How to dual-boot existing Windows 8 & Windows XP?

[Dirty_Sprite]

Basically I want to install windows xp on another drive for compatibility reasons with certain old games. I've tested these games work on windows xp with another PC, and don't ask if i've tried compatibility mode cause i have.

Anyways, when i try to install on windows 8 the button is grayed out. Usually a pop up menu would appear with a list of drives to select for instillation. I've tried booting from CD and same thing.

[Title edited for clarity - - Moderator]

 

[aoresteen]

It sounds like you are trying to install Windows 8 on an XP booting computer. To do this you must wipe the XP installation out first and do a clean install.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/upgrade-from-windows-vista-xp-tutorial

I would wipe the hard drive (back up your files first & run Magic Jelly bean to recover your install keys). Create a 10GB primary partition at the beginning of the drive & format it NTFS 3.1. This is where you will install Windows XP. Set the partition to HIDDEN. Next create your main primary partition but make sure you leave 20 GB of free space at the end of the drive. This is where you will install Windows 8.1 (in the second partition, not the 20 GB at the end of the drive). Set it to the Active partition. Now create your third and final primary partition with the 20GB of space you saved at the end of the drive. This is where you can store data for both XP and Windows 8.1 to use.

Now you can install Windows 8.1 in the second primary partition. Once Win8.1 is installed and booting properly, set the 2nd partition to hidden and set the first partition to active. Now install Windows XP in the first partition. Once XP is loaded and booting you can now install your boot manager to switch between the XP & Win8 partition. Keep the 3rd partition visible to both XP & Win8 so you can share files between the OSs.

Why did I keep the first partition small, 10GB? That is to make sure the 2nd partition with Win8 is bootable.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cylinder_1024

Some BIOSs will let you boot past cylinder 1024. It's best to test to see how big your 1st partition can be and still have the 2nd primary partition bootable. Not knowing your computer or hard drive size I suggested 10 GB to see if the 2nd partition is bootable.

If you can't get the 2nd partition to boot with a 10 GB 1st partition then you will have to reduce the size of the 1st partition until the 2nd partition does boot.

You will know if you can boot the 2nd or not when you install Win8. After Win 8 copies it's files from the DVD it will re-boot the computer. If all your computer does is show a black screen after the 1st re-boot during install, the 2nd partition is not bootable and you will have to reduce the size of the 1st partition and enlarge the 2nd and start over with the Win8 install.

Good luck!

 

[Sherylinrm1]

Hi
I posted this elsewhere for another person. Maybe it will help you.

I have no clue as to weather one can dual boot these two
HOWEVER.
Years ago I found a way to boot into many different operating systems if you have a hard drive for each OS.

It is kind of cheating but I like it and used it for 5 OS's at one time

Ok so disconnect one hard drive and instal XP on to it.

Now afterwards disconnect that hard drive and connect the other hard drive and install win 10 on it.

Then when you want to boot into either OS simply go into bios and change that hard drive to be the main, or first boot, drive.

A long round about way of doing things I agree.

However it works if you want to have clean install os many OS's. Like redhat, mandrake, Debian, win 98, win XP etc etc as I have done 15 years ago

Anyhow, just an idea in case the other does not work out for you

Hope this helps

 

[Guest]

Something to read: http://www.pagestart.com/winxpdbwin804141301.html

and @ Sherylinrm1: with an extra HDD for each system you can start with F2 to F12, depends, to start the system you want.