Dual installation of Windows 7 and Windows 10

I used to belong to Windows XP Tweaks many years ago but this is my first here so hello everybody. This is not a problem just want some advice. I have just got a new computer with windows 10 installed on it. I have an installation disk for Windows 7 which I had on my old computer and also a spare external hard drive big enough for windows 7. Would I be able to just install the windows 7 on the spare hard drive.

1. Is it an OEM Windows 7 that came with the previous computer? If so then it would violate the EULA to install it on any computer other than the one it was first installed on. If it is a full retail Windows 7, did you actually remove it from the old computer? You have to do that before you can transfer it to a new computer without violating the EULA.

2. There are special workarounds that have to be done to run Windows on an external drive. You would either have to install the spare hard drive as a second permanent hard drive in the computer, install Windows 7 on a second partition on a single installed hard drive, or run Windows 7 in a virtual machine inside Windows 10.

Welcome.

Windows 7 will not install and run on a typical External drive (USB). If it was an eSATA connected drive and the BIOS permits booting from it, it may.

Thanks very much for your quick response. In fact I upgraded from xp to Windows 7 after purchasing the software so I have the disks I have also formatted the old computer and have to admit that Windows 7 is still on it so for now I think I will leave it as it is, I just wanted to use it for an EA golf game that will not run on windows 10.

I have done this for Windows 8. But it should work for Windows 7 also. Note that you will need a key after 30 days.

Windows 8 To Go - Setup on a USB Flash Drive or USB Disk