Dual Boot Help

[Trecaabade]

I am running windows 7 but wish to dual boot my machine with windows xp. I have a copy of XP, but when I restart my computer it doesn't seem to load the and boots up windows 7 straight away. It looks at the disc but only for a split second then does nothing about it.

 

I have been into my bios and set it so it will check the cd drive first, but nothing seems to happen. I have checked the disc while on windows 7 and the desk seems fine. it's all there.

 

is there something I am doing wrong. This is a new custom built pc, but I'm out of ideas. Any help would be happily received.

 

Thanks

 

Steven

[Jelly Bean]

Hello there.

 

Firstly have you partitioned the hard drive into two seprate partitions or are you trying to dual boot with C drive and a slave drive?

 

I also ask have you got a full install disk for Windows 7 as you may need it?

 

This may help:

 

http://apcmag.com/how_to_dual_boot_windows_xp_and_windows_7_xp_installed_first.htm

 

I cannot find the link for with Windows 7 installed first..

 

But if you look through the list on the right it is pritty much the same princible with Dual Booting most opererating systems.A little reading and learning and you should be fine.

[Trecaabade]

thanks for you reply. I have set up a dual boot before, but for some reason when I try to install xp after restarting the computer the BD drive reads the disc for a second then starts windows 7 straight away without reading the contents of the disc.

 

It's s a shame you can't start the install of windows xp from within windows 7.

 

I' ve looked through the bios I have changed the start up order to set the BD drive first then the hard drive, but it doesn't seem to work properly.

 

I really want to install xp so I can play KOTOR lol but I'm at a loss what do

[Jelly Bean]

Try this link.......

 

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/8790/dual-boot-your-pre-installed-windows-7-computer-with-xp/

[RandyL]

I thought I heard before that when setting up a dual boot you should always install the older operating system first.

 

Have you tried running the program in XP compatability mode?

[Jelly Bean]

Randy I have heard that also.....

[Plastic Nev]

There is another way round to run XP only games and programs, but you would need to upgrade from Windows7 home premium to Professional. You can then download free from Microsoft the XP virtual environment.

More about the virtual environment here,

 

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/

 

However you must upgrade to Professional for it to work.

Nev.

[Starbuck]

I heard before that when setting up a dual boot you should always install the older operating system first.

That's true.

If you add the oldest OS first you don't get any problems with the bootup procedure afterwards.

If you add XP after Vista or Win7 you'll need to run the startup repair from the Vista/Win7 disc to get the option to boot into Vista or Win7.

That was the problem i had, but it was easy to correct.