With all the hoopla surrounding Microsoft's forthcoming OS, Windows 7, I decided to take a sneak peek. So here's a tutorial that will allow you to dual boot Windows 7 with ease.
Windows 7 (formerly known as Blackcomb and Vienna) is the working name for the next release of the Microsoft Windows Operating System after the not-so-popular Windows Vista.
I'm using Windows 7 build 7000, but these steps should be valid for newer or older builds. We will be dual booting Windows 7 with a pre-existing Windows system[Windows XP in my case]. The system requirements are quite low. It runs "faster than XP" on my 4 year old system with the following specs:
- 2.4Ghz Single Core P4 processor
- 512MB DDR RAM at 133MHz
- Intel 845 GVSR mother board with integrated graphics card[64MB shared memory]
- 80GB HDD with an 8GB partition for Windows 7
My Windows Experience Index and detailed specs: http://www.fileden.com/files/2008/5/20/1920680/wei.pdf
I was creating an 8GB partition on my HDD with Paragon Partition Manager, when a random voltage spike caused the computer to restart[The UPS failed to switch to battery]. The MBR was corrupted and I couldn't log in to Win XP or Ubuntu. I booted up Puppy Linux from my USB drive, Googled around and found a solution. I inserted my Win XP Pre-SP1 CD and went to recovery console and used fixmbr. After a reboot, I was able to boot in to XP and browse the C[NTFS] partition, but my D[NTFS],E[NTFS] and G[EXT2] partitions were missing. I then installed the Active Partition Recovery software and after a quick scan, it found and recovered the missing NTFS partitions. So back up stuff before you attempt partitioning or installing the OS.
- Create a partition of atleast 8GB and format it as NTFS. There are several tools available from Partition Magic, Paragon or you can even use the one available in the control panel.
- Burn the Windows 7 iso into a DVD or mount the ISO. I prefer IMGBURN.
- Set the BIOS to "not to boot from the disk". The OS will boot several times and it HAS to boot from the HDD each time.
- Auto run the CD in the pre-existing Windows installation.
- Choose install type as custom, and choose the partition you need to install Windows 7 in.
- The install took me an hour with several reboots.
Now you're done. Simple huh?? Quite fast, painless and not remotely fussy. You'll notice that a new Windows 7 OS selection screen has been installed. To boot XP/Vista, choose the "Earlier installed Windows OS" or something similar. Don't forget to install an antivirus[Avast works fine] and FireFox[Firefox 3.1 beta 2 works fine]. Windows 7 comes default with IE 8 Beta, but I'd just stick to FF. If you want to update your Windows 7 install with a newer build, pop in the DVD with the iso and select upgrade while logged in Windows 7.
Windows 7 desktopHope this helps you guys on the fence, the guys who want to take a look at MS' new XP [Yeah, I said it] but don't want to take some unnecessary risks. Enjoy and please do comment on your experiences or share your thoughts below. Cheers!!
Slideshow of screen shots from Windows 7 Build 7000: http://albums.phanfare.com/slideshow.aspx?u=6794639&a_id=3215149
35 comments:
Nice blog there Sriram.
And this alternate method to install too is quite straightforward.
Keep blogging.
Thanks for the information here, once I get the beta downloaded, I will give it a try.
None java download:
Processor:Intel pentium p4 with 3.0
Ram:512 mb
Harddisk:80 gb where now i installed XP with SP3 and i have remaining space 50 gb
Wether can i able to install windows 7 beta...pls give me a suggestion...and give me the link of win 7 beta which u had downloaded
512MB DDR RAM at 133MHz??
I have a computer with very similar characteristics,
But I heard that Windows 7 is going to be as demanding as Windows Vista,
... Can you confirm that Windows 7 will work on my Pentium 4 with 512Mb RAM?????
sorry for been esceptic :D
And thanks for sharing your experience,
Kind Regards
Benja
@Anon, Just create a partition of 10GB. Then follow my guide. Get Windows 7 and the keys here:
http://lifehacker.com/5128193/how-to-get-your-windows-7-beta-product-key
@Benjamin: Windows 7 will work on your comp. Windows 7 has very low hardware requirements. Nothing like Vista. In fact, there are manufacturers trying to bring Windows 7 to netbooks which usually have very limited performance. So dont worry, go ahead and take the plunge. Cheers!
hy all y have p4 3.20 and 756 mb ram and 200 gb hdd works ok windows 7 on my computer.sory for my batt eng:)good bay all
Looking forward for this new os. But I don't think I will buy it, still love ubuntu so much.
From the screenshot, windows 7 have similar apereance with some linux distro.
I cannot believe it takes an 8 gig partition to install this version of windows . Whatever happened to lean and mean in an OS.
I wonder if this would work with XP on 1 NTFS partition, Ubuntu on an EXT3 partition and then Windows 7 on another NTFS partition?
@TK, You can, but you'll have to re-install grub. :)
I think it's better to install booting directly from the DVD. That way, the partition to which Windows 7 is installed, becomes C: regardless.
My install is 12GB with only Windows 7 on it, and Microsoft says minimum 16GB, so I am amazed that your install is 8GB!
I can recommend the 64-bit version if you have more than 3GB of RAM and what to use it all. But don't install the technical preview of the Kaspersky Antivirus linked to from the new Action Center, 'cause it bluescreens on 64-bit!
All drivers where installed on my two-year old system which consists of C2D E6400, 4GB of RAM and ATI Radeon HD4850, which by the way gives the new 7.9 max score in Windows 7! Yay ;o)
Ray of Norway
@Ray, That will overwrite your primary operating system, which I do not recommend as Windows 7 is still in Beta!!
@italkfilm, my Windows 7 install is just 3.5GB
Taking your advice http://forgetthedresscode.blogspot.com/
This is very good information.
Yogindernath
wow that looks alot like KDE 3 w/ ms decorations... scary.
I'm using pentium 2 processor. Will Windows 7 work on my computer? Can anyone help me????
@Anon, If you can install and run Xp then you should be able to do the same with vista. But atleast 512MB RAM and a 1GHz+ processor is recommended.
I have a dual boot xp/vista pc and I'd like to upgrade vista with 7 since I mainly only use xp. How would I go about doing that without breaking my xp installation? I don't mind burning the iso into a dvd. Thanks in advance.
Hi crystal. You just mount the iso or insert the iso in Vista and select upgrade. This way only your Vista installation is changed. You can get the official versions with the original MS keys here: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/beta-download.aspx . You'll need a MSN Live/ Hotmail account. Cheers!
Thanks for the reply. That way I won't lose the dual boot option, correct? Just want to be sure :) Thanks again.
Hi Crystal, You'll not lose the dualboot option if you "upgrade" from the Vista install. The dualboot manager will be replaced by Windows 7's dualboot manager. Cheers and do tell me how it works out. TC!
I finally decided to install it over vista after hearing that upgrading causes some bugs, and it works like a charm. Thanks for your guide :D I like it very much and am very tempted to install it on my main pc.
Hi Cristal, I'm glad you found my post useful. I hope that you'll consider voting for my blog here:
http://sn.im/vote4sri . Hope you have fun with Windows 7. Cheers!
I was told to steer clear of Windows 7 at the moment so I will be staying with Vista in my business for now!
Has anyone up-graded to Windows 7 yet - was watching a prgram today about the story of Bill Gates and how he started Microsoft - was an interesting program and it was amazing how he was so young when he started it all and he knew exactly where he was going!
I have Windows 7 running on my Desktop dual booting with XP. You were probably told to steer clear of it since Windows 7 is still in Beta. Try installing it on a spare PC.
I wouldn't put foresight as one of Gates' qualities. His release of Vista was pretty untimely as was hurried due to market expectations. An OS release from MS typically takes 4-5 years while Windows 7 will take 2-3 years. This should give you an idea about the kind of hurry at MS to make us forget about Vista. I must say though, that Windows 7 is a pretty good product. Gates' was also attributed to the quote[he denies it though], saying that 640kB of RAM ought to be enough for any modern computer system. :)
P.S. I ballparked the stats on OS release.
Hi, Thanks for your article, I am trying to figure the best way for me to install windows 7 64 bit on my system.
The problem is that I already have two operating systems on it, XP 32 on the primary HD and Vista 64 bit on the secondary HD.
Which is the best way for me to try it without compromising the other two? I was thinking about making a partition on one of the two HD like you have done boothing the Windows 7 DVD on the 64 bit vista and from there install it, but I am quite scared that it woul mess the boot sector makig one or both of the other OS unavailable (I already have two choice at boot one is Vista and XP is called Earlier Windows OS, so what they would become after I install windows 7 both earlier OS hum?
Thanks
thanks
Hi Roberto. You can go ahead with the partitioning to multi boot Windows 7 with XP and Vista. You will have to install Windows 7 while being booted in Vista and the boot sector is automatically modified. It will NOT mess up the boot sector but it will not hurt to expect the worst as this is still a Beta release. But I expect that boot sector modifications are carried over from Vista and so it is actually pretty safe and proven. After you install Windows 7, you'll be shown Windows 7, Vista and Earlier Windows OS(which is XP) on the boot menu. Do back all your stuff up, partition, install Windows 7 while booted in Vista and you should be safe. Cheers and do comment after you are done installing Windows 7. Cheers!
Thank you Orangeman, I will try it in the week end (I need to master the beta release of Windows 7 on a dvd before) and let you know.
The only problem is that I used a program to make the boot because when I installed Vista 64 something went wrong and it was not selectable at boot so i searched on the net and found a prog (forgot what it was named) that analyzed the HD (under XP) and made a new boot sector.
Anyway now the boot sector should be managed by vista since it is the last OS installed on the PC right?
Thanks
Hi Roberto. The Windows 7 installer should automatically configure the boot manager. Cheers!
Runing on a Sempron (~1.6 GHZ), 512MB DDR1 and the crappiest onboard video. 9GB (40GB Partion) fully installed.
Yeah, awesome run really well sofar!
Does anyone know how to make it accept drivers? Id love to get NIC working and perhaps also (but doubtful) TV Tuner...oh and sound?
Any help greatly apreciated
@CB, Glad to hear that. You might wanna try the Windows update in Windows 7 to get the latest drivers. When I updated mine, it downloaded the audio drivers. My NIC was running out of the box though.
NB: Try Windows update only if you have registered your copy of Windows7 with a legit key or if your copy is still under the 30 day trial. Cheers!
good articles.....
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