Dual Boot Windows 7 and XP

[Sanil Sami]

Hi Newbie here.

I installed Windows xp on a separate partition on my PC having Windows 7 currently. I was getting the BSoD when I booted the XP disc, so I changed the SATA configuration from AHCI to IDE and was able to successfully load the XP. Now the problem is everytime I change between Windows 7 and Xp I have to change the SATA configuration back and forth.....Is there any method to resolve this???

Any help is appreciated...

 

[oliverpowell]

Are you sure that you've followed all the steps carefully to dual boot your PC?
Nevertheless, I'd recommend you to give it one more try by starting everything from scratch, visit the link mentioned below for complete tutorial:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/8057-dual-boot-installation-windows-7-xp.html

Second thing you can do to solve this without reinstalling anything, by knowing bit more about BEDEDIT:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2676-bcdedit-how-use.html?ltr=B

Hope it may helps!!

 

[gbhall]

Your problem is that XP required you to set the SATA drive to IDE mode (because otherwise XP requires extra drivers for a SATA drive in SATA mode). However, Win 7 was already installed with the HDD operating in SATA mode.

There is no answer to that via a dual boot system using any form of boot process, because none can operate at the bios level to change the SATA mode programmatically. (I think, could be wrong).

Your answer is one of three possibilities
(A) reinstall XP, but in SATA mode. To do this you need to obtain the SATA drivers for XP appropriate for your motherboard, and find out how to install those drivers during or immediately after the install of XP. Without a floppy disc drive, it can be tricky. But it is possible, with skill and experience. See post#2 on here https://www.techspot.com/community/topics/windows-xp.202497/#post-1403819
(B) reinstall XP on a second HDD drive (which you can set to IDE mode without affecting the native SATA mode necessary for Win 7 on the first drive). A number of dual-boot processes are capable of switching the 'active' drive at boot time. One I personally use is 'BootItBM' which has extraordinary capabilities, but may not be the easiest for a beginner.
(C) depending on your requirement for XP, you could run XP as a virtual operating system under Win 7. Examples are Virtual Box, Vmware, Virtual PC. If you had Win 7 professional version, you can also download free XpMode which is MS answer to keeping XP available after Win 7. Be warned, none of the virtual OS solutions work if you are trying to run 16-bit programs, but get round other situations quite well.