How to Duel Boot How to Duel Boot Windows Vista and Windows Vista and

Windows 7Windows 7By: Craig GorrellBy: Craig Gorrell

What you’ll needWhat you’ll need

A computer running Windows Vista.A computer running Windows Vista. A Windows 7 install disk.A Windows 7 install disk. At least 16 GB of free space on your At least 16 GB of free space on your

hard drive.hard drive.

Step 1: Partition Your Step 1: Partition Your Hard DriveHard Drive

Go to Control Panel -> Go to Control Panel -> System and System and Maintenance (skip this Maintenance (skip this one if you’re in Classic one if you’re in Classic view) -> Administrative view) -> Administrative Tools -> Computer Tools -> Computer Management.Management.

Choose Disk Choose Disk Management within the Management within the Computer Management Computer Management console to view your console to view your existing partitions. existing partitions.

Step 1AStep 1A

Right-click on the Right-click on the existing partition existing partition and choose and choose “Shrink Volume” to “Shrink Volume” to free up space for free up space for your new partition.your new partition.

Remember you Remember you need to make the need to make the new partition at new partition at least 16 GB.least 16 GB.

Step 1BStep 1B

Then, right-click Then, right-click on the new on the new unallocated space unallocated space and choose “New and choose “New Simple Volume.”Simple Volume.”

Step 1CStep 1C

Format the new Format the new partition as NTFS partition as NTFS and give it a name.and give it a name.

Step 1DStep 1D

Wait a minute for Wait a minute for Vista to format Vista to format your new partition.your new partition.

Step 1EStep 1E

Your new partition will now be available Your new partition will now be available to install Windows 7 on.to install Windows 7 on.

Step 2: Install Windows 7Step 2: Install Windows 7

Put your Windows 7 CD in your disk Put your Windows 7 CD in your disk drive, and restart your computer.drive, and restart your computer.

Step 2AStep 2A

The Computer should boot Windows The Computer should boot Windows 7 from the CD.7 from the CD.

If not press F8 when your computer If not press F8 when your computer is booting up to enter the boot menu.is booting up to enter the boot menu.

You could also change the boot You could also change the boot order in the BIOS so that the order in the BIOS so that the computer boots from a CD first.computer boots from a CD first.

Step 2BStep 2B Once the DVD boots up Once the DVD boots up

just follow the installation just follow the installation wizard.wizard.

When you’re choosing When you’re choosing installation type, be sure installation type, be sure to select Custom to select Custom (advanced) and choose (advanced) and choose the partition you set up the partition you set up earlier.earlier.

Be careful, if you choose Be careful, if you choose the wrong partition you the wrong partition you could end up deleting could end up deleting your copy of Windows your copy of Windows Vista.Vista.

Step 2CStep 2C

Eventually you’ll be prompted to set Eventually you’ll be prompted to set up your account, and enter your up your account, and enter your license key.license key.

Be patient, the installation process Be patient, the installation process could take up to an hour.could take up to an hour.

Step 2DStep 2D

Congratulations, you Congratulations, you have successfully have successfully installed Windows 7.installed Windows 7.

Now when your Now when your computer boots up computer boots up you will have the you will have the choice to boot either choice to boot either Windows Vista or Windows Vista or Windows 7.Windows 7.

Any Questions?Any Questions?

BibliographyBibliography

Pash, Adam. "How to Dual Boot Pash, Adam. "How to Dual Boot Windows 7 with XP or Vista." Windows 7 with XP or Vista." Life Life HackerHacker. 09 01 2009. Web. 10 Dec . 09 01 2009. Web. 10 Dec 2009. 2009. <http://lifehacker.com/5126781/how<http://lifehacker.com/5126781/how-to-dual-boot-windows-7-with-xp-or--to-dual-boot-windows-7-with-xp-or-vista>. vista>.