Nov212011

How can I install Windows XP on a Windows 7 PC using dual boot?

Abhishek asks:

I am unable to install Windows XP on my Windows 7 PC. Every time I do the option to install Windows XP is greyed out or disabled. What can I do?



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5 Answers -

0 votes

Mike

November 21, 2011

I’m afraid you will have to reformat your entire Hard Drive beforehand.

Windows 7 uses the GUID Partition Table by default wherein Windows XP only supports Master Boot Record. Therefor when you try to install Windows XP it can’t find a partition to install to.

If you decide to reformat I strongly suggest to install Windows XP first and then Windows 7 afterwards. Windows 7 supports dual boot out of the box and will add both systems to the boot menu wherein Windows XP would replace the boot loader [which means you would have to manually reinstall it and add both boot options].

0 votes

Sonny Bass

November 21, 2011

Most likely your BIO’s has SATA type set to AHCI. XP will not load or run in this mode. I would recommend VirtualBox 
https://www.virtualbox.org/

0 votes

Mike

November 21, 2011

If the this is the case AHCI drivers can be supplied during the Windows XP installation using the F6 option

0 votes

FIDELIS

November 22, 2011

Hello, the best method is to install from older to newer operating system.  In your case, you have to do it from newer to older.  The following link will explain everything you need  and have to do to succeed: 
http://neosmart.net/wiki/display/EBCD/Installing+XP+After+Vista+or+7

Hello, these are links that deal on how to dual boot xp with vista/7:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/8057-dual-boot-installation-windows-7-xp.html
http://lifehacker.com/5126781/how-to-dual-boot-windows-7-with-xp-or-vista
http://www.techspot.com/guides/143-dual-boot-windows7/

There error you are getting can be solved by turning the SATA configuration to IDE in BIOS, if the option is there.  Downside with setting to IDEA is that you will loose some performance with the drive.  Or as Mike suggested, download the ACHI drivers for your system to a flashdrive/cd and installing them by using F6 button when installing XP.  

0 votes

Venkatesh Kashyap

December 3, 2011

install xp in FAT-32 file system.
win-7 in NTFS file system.