Dual boot and EasyBCD-is it that easy to setup?

joemardo1

Hi folks,

I have just ordered a new computer which will come with windows 7 (32 bit) OEM installed. I am reasonably computer literate.

I will try to add xp as well to make it a dual boot system and maybe even windows 98 that will only play a few old games that I have got.

I have searched on the net about installing earlier windows os after windows 7 and it seems there is a program called easyBCD to download.

1 I wonder if anyone who is familiar with this program can tell me if it works ok and will do as I want i.e. install the earlier version of windows in the partitions on the hard drive that I will create.

2 does easyBCD display a screen at start-up which will display a list of the os installed, or does it just modify the master boot record so that windows will give me list of os?

3 can it be removed easily enough if I decide it’s not for me and is unlikely to damage my copy of windows 7?

Hope someone knows the answers.

Many thanks
Joe

enigma52

be easier and quicker to use virtual machines, I have win 7 ultimate 64 bit and have 2000, Xp, Vista and Ubuntu all on virtual machines.

but in answer to your question I did this with vista then added XP but I used Vista boot pro not easybcd and that gave a choice at boot which os you wanted to boot from via MBR (vista boot pro works with win 7 as well, and its free)

davb

As enigma52 says, the easiest (and safest) way is to use virtual machines. There is always a risk of trashing everything when making things multi-boot.
On Windows 7 you can download XP Mode which installs XP in a VM, - any apps you install in it can be put on the start menu, and invoke the VM in the background when you launch them.

My preference for something like Win98 would be Sun Virtual Box. Depends on what type of games you have, as graphics acceleration is the worst part on VM's.

John_Gray

"Dual boot and EasyBCD-is it that easy to setup?"

I have set up my Toshiba laptop to dual boot so that:
C: is the boot partition (either XP Pro or Windows 7)
is a data partition
E: is 'the other' operating system's partition (obviously depends on which operating system was booted)

I found it surprisingly straightforward, provided you put the newer operating system on last, and are careful not to overwrite the wrong partition(s).

joemardo1

Thanks for replies.Well I am not eligable to get xp mode as I will only have the prenium version of windows 7. But I will try the easy BCD and hope all goes ok.

Thanks
Joe

enigma52

virtual pc 2007 runs on win 7, I know cos thats what I use.
But it is your call

Mattjimf

John_Gray wrote: »

I found it surprisingly straightforward, provided you put the newer operating system on last, and are careful not to overwrite the wrong partition(s).

I find the best way to avoid this is to label the partition with the OS your putting on it, so come the install it'll be labelled XP (E: ) or whatever.

John_Gray

Mattjimf wrote: »

I find the best way to avoid this is to label the partition with the OS your putting on it, so come the install it'll be labelled XP (E: ) or whatever.

Precisely what I did! "Toshiba_XP" and "Toshiba_W7", since you ask...

joemardo1

John_Gray wrote: »

"Dual boot and EasyBCD-is it that easy to setup?"

I have set up my Toshiba laptop to dual boot so that:
C: is the boot partition (either XP Pro or Windows 7)
is a data partition
E: is 'the other' operating system's partition (obviously depends on which operating system was booted)

I found it surprisingly straightforward, provided you put the newer operating system on last, and are careful not to overwrite the wrong partition(s).

Hi again,

One further question about easyBCD. As computer will come with windows 7 and then I will install xp, can I set up the computer to boot into windows 7 (default os) without having to manually select windows 7 in the easyBCD os menu or will easyBCD set xp as the default?

Thanks again
Joe

Saving_spree

Hey you do that.

That's nice John.