If you already have an extra partition for installation, skip to Step 3. One partition will be containing your Windows 7 and another one will carry Windows 10. Make sure you have at least two partitions.
If your hard drive doesn’t have an extra partition where Windows 10 can be installed, you will need to create a new one. You should backup the data in case anything goes wrong during/after installation and save yourself from regretting later. Step 1: Taking backupīackup your entire hard disk to an external source. In simpler words: Windows 7 must be installed first and Windows 10 later. Note: Remember that older version of Windows has to be installed first for dual boot to work with newer version. Pay attention to highlighted text for warnings.
How to Dual Boot Windows 10 with Windows 7?įollow each of the given steps carefully in order.
Follow the same steps as mentioned below to dual boot Windows 10 with Windows 8 or Windows 8.1. Virtualization software have higher system requirements and not every computer is capable of running two or more OSes simultaneously in a virtual environment.Ĭan I dual boot Windows 10 with Windows 8/8.1? Of course you can, but in that case you won’t be reading this. This will allow you to have the latest, updated Windows while still letting you keep the good old Windows 7.Ĭan’t I Just Use Operating System Virtualization? With Windows 7 support ending on 14th January, 2020, it would be a good idea to dual boot Windows 7 and Windows 10. Some of the reasons can include: A user has the requirement of an older operating system due to compatibility issues, some older programs might not work in newer operating system like Windows 10, testing a new operating system while still having the older and familiar OS installed, or a person is just tech-savvy like me and want to have two or more operating systems for satisfying other purposes. You can choose to load any of these operating systems when your computer is booting.ĭifferent users have different reasons for dual booting. And in case you are planning to dual boot Windows 10 with Windows 7 or earlier version of Windows, I will show you how you can do that.ĭual boot is the process of installing two or more operating systems side by side. If you are among those who haven’t upgraded to Windows 10, I would recommend you to do so. Windows 10, Microsoft’s latest and probably the “last” operating system, has already been installed in 120 million devices worldwide.