Can I use 2 operating systems on one computer?

Hi guys and gals, just wondering if and how to go about installing a 2nd OS on my computer to play games that are not Windows 7 compatible?

Considering re-installing XP to play an older game. TIA.

 

Yes, this is perfectly possible, here is a guide for you on how to do it: http://www.pcmech.com/article/multiple-operating-system-setup/

Obviously you need to substitute whatever OSes you want to install.

Contrary to popular belief, you can install some OSes in whatever order you like. In your case it is perfectly possible to install XP and then use a program called EasyBCD to rewrite the windows 7 boot loader.

EasyBCD: http://neosmart.net/dl.php?id=1

I should warn you, however, that this is a fairly major task and as such you should not undertake it unless you are completely satisfied you know what you are doing.

 

If you create two partitions, you can install a different version of windows on each partition. I've done this with the same version of windows. I had to pick which one I wanted to boot too. Each time you boot up, it will give you a choice of which OS to choose.

 

Thanks for the info. Next question is that I have a 160gb hard drive and Windows 7 is already installed.
I'm probably only using 30gb to 40gb at the moment, as I don't really do anything that takes up that much space.
I plan on using that system as a primary and if I load anything else on the comp, it will go there.
How should I set up the partition for XP, so that it uses the minimal amount of space?
I guess that I might want to reserve about 120gb or so for 7 and the rest can go to XP.

 

You will have to buy a special software like Partition Magic to create the partion without re-installing windows, or you can put in the Windows 7 CD and go throught the steps of formatting the hard drive and creating a new partition in DOS mode.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/300415

 

You can either use the windows 7 disk management tool to shrink the current partition, or you can use a bootable CD such as gparted to shrink it. Then the XP installation can format the unallocated space and install itself there.

 

I used the disc management and shrunk the partition. It won't let me install XP, I get the following error message:

Setup can not continue because the version of Windows on your computer is newer than the version on the cd.

 

You need to boot from the CD by changing the boot order of your BIOS to boot from CD before hard drive. This is generally accomplished by pressing a key as soon as the computer is turned on, generally F12. This will display a list that you can use to choose where to boot from for that startup. Make sure you have the CD in the drive, shut the computer down, then when you turn it back on, repeatedly press F12 or whatever the key for your system is. When you get the list up, select CD-ROM and the computer should boot from the XP CD.

Please note the boot order key for your system may not be F12. It will be displayed on the first screen you see directly after turning the computer on, normally at the lower edge of the screen towards the right. If you are having trouble seeing the key, press the pause key at any time to pause the BIOS check. Press enter to continue bootup.

When you boot from the CD, be very careful not to let XP install itself over your windows 7 installation. I assume you have shrunk the windows 7 partition and not formatted the empty space. If this is the case them the XP installation will recognise the free space as "unpartitioned space". Make sure the installation happens there by using the keyboard arrow keys to move the white highlight bar to the unpartitioned space, which if you have chosen 40GB as you said in your previous post, will be displayed as about 40960MB. It should be below the current windows 7 installation partition. Then press enter to install here.
Make sure you choose "Format using the NTFS file system <quick>" option otherwise you may be there for hours if you choose the non-quick version.

Remember, take your time, and if at any point you feel lost or anything post back here and we will help.

 

Ok, I got XP installed. I used the 1st 120gb for 7 and the remaining for XP.

Now when I restart the comp, XP automatically opens up. How do I get to the option of choosing which OS will start?

 

Use this program called EasyBCD to rewrite the windows 7 boot loader. Then just add an XP entry. This program will install into XP and windows 7.

EasyBCD: http://neosmart.net/dl.php?id=1

 

Or VistaBootPro works too, be it Vista or W7, it all works the same in the BCD.

 

I figured out the problem. I somehow apparantly deleted Windows 7. :cry
I was feeling pretty good, thinkiing I had this handled, but I guess I did a major booboo. :banghead

Oh well, back to the drawing board.

 

Before you vreate an addition partition, you should defrag, using your fav defrag tools. then Use, (well I use), Partiton magic, or just use Disk managment works just as good. But as far as defrag goes, I use MYDEFRAG 4.2.9.
I am now booting, Vista 64, Linux, and XP Pro, on a 1T WD HD. Good luck

 

I had this problem when i installed XP on a partition, what happened was that the Master boot record was destroyed by the XP installation and needs to be recovered.

This is a guide to recovery of MBR and also how to recover the partition.

http://www.ptdd.com/mbr.htm