Dual Boot Windows 7 with Windows 10

I am currently running Windows 10 and I would like to install Windows 7. I have the iso and it is burned to the disc. I would like to know how to go about installing, updating, but mainly updating the correct drivers. Any guide I can follow? DO NOT get confused, I am currently running windows 10 and would like to dual boot windows 7​. Thanks in advance!

NavyLCDR said:

Create and NTFS format a partition to hold Windows 7. From inside Windows 10 - run setup.exe from the disc - do NOT boot from the disc - just put it in with Windows 10 running and run Windows 7 setup.exe from it. Using the custom setup options, point it to the blank NTFS formatted partition to install to that you created for it.

Of course you will have to have your Windows 7 Product Key to enter.

What would happen if I did boot from it?

appss said:

What would happen if I did boot from it?

It would likely create a completely new and isolated install of Windows 7 with brand new boot files and you would have to set up dual booting manually.

Charlie said:

Maybe you would not see your dual boot start page and would only be able to boot into 7 with 10 gone missing. That would stop the fun some huh?

Haha sure would! So just burn the iso to a disc and run setup.exe from there? And how about drivers and what not?

If you start the Win 7 install while you are running Win 10, Win 7 will not be the "C" drive when you boot Win 7.
It will be some other drive letter. (unless MS changed the way this works with Win 10)

The problem you have is you are installing an older OS (W7) after installing a newer OS (W10).
Win 7 doesn't understand the Win 10 Boot code, so it can't update it correctly.

Can you install Win 7 on a different HD/SSD than the HD/SSD you have Win 10 installed on ?

Post a screen print of your Disk Management, resizing fields to show all data, explained here:
Disk Management - How to Post a Screenshot of - Windows 10 Forums

Make sure you have your network driver available somewhere, such as a flash stick.
Read more about getting drivers in this tutorial (Step 6):
Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 - Windows 7 Help Forums

You should have everything backed up before making changes, so you can recover if anything goes wrong.
For OS Image backups i prefer Macrium Reflect.
Imaging with free Macrium - Windows 7 Help Forums

appss said:

Haha sure would! So just burn the iso to a disc and run setup.exe from there? And how about drivers and what not?

The Windows 7 installation will do Windows Updates just like it always has. In fact, you'll probably end up getting the dread "Get Windows 10" icon too.

DavidE said:

If you start the Win 7 install while you are running Win 10, Win 7 will not be the "C" drive when you boot Win 7.
It will be some other drive letter. (unless MS changed the way this works with Win 10)

The problem you have is you are installing an older OS (W7) after installing a newer OS (W10).
Win 7 doesn't understand the Win 10 Boot code, so it can't update it correctly.

Interesting. When I installed Windows 7 to a second partition on my desktop computer, Windows 7 was C: drive when booted into Windows 7 and Windows 10 was C: drive when booted into Windows 10, and it setup dual booting on it's own because the format of the BCD store has not changed.

NavyLCDR said:

Interesting. When I installed Windows 7 to a second partition on my desktop computer, Windows 7 was C: drive when booted into Windows 7 and Windows 10 was C: drive when booted into Windows 10, and it setup dual booting on it's own because the format of the BCD store has not changed.

That's interesting and the first I've heard of it working that way.
It would be a welcome change imho.
I've never installed an older OS after a newer OS, so i have no personal experience.
I also have old hardware, Legacy BIOS, no UEFI.
Maybe UEFI vs Legacy makes a difference, a DM screen print should show what the OP has.

DavidE said:

If you start the Win 7 install while you are running Win 10, Win 7 will not be the "C" drive when you boot Win 7.
It will be some other drive letter. (unless MS changed the way this works with Win 10)

The problem you have is you are installing an older OS (W7) after installing a newer OS (W10).
Win 7 doesn't understand the Win 10 Boot code, so it can't update it correctly.

Can you install Win 7 on a different HD/SSD than the HD/SSD you have Win 10 installed on ?

Post a screen print of your Disk Management, resizing fields to show all data, explained here:
Disk Management - How to Post a Screenshot of - Windows 10 Forums

Make sure you have your network driver available somewhere, such as a flash stick.
Read more about getting drivers in this tutorial (Step 6):
Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 - Windows 7 Help Forums

You should have everything backed up before making changes, so you can recover if anything goes wrong.
For OS Image backups i prefer Macrium Reflect.
Imaging with free Macrium - Windows 7 Help Forums

Here is your photo, the Windows 7 partition is a partition I created to install Windows 7 to, it has nothing on it now