, but because I had so many application and configurations done on the XP, I created a VHD from it (using this) before replacing it. Now, I want to know if its possible to set that VHD beside my current OS as dual boot.I searched and found solutions, but those are either to add a new VHD (Windows 8 mostly) to the dual boot, or loading VHD in virtual machines.Also, if it is possible, can I copy the VHD on my external HDD and load it every time from there?The whole idea is because my laptop is not so powerful and it wouldn't handle VMs very well. Because of the same reason, XP Mode is not an option.Normal dual boot also is not preferred for two reasons:

1. I want my configurations which are already set on the VHD,

2. My laptop's HDD is only 150GB which does not have too much capacity left already. I can spare like 20-30GBs for XP, but I really cannot deal with the dual booting mess now! I will rarely use the XP for specific tasks, so VHD would be much easier if I will have the option.

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How To Dual Boot Windows 7 64-bit With Existing Vista 32-bit

Jul 1, 2011

I have an HP quad core machine with OEM Vista Home Premium 32-bit installed. It has never been connected to the internet (only my home network) since I have only used it for video editing and a few other particular tasks that do not require internet access. My thinking was that by keeping it "virgin" I would maintain fast boot times and that out-of-the-box snappiness. Set it up with several specific types of software, remove everything that isn't important (like AV software), and only install things via USB when necessary. For three years I've succeeded and the box is as fast as the day I set it up. It sits sequestered in its tower still wearing its chastity belt, oblivious to the evils of the outside world.

Unfortunately my main online machine (Vista 64-bit) just suffered the indignity of a failed motherboard. It's not worth repairing. Luckily the hard drive is intact. Here is my plan of action. I'd like to know if it makes sense, if it's doable, and, if so, the best way to go about it.

I'd like to set up a dual boot system. A year ago I purchased a full Windows 7 installation using the student discount available at the time. My virgin machine is capable of handling Windows 7 64-bit, so I'd like to install that (have already downloaded the ISO and burned it to a dvd). What I want to do is throw in an entirely new hard drive and install Windows 7 64-bit on it. I would then leave the Vista 32-bit existing installation intact and untouched. I would end up with three SATA drives in the HP tower -- 1) main drive with the existing, virgin OEM Vista 32 installation, 2) brand-new drive on which I would install Windows 7 64-bit, 3) drive I pulled from my dead Vista 64-bit machine, including lots of data and settings.

I would gradually set up the Windows 7 to mirror what I was doing on the machine that just died (I still have access to all of the important settings I need on the hard drive). When I want to do my regular stuff on the net I'll use the new Windows 7 64-bit installation. When I want to do the video and photo stuff I've been doing the last three years I'll boot to the virgin Vista installation (maybe even unplugging from the net while doing so).

So, can I do this? Will I maintain the snappiness of my current setup by making sure that when I boot to the existing Vista 32 install that I stay offline? If all answers are yes, how do I do it? For example, do I just install a new hard drive and then tell the machine to boot to the dvd drive and then install Windows 7 to that new drive from there? If so, how does the dual boot part of it go (or is it automatic and I'll be asked each time I turn on the machine?)

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Can I install a dual boot with an existing XP OS with a 64 bit w7?

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Nov 11, 2011

I have a install of Windows 7 on my computer which I am not willing to remove and reinstall. I would like to try out the Windows 8 developer trials, it seems logical given my situation to dual boot, allowing me to keep my current install and test Windows 8 simultaneously. I have a spare 80gb hard drive I could use, or I could create a partition on one of my existing hard drives, but a partition is much less ideal. I have tried dual booting linux on the hard drive before, but the linux drive over rode my dual boot set up (I obviously did something wrong), and I could only boot to linux.

How can I safely dual boot Windows 8 on this hard drive (or a partition if necessary), while keeping my Windows 7 install and data in-tact? Just to let you know I have over a TB of data spread over 2 drives but only 2 TB of hard drive space, so I can't back up a lot of my data, just a heads up.

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Jun 23, 2011

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Jan 16, 2011

I am thinking about dual-booting my system with Windows 7 as the main OS, and linux ubuntu as a secondary. I have a few questions:

1. How much space should I leave for ubuntu's partition?
2. How do I make a swap partition (or whatever it is called, for swapping files between OS's)?
3. Can I set it up to automatically boot into windows unless I am holding down a specific key, or something similar?

BTW, my HDD is ~500gb, but my current (factory) windows partition is 450gb.

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May 31, 2012

I have several HDD and one SSD. The SSD was my boot "C" drive and single win 7 OS. The SSD failed so I installed Win 7 on one of the back-up HDD. The install made that drive "C". I replaced the SSD and installed WIn 7 as a second OS on the SSD and it became drive "B". I can boot to either OS install on start-up but regardless of which install I boot with, drive "C" becomes the active system drive, even though the desktops are different (as they shoujld be for the two OS installs). SO, even if I boot from the SSD "B" drive, in windows disk manamgent it indicates that "C" is the "system" and "active" drive while it will indicate that "B" is the "boot" drive.

I want to format drive C so I can change its drive letter and reinstall Win 7 as a single OS to the SSD and make it drive "C", but windows will not let me change drive letters or format the current HDD labeled as "C" - obviously because it considers it the active sytem drive even when I've booted from the "B" SSD.

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Dec 6, 2009

I've just got a new HP laptop with windows 7 Home Premium.

Anytime Upgraded to Ultimate.

i want to boot to windows XP (SP2) on this new laptop..(Not necessarily Dual-Boot). there is only on program i need to use under XP.

the dual-booting tutorials here are quite in depth and potentially problematic for none techie like me. i would prefer not re-partion the drive and 'hide' one operating system from the other, so what i would prefer to do is this...

1. Plug in an External hard drive (USB 2.0).Clean and factory formatted.

2. Go into my BIOS > Disable boot from internal hard drive > enable boot from CD Drive (first)

3. Exit BIOS having saved changes

4. insert win XP Install disk in drive.

So, in theory XP Install should be like on a brand new machine.

when i want to use windows 7 i would reverse the BIOS changes and make sure external drive with XP is not connected.

So, windows 7 would not know XP is even in use.

Is all this viable... or is there something that would prevent it from working?

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Dec 30, 2009

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Mar 3, 2011

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Aug 10, 2011

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May 8, 2012

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Jan 4, 2013

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Feb 4, 2013

My OS of choice back then was MS Windows, however after Windows XP I moved to OSX. About two years ago I knew I needed to get back involved with Windows and bought my Lenovo Laptop running Windows 7 Home Premium. I then installed Windows 8 Consumer Preview on a different partition and upgraded to Windows 8 Pro when it became available. I am now looking to install a distro of Linux and can't seem to find any information of doing so. I don't know which Windows partition it would be best to install it on 7 or 8. Also I understand that Ubuntu have a Windows Installer wubi, but I have heard horror stories after the installation. My main fear is losing Windows 7 or 8 and if the entire process is too risky I'll just leave it altogether. So I guess my question is has anyone installed a Linux distro on a PC which originally came pre installed with Windows 7 and then added Windows 8 to a partition?

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Dec 7, 2011

i have just installed a new motherboard/cpu/ram and i am just trying to start windows 7 from an existing hard drive, with it already installed. i have heard that if windows 7 was pre installed on your computer then it will not work. is this true?if needs be, i have a brand new copy of windows 7 that i can make a new start from. question 1. how do i make a new install of windows 7 if it wont boot in the first place. question 2. will i be able to keep my programs/files on this hard drive?

specs

mobo: biostar n68s3+
cpu: amd athlon ii x4 3.0ghz
os. windows 7

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Jun 4, 2011

So, I've added a second hard drive to my Windows machine and now it will not boot up. I added the new hard drive on SATA 3. The original is SATA 1, and my DVD is SATA 0. This is how it's always been; I've changed nothing else. I don't have any idea where to start fixing this. I have a dual boot with Ubuntu on the same SATA drive 1, and that boots just fine. I switched on the new hard drive in the BIOS, and flipped a few other options on and off to no avail.When the computer boots I choose the Win7 install. Then it will take me to a screen that asks me if I want to start windows normally, or do a disk repair. Starting normally gets you nowhere, it will just end up resetting the computer. Starting the disk check will do a scan for a few minutes and then ask me if I want to send an error report. Clicking yes or no doesn't seem to matter because after that the only option is to shutdown or reboot.When this first started I at one point had the option to do a system restore, but I didn't think it was necessary so I didn't. I no longer receive that option or I would try it at this point

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Feb 4, 2011

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