Win 10 on old hardware + Dual boot with XP?

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  1. Calab
    Posts : 57
    Windows 11
       New #1

    Win 10 on old hardware + Dual boot with XP?


    I have an old PC, based on a Gigabyte GA-M61P-S3 mainboard with an Athlon 64 3800+ CPU and four gig of memory. It is currently running Windows XP SP3. I would like to install Windows 10 Home 64bit on this machine, hopefully dual booting with Windows XP.

    Why? This computer has:
    - LPT port
    - Serial port
    - Firewire port
    - PCIe and PCI slots
    - SCSI controller card
    - Floppy drive
    - Software that doesn't work on anything newer than XP - EPROM burner, etc.
    - Win XP with Chrome/IE can't use most internet sites so downloads/searches are difficult.

    This machine does not have a UEFI BIOS. Can I create a non-UEFI Windows 10 USB installer stick? Will Windows 10 even install on this computer?

    If I can install Windows 10, is there a way to have this machine dual boot between Windows XP 32bit and Windows 10 Home 64bit?

    Performance is not an issue as long as it works. I do a lot of work with old hardware so still need to access floppy disks and SCSI devices and my new machine won't support either.
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  3. Malneb
    Posts : 1,211
    Windows 10
       New #2

    yes it will probably run slow but if you disable all the graphical stuff it will be better.
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  4. Steve C
    Posts : 7,906
    Windows 11 Pro 64 bit
       New #3

    It should work fine. Install a SSD system if you don't have one.
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  6. Malneb
    Posts : 1,211
    Windows 10
       New #4

    SSD won't make an overall impact on a computer from this era. I mean it will but this platform is 20-25 years old its going to be slow regardless.

    - - - Updated - - -

    3DNow! - Wikipedia!
    This old have not heard this for a long time.
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  7. Steve C
    Posts : 7,906
    Windows 11 Pro 64 bit
       New #5

    Malneb said:
    SSD won't make an overall impact on a computer from this era. I mean it will but this platform is 20-25 years old its going to be slow regardless.

    - - - Updated - - -

    3DNow! - Wikipedia!
    This old have not heard this for a long time.
    You are wrong. I've installed Windows 10 on the same CPU and installing a SSD made a huge difference.
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  8. Malneb
    Posts : 1,211
    Windows 10
       New #6

    Not really

    I never said this as a clear cut statement, it was intend as mileage will vary as this platform is already old and slow so don't expect a SSD to be the last saving grace that boosts your performance considerably because it won't.

    We are also talking about a max clock of around 2.7ghz without actually looking it up which is slow paired with 800mhz DDR 2 yea its slow.

    This was also not intended to be a tit for tat either. When i stated...
    Malneb said:
    yes it will probably run slow but if you disable all the graphical stuff it will be better.
    I was just making a generalization because windows 10 will be slow on a PC from this era no two ways around it.
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  9. Calab
    Posts : 57
    Windows 11
    Thread Starter
       New #7

    So... my status so far...

    I was able to install Windows 10 from a DVD. I could not get it to boot from a USB stick.

    I used my Windows 8.1 Pro key to install. Windows 10 Pro installed without me having to select it, but now Windows 10 says it won't activate. [edit] Was able activate using a different key[/edit]

    For some reason, Windows 10 is reporting that I have 5 gig of memory installed with 4.87 as usable. I'm pretty sure that I only have four 1 gig sticks installed, but I will pull them and check again.

    I do have a 60 gig SSD spare that I was thinking of installing for %TEMP% and swap file only. Not sure how much of a difference it would make, but it definitely would not be enough to install XP and Win 10 on.
    Last edited by Calab; 24 Oct 2022 at 08:36.
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  10. Compumind
    Posts : 5,048
    Windows 10/11 Pro x64, Various Linux Builds, Networking, Storage, Cybersecurity Specialty.
       New #8

    @Calab -

    IMHO...

    Any new PC you buy today will do you a world of good.
    Time to migrate away from floppy disks and the like.

    I wouldn't waste any funds on an SSD.

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  12. Calab
    Posts : 57
    Windows 11
    Thread Starter
       New #9

    Compumind said:
    @Calab -
    IMHO...

    Any new PC you buy today will do you a world of good.
    Time to migrate away from floppy disks and the like.

    I wouldn't waste any funds on an SSD.
    Hard to migrate away from FDD and SCSI when you are working on C64's, Atari ST's, Amigas, et al.
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  13. cereberus
    Posts : 15,494
    Windows10
       New #10

    Calab said:
    I have an old PC, based on a Gigabyte GA-M61P-S3 mainboard with an Athlon 64 3800+ CPU and four gig of memory. It is currently running Windows XP SP3. I would like to install Windows 10 Home 64bit on this machine, hopefully dual booting with Windows XP.

    Why? This computer has:
    - LPT port
    - Serial port
    - Firewire port
    - PCIe and PCI slots
    - SCSI controller card
    - Floppy drive
    - Software that doesn't work on anything newer than XP - EPROM burner, etc.
    - Win XP with Chrome/IE can't use most internet sites so downloads/searches are difficult.

    This machine does not have a UEFI BIOS. Can I create a non-UEFI Windows 10 USB installer stick? Will Windows 10 even install on this computer?

    If I can install Windows 10, is there a way to have this machine dual boot between Windows XP 32bit and Windows 10 Home 64bit?

    Performance is not an issue as long as it works. I do a lot of work with old hardware so still need to access floppy disks and SCSI devices and my new machine won't support either.
    Probably easier to install XP in Hyper-V - many web guides.

    Tricky part is seeing floppy disk in Hyper-V but it can be done

    Can a Hyper-V VM Read a Floppy Disk? -- Redmondmag.com

    No idea if you can get that to work with an XP guest but worth a try?
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