how can I dual boot win10 with win7

sdowney717 · 09 Nov 2017

simply, will have legal activated copies of each on the same PC in different drives.
Right now, I have win 10, but I will have win7 on another drive.

topgundcp · 09 Nov 2017

Here's what i would do:

Disconnect the drive with Windows10.
Install Win 7 to the other drive. This will create the neccessary partitions to boot Windows 7 by itself.
Reconnect the drive containing Windows 10 and boot up.
Note that the C: drive of Windows 7 is now changed to another letter. For example E: Drive
Open Admin command prompt and type: bcdboot E:\Windows
Reboot. You'll have a dual boot menu to boot from.

NOTE: You could also install Win 7 without disconnecting Windows 10 but IMO, this is cleaner to have Win 7 with its own boot manager in case you want to separate 7 & 10 and boot by themself.

ThrashZone · 09 Nov 2017

Hi,
If you have room on the front of your case install one of these to make live easier
They have a 3.5 and 2.5 hdd version
I use the 2.5 for hdd's and of course ssd's
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

AddRAM · 11 Nov 2017

topgundcp said:

Here's what i would do:

Disconnect the drive with Windows10.
Install Win 7 to the other drive. This will create the neccessary partitions to boot Windows 7 by itself.
Reconnect the drive containing Windows 10 and boot up.
Note that the C: drive of Windows 7 is now changed to another letter. For example E: Drive
Open Admin command prompt and type: bcdboot E:\Windows
Reboot. You'll have a dual boot menu to boot from.

NOTE: You could also install Win 7 without disconnecting Windows 10 but IMO, this is cleaner to have Win 7 with its own boot manager in case you want to separate 7 & 10 and boot by themself.

Do it exactly how Topgun described. Keeping both installs separate is the BEST way to do it.

vfoster · 12 Nov 2017

Not sure if I need to start my own thread, but I have a related question. I managed to install Windows 7 and get it to dual boot with my already installed Windows 10. However, since I installed 7 after 10, I now get the legacy boot menu (black, DOS-style). I'd prefer the metro GUI boot menu (the blue one). Does anyone know how I can change to that boot loader?

NavyLCDR · 12 Nov 2017

vfoster said:

Does anyone know how I can change to that boot loader?

In Windows 10, open command prompt (admin) or powershell (admin) and run:

bcdboot C:\Windows

vfoster · 13 Nov 2017

NavyLCDR said:

In Windows 10, open command prompt (admin) or powershell (admin) and run:

bcdboot C:\Windows

Thank you! So simple and elegant.

But now it's showing 5 different boot options: Win 10, CD/DVD drive, Harddrive, USB, and Win 7. I'm not sure why all the other options are listed. I'd prefer if Win 10 and 7 were the only options. Do you mind telling me what's the safest way to remove the unwanted options?

AddRAM · 13 Nov 2017

See if EasyBCD will work.

EasyBCD - NeoSmart Technologies

cereberus · 13 Nov 2017

vfoster said:

Thank you! So simple and elegant.

But now it's showing 5 different boot options: Win 10, CD/DVD drive, Harddrive, USB, and Win 7. I'm not sure why all the other options are listed. I'd prefer if Win 10 and 7 were the only options. Do you mind telling me what's the safest way to remove the unwanted options?

Run msconfig, select boot tab, delete unwanted entries. I also click make entries permanent as that removes old entries forever.

AddRAM · 13 Nov 2017

Very strange that those entries would be in msconfig, maybe the command Navy gave could has something to do with that ?

Wanted to bring that up, but thought, how could those entries get there