Dual Boot Windows 10 with Windows 7 or Windows 8  

The only problem I could see in that set up would be the possible need to reinstall or recover the 10 OEM preinstall where 7 could end up being the problem due to the new secure boot and EFI circumstance 10 came in with. 7 can easily go on after but the conflict would be with any refresh of the 10 install. The 10 boot loader is the main issue of concern there not allowing typical dual boot as you would have seen previously.

Another item of interest as far as OEM primaries go is the possible need to first wipe the drive clean or simply not be able to resize the OEM primary meaning no shrinking to create the second one you would use for 7. When trying to simply shrink the first OEM 7 primary following the upgrade last year to 10 I ended up with the need to nuke the drive entirely in order to clean all of the OEM crap off of the drive in order to create a second backup partition! You would need to plan on seeing a fresh install of 10 on the first primary and follow htat by putting 7 on the second afterwards once the drive was first wiped clean. This is what you will need to look at first.

Thanks Shawn I'll go ahead and do the dual boot then using this tutorial. I just have to clone this drive first in case I make a mess of it Oh the code I have saved so it will not be an issue.

NH mate I am going to use the media for 10 to install into the partition I set up I was just concerned it would send the Microsoft servers into a panic - the drive I have the 10 on is a stand alone one I made when I first got the OEM and was planning on going full time 10 but since I have put the free 10 on the main laptop and want to be able to dual boot this my travel laptop.

You have to follow the guide here closely in order to see any working results! But the thing I had to point about the OEM side of things was how you are not always going to find those flexible for resizing as you would with any custom partition you put on from the start using either a Windows option(installation drive option or DiskPart) or some 3rd party program.

As for the 10 boot situation the guide here will get you past that part with the new secure boot concerns. Of course for most laptops you don't have the option for a second drive in most models to begin with there.

It's rather funny and ironic at this time to find that I can't now even remember the last time I booted into 7 having both desktops running 7 on a separate drive while the Redstone 1 runs on the main build's primary and the second desktop was left open for testing. Having especially wanted to keep the 64bit 7 Ultimate going more so then the 64bit 7 Pro on the second machine I got accustomed to 10 too fast and never got around to putting the clean install of 7 previously planned to replace the rather cluttered old install on the second drive. I have everything I had on 7 running on 10.

Ok mate what I am going to do is as I aid make a clone then put it in the machine after making sure it works ok and then do the partitioning with Partition Wizard because I find it is easier/simpler to use than the Windows feature to do that then begin the tutorial

I cannot wait to try it out because like you I have got more used to 10 now and I have it on my main laptop (this machine I am on right now) but I cannot start until Friday because of work and I need the laptop that is going to be used at work because I do like to jump on it when I have chance to do that - meal breaks etc

That shouldn't be any problem. I just wanted to point out about the typical problem run into when trying to work with OEM partitions and getting nowhere fast. Even with older XP and Vista laptops you would run into the same thing where a drive wipe would be the fast remedy in order to even get a clean install to take. I think we will want to hear how it goes just the same. :)

No probs mate I am quite excited to be honest as I don't mind installing as such - it is just the updating that was the pain with 7 anyway.

Well lately the problem here in contrast is some language pack update that gets to 100% and you see it has to revert everything back to where it started off. I elected to hide updates and I still keep running into the exact same stubborn and unwanted item. That would be the "LanguageFeaturedOnDemand - Windows 10 Version 1607 for AMD64-based Systems (KB3180xxx through KB3197xxx) for various countries with each running into the same situation.

Never saw any of this with 7! The tool shows all ate fixed. That however remains to be seen since the details only a few were run actually several times while others were never run at all. The Feedback Hub will get all the details at least.

Hello Shawn well mate have not got round to doing the dual boot yet as I have landed up in hospital (27th December) with a fractured leg and have not had the chance or opportunity to get on with it.


Now sitting here (very frustrating) I got to reading a few posts and it occurred to me what happens within the dual boot system when anyone runs a SFC or CHKDSK??

I am suspecting each would have to be done with its' own operating system ie sfc while running 7 change the booted system to 10 and do the same.

I'm sorry to hear about your leg John. I hope it heals up fast for you.

Yeah, you'll need to do those command in the OS you want to use them for.

Not a good way to start off a new year for sure. At least it was only a fracture and not a broken one which is a positive note there however.

With 7 or newer you would be best to type the "chkdsk /r" command for the Check Disk tool to insure that corrects any errors found. ScanDisk is old school Legacy there. 98, 98SE, ME SCANDISK

Once you have decided which previous version will be used along with 10 and you go to run the SFC you may want to add the correct switch at the end. "sfc /scanboot" That will set the switch for a scan on each startup. The "/scannow" is the one time immediate switch there. System File Checker