Can't install two copies of windows 10 on same computer using WMCT

Hello bnthomason,

Dual Boot Windows 10 with Windows 7 or Windows 8 this should help you get the 2nd copy installed if you already have the first one installed and working.

Backup and Restore with Macrium Reflect do this first if you don't have one and highly recommend you make a MR Rescue USB too.

bnthomason said:

Do I have to do windows 7 or 8? I prefer 10.

No, that post just gives you the process to install the second OS . In your case install your second 10.

Thanks - So that be
Apply Windows Image using DISM Instead of Clean Install

NavyLCDR said:

Not really. Mount the ISO file in your current Windows then apply the image from install.wim or install.esd to the partition you created for the second installation of Windows. Then you need to run a bcdboot command to add it to the Windows boot menu.

I do similar but usually install second OS in a virtual hard drive instead as that saves creating addition partitions, and easy to remove/delete. Overall, this is generally more space efficient using expandable vhds.

Only minor downside is you have to attach it to Hyper-v or similar to do a major build upgrade (not needed for normal cumulative updates).

I even have a batch file that does it all, and a lot more beside. It is quite customisable. Only pre-requisite is you need some wadk files installed to create iso (see part V of Create Windows 10 ISO image from Existing Installation | Tutorials (tenforums.com))

Code:

echo on


REM SET UP DEFAULTS ----------------------------------------------


REM SET DEFAULT PATHS AND DRIVES FOR NON INTERACTIVE ITEMS (ONLY CHANGE AS REQUIRED)


REM MOUNTED ISO DRIVE LETTER
SET ISODRIVE=D
Set /p ISODRIVE= ^> Enter Drive Letter of iso (Default=%ISODRIVE%) and press "Enter":


REM CHECK IF INSTALL.WIM IN ISO
IF EXIST %ISODRIVE%:\SOURCES\INSTALL.WIM goto :WIM1
IF EXIST %ISODRIVE%:\SOURCES\INSTALL.ESD goto :ESD1
ECHO NO INSTALL.WIM (or INSTALL.ESD) IN ISO
GOTO :CONT3
:ESD1
ECHO ISO HAS INSTALL.ESD - NEED ISO WITH INSTALL.WIM
GOTO :CONT3


:WIM1
REM DRIVE LETTER FOR VHD WHEN MOUNTED TO CREATE DUAL BOOT - USE UNCOMMON LETTER
SET VHDdrive=T


REM SET DRIVE AND PATH OF WORKING FILES (no quotes even if spaces, no trailing \)
SET DRV=C
SET Updateiso=\isos\Updateiso


REM SET DRIVE AND PATH OF WHERE TO STORE ISO IF CREATED (no quotes even if spaces, no trailing \)
SET IDRV=C
SET Newiso=%Updateiso%\newisos


REM SET DEFAULT DRIVE AND PATH OF ANY DRIVER FILES TO BE COPIED (no quotes even if spaces, no trailing \)
REM FILES ARE COPIED TO %Updateiso%\Drivers-Boot / Wim  FOR SUBSEQUENT USE WITHOUT HAVING TO COPY EVERY TIME
SET DRIVERFILES-Wim=%DRV%:\%Updateiso%\PutNeWDriversHere\Drivers-Install.Wim
SET DRIVERFILES-Boot=%DRV%:\%Updateiso%\PutNeWDriversHere\Drivers-Boot.Wim


REM SET DEFAULT DRIVE AND PATH WHERE TO STORE VHDS IF CREATED (no quotes even if spaces, no trailing \)
SET VDRV=C
REM THIS  DIRECTORY MUST EXIST
SET HYPERFILES=\Virtual Hard Disks


REM SET MAXIMUM VHD SIZE IN MB
SET Maxvhdsize=100000


REM SET DEFAULT NAMES FOR NEW ISOS  - vhdname defaults to same name as iso
SET isoname=IsoNew
 
REM SET INTERACTIVE DEFAULTS


REM SET DEFAULT TO CREATE DUAL BOOT OPTION (set to Y or y to create, N or n to not create)
SET dualboot=N


REM SET DEFAULT TO CREATE AS UEFI OPTION (set to U or u  for UEFI, B or b for Bios to create)
SET uefimbr=U


REM SET DEFAULT TO INSTALL AS S-MODE (set to N or n for normal, S or s for S-Mode)
SET smode=N


REM set to Y or y to copy new ones, P or p for previous ones, N or n to not copy (i.e. use ones previously copied)
SET COPYDRIVERS=P


REM SET DEFAULT BOOT.WIM INDEX - USUALLY 2 in most cases unless using a custom boot wim where may vary
SET BIND=2


REM SET DEFAULT EDITION TO INSTALL - NOTE: SKUID IS NOT THE SKU INDEX
REM SKUID 1=HOME, 2=HOME N, 3=HOME SL, 4=EDU, 5=EDU N, 6=PRO, 7=PRO N, 8=PRO EDU,
REM SKUID 9=PRO EDU N, 10=PRO Workstations, 11=PRO N Workstations, 12=WINPE
SET SKUID=6


REM SET DEFAULT WINDOWS VERSION
SET WINVER=10


REM ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


REM CREATE FILE STRUCTURE IF NOT EXISTING


%DRV%:
md %Updateiso%


cd %Updateiso%
md offline
md diskpart
md Drivers-Boot.Wim
md Drivers-Install.Wim
md newisos
md newvhds
md smode
rd %Updateiso%\isofiles /s /q
md isofiles


REM ------------------- END OF DEFAULT SETUPS ------------------------------------
REM DELETE NEXT TWO LINES IF YOU WANT TO INJECT DRIVERS
REM SET COPYDRIVERS=N
REM GOTO :CONT5






DISM /cleanup-mountpoints




SET /p WINVER= ^> Enter Windows version 10 or 11. Default = %WINVER% and press "Enter":
IF %WINVER%==10 goto :CONTX
IF %WINVER%==11 goto :CONTX
:LOOPBACK0
GOTO :LOOPBACK0


:CONTX
ECHO VERSION IS %WINVER%
 


:LOOPBACK1
SET /p COPYDRIVERS= ^> Enter Y or y to copy new drivers, P or p to use previously copied drivers, N or n for none and press "Enter":
IF %COPYDRIVERS%==N goto :CONT5
IF %COPYDRIVERS%==n goto :CONT5
IF %COPYDRIVERS%==Y goto :CONT6
IF %COPYDRIVERS%==y goto :CONT6
IF %COPYDRIVERS%==P goto :CONT5
IF %COPYDRIVERS%==p goto :CONT5
GOTO :LOOPBACK1




:LOOPBACK1A
SET /p COPYDRIVERS= ^> Enter Y or y to copy new drivers, P or p to use previously copied drivers, N or n for none and press "Enter":
IF %COPYDRIVERS%==N goto :CONT5
IF %COPYDRIVERS%==n goto :CONT5
IF %COPYDRIVERS%==Y goto :CONT6
IF %COPYDRIVERS%==y goto :CONT6
IF %COPYDRIVERS%==P goto :CONT5
IF %COPYDRIVERS%==p goto :CONT5
GOTO :LOOPBACK1A


:CONT6


xcopy /e /q /y "%DRV%:%Updateiso%\PutNewDriversHere\Drivers-Install.Wim\*.*"  "%DRV%:%Updateiso%\Drivers-Install.Wim\"


xcopy /e /q /y %DRV%:%Updateiso%\PutNewDriversHere\Drivers-Boot.Wim\*.*      "%DRV%:%Updateiso%\Drivers-Boot.Wim\"


  
:CONT5


SET /p BIND= ^> Enter Boot.wim Index Number (Default=%BIND%) and press "Enter":


Set /p SKUID= ^> Enter Edition to install-  SKU ID (not index) 1=HOME,2=HOME N, 3=HOME SL, 4=EDU, 5=EDU N, 6=PRO, 7=PRO N, 8=PRO EDU, 9=PRO EDU N, 10=PRO Workstations, 11=PRO N Workstations, 12=WinPE  (Default=%SKUID%) and press "Enter":




IF %WINVER%==11 goto :WIN11


if %SKUID%==1 SET SKUNAME="Windows 10 Home"
if %SKUID%==2 SET SKUNAME="Windows 10 Home N"
if %SKUID%==3 SET SKUNAME="Windows 10 Home Single Language"
if %SKUID%==4 SET SKUNAME="Windows 10 Education"
if %SKUID%==5 SET SKUNAME="Windows 10 Education N"
if %SKUID%==6 SET SKUNAME="Windows 10 Pro"
if %SKUID%==7 SET SKUNAME="Windows 10 Pro N"
if %SKUID%==8 SET SKUNAME="Windows 10 Pro Education"
if %SKUID%==9 SET SKUNAME="Windows 10 Pro Education N"
if %SKUID%==10 SET SKUNAME="Windows 10 Pro for Workstations"
if %SKUID%==11 SET SKUNAME="Windows 10 Pro for Workstations N"


echo %SKUID%, %SKUNAME%


goto :CONTQ


:WIN11
if %SKUID%==1 SET SKUNAME="Windows 11 Home"
if %SKUID%==2 SET SKUNAME="Windows 11 Home N"
if %SKUID%==3 SET SKUNAME="Windows 11 Home Single Language"
if %SKUID%==4 SET SKUNAME="Windows 11 Education"
if %SKUID%==5 SET SKUNAME="Windows 11 Education N"
if %SKUID%==6 SET SKUNAME="Windows 11 Pro"
if %SKUID%==7 SET SKUNAME="Windows 11 Pro N"
if %SKUID%==8 SET SKUNAME="Windows 11 Pro Education"
if %SKUID%==9 SET SKUNAME="Windows 11 Pro Education N"
if %SKUID%==10 SET SKUNAME="Windows 11 Pro for Workstations"
if %SKUID%==11 SET SKUNAME="Windows 11 Pro for Workstations N"


echo %SKUID%, %SKUNAME%


:CONTQ




set /p isoname= ^> Enter iso name (no extension) - Default is %isoname% and press "Enter" - enter n or N if you do not want an iso:


CLS


:LOOPBACK4


set /p smode= ^> Enter N or n to install OS as normal, or enter S or s to install as S-Mode - Default is %smode% "Enter":
echo %smode%
if %smode%==N goto :LOOPBACK5
if %smode%==n goto :LOOPBACK5
if %smode%==S goto :LOOPBACK5
if %smode%==s goto :LOOPBACK5


REM reenter if not N,n,S or s
goto :LOOPBACK4


:LOOPBACK5


set /p uefimbr= ^> Enter U or u to install OS as UEFI, or enter B or b to boot as BIOS - Default is %uefimbr% "Enter":
echo %uefimbr%
if %uefimbr%==U goto :LOOPBACK3
if %uefimbr%==u goto :LOOPBACK3
if %uefimbr%==B goto :LOOPBACK3
if %uefimbr%==b goto :LOOPBACK3


REM reenter if not U,u,B or b
goto :LOOPBACK5




:LOOPBACK3


set /p dualboot= ^> Select install OS a vhd ONLY, iso or dual boot (I , i for iso only, Y , y to dual Boot, V , v for VHD only) - Default is %dualboot% "Enter":
echo %dualboot%
if %dualboot%==y goto :CONT1
if %dualboot%==Y goto :CONT1
if %dualboot%==V goto :CONT1
if %dualboot%==v goto :CONT1
if %dualboot%==i goto :CONT2
if %dualboot%==I goto :CONT2
REM reenter if not Y,y,N or n
goto :LOOPBACK3


:CONT1
set vhdname=%isoname%
if %isoname%==n set vhdname=NewVHD
if %isoname%==N set vhdname=NewVHD
set /p vhdname= ^> Enter vhd name (no extension) - Default is %vhdname% and press "Enter":


:CONT2






REM ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


REM COPY FILES FROM MOUNTED ISO DRIVE
cd isofiles
xcopy /e /y /q %ISODRIVE%:\*.* *.*
 


REM --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


REM CREATE EI.CFG IN SOURCES FOLDER - COMMENT OUT HYPERV
rem echo [CHANNEL] > "%DRV%:\isos\%Updateiso%\isofiles\sources\ei.cfg"
rem echo Retail >> "%DRV%:%Updateiso%\isofiles\sources\ei.cfg"




REM ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IF %COPYDRIVERS%==N goto :SMODEMAKE
IF %COPYDRIVERS%==n goto :SMODEMAKE


REM ADD DRIVERS TO BOOT.WIM
DISM /Mount-Wim /WimFile:"%DRV%:%Updateiso%\isofiles\sources\boot.wim" /Index:%BIND% /MountDir:"%DRV%:%Updateiso%\offline"
DISM /Image:"%DRV%:%Updateiso%\offline" /Add-Driver /Driver:"%DRV%:%Updateiso%\Drivers-Boot.Wim" /recurse
DISM /Unmount-Wim /MountDir:"%DRV%:%Updateiso%\offline" /Commit
 
if %SKUID%==12 goto :ISOMAKE
  
REM ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
REM ADD DRIVERS TO INSTALL.WIM


DISM /Mount-Wim /WimFile:"%DRV%:%Updateiso%\isofiles\sources\install.wim" /name:%SKUNAME% /MountDir:"%DRV%:%Updateiso%\offline"
DISM /Image:"%DRV%:%Updateiso%\offline" /Add-Driver /Driver:"%DRV%:%Updateiso%\Drivers-Install.Wim" /recurse
DISM /Unmount-Wim /MountDir:"%DRV%:%Updateiso%\offline" /Commit
  
 
REM----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
:SMODEMAKE


if %isoname%==N goto :DUAL
if %isoname%==n goto :DUAL
if %smode%==n goto :ISOMAKE
if %smode%==N goto :ISOMAKE




REM CREATE MYUNATTEND.XML
echo ^<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?^> > "%DRV%:%Updateiso%\smode\myunattend.xml"
echo ^<unattend xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:unattend"^> >> "%DRV%:%Updateiso%\smode\myunattend.xml"
echo ^<settings pass="offlineServicing"^> >> "%DRV%:%Updateiso%\smode\myunattend.xml"
echo ^<component name="Microsoft-Windows-CodeIntegrity" >> "%DRV%:%Updateiso%\smode\myunattend.xml"
echo processorArchitecture="amd64" >> "%DRV%:%Updateiso%\smode\myunattend.xml"
echo publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" >> "%DRV%:%Updateiso%\smode\myunattend.xml"
echo versionScope="nonSxS" >> "%DRV%:%Updateiso%\smode\myunattend.xml"
echo xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" >> "%DRV%:%Updateiso%\smode\myunattend.xml"
echo xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"^> >> "%DRV%:%Updateiso%\smode\myunattend.xml"
echo ^<SkuPolicyRequired^>1^</SkuPolicyRequired^> >> "%DRV%:%Updateiso%\smode\myunattend.xml"
echo ^</component^> >> "%DRV%:%Updateiso%\smode\myunattend.xml"
echo ^</settings^> >> "%DRV%:%Updateiso%\smode\myunattend.xml"
echo xmlns:cpi="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:cpi" /^> >> "%DRV%:%Updateiso%\smode\myunattend.xml"
echo ^</unattend^> >> "%DRV%:%Updateiso%\smode\myunattend.xml"


DISM /Mount-Wim /WimFile:"%DRV%:%Updateiso%\isofiles\sources\install.wim" /name:%SKUNAME% /MountDir:"%DRV%:%Updateiso%\offline"
DISM /Image:"%DRV%:%Updateiso%\offline" /Apply-Unattend:%DRV%:%Updateiso%\smode\myunattend.xml
DISM /Unmount-Wim /MountDir:"%DRV%:%Updateiso%\offline" /Commit
DISM /cleanup-mountpoints




REM----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
REM CREATE ISO
:ISOMAKE


C:
CD "\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Assessment and Deployment Kit\Deployment Tools\amd64\Oscdimg"
oscdimg.exe -m -o -u2 -udfver102 -bootdata:2#p0,e,b"%DRV%:%Updateiso%\isofiles\boot\etfsboot.com"#pEF,e,b"%DRV%:%Updateiso%\isofiles\efi\microsoft\boot\efisys.bin" "%DRV%:%Updateiso%\isofiles" "%IDRV%:%Newiso%\%isoname%.iso"
if %SKUID%==12 goto :CONT3


REM ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
:DUAL
REM CREATE DUAL BOOT VHD AND INSTALL IT IF REQUIRED


C:
CD\
if %dualboot%==I goto :CONT3
if %dualboot%==i goto :CONT3


REM CREATE DISKPART.TXT


if %uefimbr%==B goto :MBRBOOT
if %uefimbr%==b goto :MBRBOOT


@echo create vdisk file="%VDRV%:%Hyperfiles%\%vhdname%.vhdx" maximum=%Maxvhdsize% type=expandable > %DRV%:%Updateiso%\diskpart\diskpart.txt
@echo select vdisk file="%VDRV%:%Hyperfiles%\%vhdname%.vhdx" >> "%DRV%:%Updateiso%\diskpart\diskpart.txt"
@echo attach vdisk >> "%DRV%:%Updateiso%\diskpart\diskpart.txt"
@echo convert gpt >> "%DRV%:%Updateiso%\diskpart\diskpart.txt"
@echo create partition primary >> "%DRV%:%Updateiso%\diskpart\diskpart.txt"
@echo format fs=ntfs quick label="Windows" >> "%DRV%:%Updateiso%\diskpart\diskpart.txt"
@echo assign letter=%VHDdrive% >> "%DRV%:%Updateiso%\diskpart\diskpart.txt"
goto :VHDCREATE


:MBRBOOT


@echo create vdisk file="%VDRV%:%Hyperfiles%\%vhdname%.vhdx" maximum=%Maxvhdsize% type=expandable > %DRV%:%Updateiso%\diskpart\diskpart.txt
@echo select vdisk file="%VDRV%:%Hyperfiles%\%vhdname%.vhdx" >> "%DRV%:%Updateiso%\diskpart\diskpart.txt"
@echo attach vdisk >> "%DRV%:%Updateiso%\diskpart\diskpart.txt"
@echo convert mbr >> "%DRV%:%Updateiso%\diskpart\diskpart.txt"
@echo create partition primary >> "%DRV%:%Updateiso%\diskpart\diskpart.txt"
@echo select partition 1 >> "%DRV%:%Updateiso%\diskpart\diskpart.txt"
@echo assign letter=%VHDdrive% >> "%DRV%:%Updateiso%\diskpart\diskpart.txt"
@echo format fs=ntfs quick label="Windows" >> "%DRV%:%Updateiso%\diskpart\diskpart.txt"
@echo active >> "%DRV%:%Updateiso%\diskpart\diskpart.txt"


:VHDCREATE


REM CREATE VHD
diskpart /s "%DRV%:%Updateiso%\diskpart\diskpart.txt"


REM INSTALL OS IN VHD DRIVE
DISM /apply-image /imagefile:"%DRV%:%Updateiso%\isofiles\sources\install.wim" /name:%SKUNAME% /applydir:%VHDdrive%:\


if %dualboot%==V goto :CONT3
if %dualboot%==v goto :CONT3


REM ADD BOOT ENTRY TO BCD
bcdboot %VHDdrive%:\windows /p /d


:CONT3


@ECHO PROCESS IS COMPLETE
pause