Is it safe to dual boot Windows 7 and Windows 10?

Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast

  1. Posts : 15
    Windows 10 Home
       #1

    Is it safe to dual boot Windows 7 and Windows 10?


    I remember seeing some stuff about how Windows 10 would wipe all other partitions, so I'm just wondering if that's still a problem.

    And if so, can you select which partition to install on? ( I'd assume definitely so, but.. )
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 1,248
    Windows 10 Pro (Build 19043.1110)
       #2

    Arcturus said:
    I remember seeing some stuff about how Windows 10 would wipe all other partitions, so I'm just wondering if that's still a problem.

    And if so, can you select which partition to install on? ( I'd assume definitely so, but.. )
    Sure it's safe - I do it every day, and have been all along. When you run the Win10 installer, simply select 'Custom Install', and you can choose what partition to put it on.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 1,625
    W7 Pro x64 | W10 IP x64 | Linux Mint VM
       #3

    Yep, I've been dual booting for quite a while now with no issues.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 22
    Win7 x64
       #4

    You need to turn off Fast/Hybrid startup though to avoid filesystem corruption.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 46
    64-bit 10240 10 Pro
       #5

    I have Win 10 and Win 7 installed on two separate hard drives and I tried and failed to dual boot then about 4 times. I even tried to use easybcd and failed.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 502
    Win 11 Pro 64 bit
       #6

    Gary said:
    I have Win 10 and Win 7 installed on two separate hard drives and I tried and failed to dual boot then about 4 times. I even tried to use easybcd and failed.
    I have Win 7 and Win 10 installed on two different SSD's and it works perfect. I always disconnect the other drives before installing any OS as in the past this caused a problem. Since I have disconnected the other drives prior to installing Win 10, it has worked perfect.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 3,502
    Win_8.1-Pro, Win_10.1607-Pro, Mint_17.3
       #7

    Arcturus said:
    I remember seeing some stuff about how Windows 10 would wipe all other partitions, so I'm just wondering if that's still a problem.

    And if so, can you select which partition to install on? ( I'd assume definitely so, but.. )
    Follow the steps in this tutorial and you'll be good-to-go.

    Windows 10 - Dual Boot with Windows 7 or Windows 8 - Windows 10 Forums

    Read through the tut and ask questions before beginning, it's easier to answer a question than correct a misstep.

    There have been some issues with some drives on some machines on some releases, but generally those are isolated cases. I had one back in rls 041 (or 049). It did NOT wipe my other volumes, but the System Reserve partition got fubar'd. It wasn't difficult to fix though.

    Please post a screen shot of Disk Management so members can provide advice specific to your machine.
    See: How to Post a Screenshot of Disk Management
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 46
    64-bit 10240 10 Pro
       #8

    I did follow the instructions but I did not see what to do after this:

    If you plan on installing Windows 10 to a separate empty hard drive, then you do not need to do anything now.

    My Windows 7 Disk does not have a 350 Mb space before win t starts

    Is it safe to dual boot Windows 7 and Windows 10?-disk.png

    My Win 10 does have one.


    I have Win 7 and Win 10 installed on two different SSD's and it works perfect. I always disconnect the other drives before installing any OS as in the past this caused a problem. Since I have disconnected the other drives prior to installing Win 10, it has worked perfect.
    I had Windows 7 disconnected when I installed Windows 10 but I do not use SSD's.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 3,502
    Win_8.1-Pro, Win_10.1607-Pro, Mint_17.3
       #9

    Gary said:
    I did follow the instructions but I did not see what to do after this: If you plan on installing Windows 10 to a separate empty hard drive, then you do not need to do anything now.
    My Windows 7 Disk does not have a 350 Mb space before win starts
    Is it safe to dual boot Windows 7 and Windows 10?-disk.png
    Thanks Gary,

    Let's try it this way. How do you want to install Win10
    upgrade your win7
    replace your win7
    dual boot with win7

    If you're going to replace win7, backup your data and the launch an elevated Command prompt
    enter the following commands (*** are comments not part of the command set)
    diskpart
    lis vol
    sel vol 1
    *** this should be your Win7 volume - the label helps identify it.
    *** if the Win7 volume is a different number - select that number
    lis dis
    *** the disk with Win7 on it should be the selected disk (there's an asterisk on the left of the selected object)
    ***
    *** if you are certain that you have the correct disk selected - be very certain! - issue the next command to wipe the disk
    clean
    exit *** exit diskpart
    exit *** exit cmd

    Now install Win10 (custom) onto the unallocated space from external media (USB or DVD)
    Don't format the disk - let Windows do all the work.

    If you want to multi-boot I suggest that you change the disk schema first. I'm not sure that it is required, but you've had some difficulties and it might be that your active partition is also your Win7 Boot partition.

    Minitool Partition Wizard makes this relatively easy.
    Free download Magic Partition Manager Software, partition magic alternative, free partition magic, partition magic Windows 7 and server partition software - Partition Wizard Online

    Download the Free Edition (top of the list)
    -- or --
    Partition Wizard Bootable CD Free Edition (2nd from the bottom)

    I tend to use the bootable CD when working on System disks - just so the OS doesn't argue or complain.

    One you have PW ready, I'd like to see a full Disk Managment screen shot before offering other advice.
    The process will go something like this
    1) shrink C: by 450 MB
    2) slide C: to the right so that there is 450 MB free on the left
    3) setup the System Reserve volume - I'll need to revisit the specs or look at my system for reference
    4) set the new System Reserve as the active partition
    5) Run Win7 Startup Repair move the necessary files form C: to System Reserve.

    Don't try this at home

    Let me know how you want to install Win10, post the full disk management screen shot, and get PW ready.
    I'll collect some other information that will help (there's a tutorial on SevenForums that describes moving the active partition from C: or to C: )

    This is a bit of work, but it's not too difficult. Most of it is preparation and information gathering. The actual process might take less than 30 minutes.

    Then once the disk schema look right to me, you can shrink C; some more (30 GB is enough to test Win10) and install Win10 to that unallocated space.

    The key in both scenarios is unallocated space.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 46
    64-bit 10240 10 Pro
       #10

    Thanks slarty but at this point I really do not want to re install Windows 10. The last time I shrunk my Windows 7 disk it took a couple of hours. My wife is leaving for Arizona in the morning so I will be tied up with that. I think the problem is that I do not have the open space before the Win 7 install as you said. I also have move windows 7 back and forth to several drives using MR. I don't know if that is a problem but it could be. Thanks Again for your help.
      My Computer


 

  Related Discussions
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 10 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 10" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:39.
Find Us




Windows 10 Forums