Basic Computing Using Windows/Appendices/Dual Booting
Dual Booting - 32 bit Windows operating systems without activation
OS | file system | ||
---|---|---|---|
Windows 2000 and higher | FAT | FAT32 | NTFS |
Windows NT | FAT | NTFS | |
Windows Me | FAT | FAT32 | |
Windows 98 SE | FAT | FAT32 | |
Windows 98 | FAT | FAT32 | |
Windows 95 OSR2 | FAT | FAT32 | |
Windows 95 OSR1 | FAT | ||
Windows 95 | FAT |
OS1 | OS2 | OS3 |
---|---|---|
Windows XP | Windows Vista | Windows 8.1 |
Windows 2000 | Windows Vista | Windows Server 2008 |
Windows Server 2003 | Windows Server 2012 R2 | Windows 8.1 |
Windows 98 | Windows XP | Windows 7 |
Windows Vista | Windows 7 | Ubuntu 13.04 |
You can install an unlimited number of Windows NT OS's. It is recommended to start with the oldest OS(here , OS1). You can also install 32-bit OS's and 64-bit OSs together. Whatever your method it , multi-booting is somewhat advanced.
If you have a DOS based OS(up to and including Windows Me) , do not install any combination of them together! For example , a combination like Windows 98 and Me is not supported!. The boot files can otherwise be overwritten! |
Contents
Multi-booting examples[edit]
With Windows Vista and Windows 7[edit]
- Make sure that you have enough space to install Windows 7.
- If you have already created a separate(empty) partition for Windows 7 , skip this and move on. Otherwise ,
- Open Disk Management by going to Start and typing 'Disk Management'.
- Right click the volume and click Shrink Volume...
- Select the amount to be shrinked. This will be the partition size as well.
- Right click on the new partition and click Create New Volume
- Select all the free space gained by shrinking to be allocated to the new partition. Choose the format option as well and give it a name.
- Install Windows 7.
- If you have a disk , you can simply insert the disk and run the installer. Choose the new partition when given the choice of partition. Make sure that you're not overwriting Windows Vista itself!
- If Windows 7 is somewhere on the HDD , simply navigate to the location and start the installer.
With Windows XP and Windows 7[edit]
![]() |
You should be having a separate partition for Windows 7, otherwise you'll have to use a 3rd party tool or reinstall Windows XP. |
The ability to resize disk partitions was introduced only with Windows Vista , so for a user currently running Windows XP and wanting to dual boot with Windows Vista or higher , he/she should be having a separate partition for that OS. Otherwise , he needs to use a 3rd party tool of reinstall.
Make sure that you have a separate partition. If you have , move to Step 2 , otherwise if you are using a partition tool , use that and move on to Step 2. If you'd rather reinstall Windows , continue.
![]() |
If that's what you are doing , back up your files , as they'll get permanently deleted. |
- Reinstall Windows. To do so ,
- Locate your Windows XP disk.
- Restart and enter to your BIOS's One-time boot. If you do not know how to do so , refer to your documentation. If on entering the One-time boot , there is no option to boot from CD , refer to your BIOS on how to enable booting from CD.
- Press any key when prompted to do so.
- Follow the on-screen instructions.
- Delete the current partition. Make sure that your files are backed up!!
- Create 2 partitions with appropriate sizes. Make sure to leave enough space for the new partition. You may want to create additional partitions , do so.
- Install Windows XP on the first partition.
- Once you've got a brand new copy of Windows XP running , move to Step 2.
- Install Windows 7.
- Locate your Windows 7 and start the installer.
- When you're given the choice of the partition , select the other empty partition. Make sure that you're not overwriting Windows XP itself!
OSX and Windows 7+[edit]

This section applies to version 4 of Boot Camp.
This section concerns mostly those who are trying to dual-boot Windows 7+ on their Intel-based Macs. Before you start , update your Mac to the latest that is supported , and update BootCamp. If you have BootCamp 3 or below , see your Boot Camp documentation. This guide is intended for users with Boot Camp 4 or higher. If you plan to use Windows 8 or higher , you should upgrade to Boot Camp 5 and higher. If you do want to use 32-bit Windows , do not upgrade beyond Boot Camp 4(but use the latest in that) , as Boot Camp 5 is for 64-bit Windows 7+ only. Do not use a Enterprise SKU. You'll end up being unable to install by a GPD error. To start ,
- Prepare your Mac by following the instructions above.
- Decide whether you're using a USB drive or a DVD. USB is better , but not every Mac supports it. Most models from 2010-2011 support this. Go to the Apple website to verify this. If DVD is your option , you'll still need a 2GB+ USB for Boot Camp drivers.
- Make sure that you have sufficient space.
- Open Boot Camp. It's mostly in the Applications folder. Click Next.
- Select all the options. If you're using a DVD , unselect the first option. That option uses a ISO file and erases the USB and copies the contents into that. If you're already having a USB with Windows installer , remove the first option.
- Select the ISO and the drive to which it will copy the file. The drive will be formatted , so make sure that you've backed up your files on that drive..
- Once that's done , if you've selected the option to download Boot Camp drivers , it may ask you where to save that and then will begin downloading the files. Select a USB drive(your files won't be affected) If you've selected the first option , this is not required as that'll be already done for you.
- Select the partition size. It is better to allocate atleast 30 GB of free space.
- After formatting , the computer will restart. Stay alert at this time.
- When the Mac 'chime' sounds , immediately hold the option(ALT) key. Keep holding till a boot menu appears.
- At the boot menu , select the USB/DVD drive containing the installer.
- The Windows setup will start. Select your preferences and click Next.
![]() |
If you cannot use the keyboard or mouse(it does not work) , you may have to use the USB method and keep the Boot Camp drivers on the installation USB itself.. There are many websites that allow you to download a ISO copy from Microsoft legally. This problem should not occur with Windows 8 though. |
13. Proceed till you reach the page which asks you to select your partition.
14. Select the BOOTCAMP partition and format it.
![]() |
Do not add , remove or format any other partition! You could end up completely destroying OSX instead! |
15. After that , click Next to continue. Wait till you reach the OOBE(Out of Box Experience) where you configure the settings for first run. You would've seen this on first run after buying a new PC. Complete the OOBE.
16. Before/After you see the desktop , you'll see a Boot Camp installer if you've left the USB connected. If you did not , then start the installer by connecting the USB and then starting the installer setup. Complete the installer and restart when prompted to do the same.
![]() |
Though Windows will still work if you don't , it is strongly recommended that you do because otherwise several features won't work. |
17. After restarting , your Mac should boot to Windows. If you want to boot to OSX permanently , you can do so though Boot Camp. If temporarily , hold down the ALT(Options) key when the Mac chime sounds and select your OS.
Windows Me and Windows 2000[edit]
- Install Windows Me.
- Get by extract x:\tools\nettools\fac\ltools.dta *.* c:\x all needed files, where first x is CD-ROM drive and where second x is destination folder.
- Replace all instances of COMMAND.COM by using replacement COMMAND.COM got from inside TOOLS\NETTOOLS\FAC\LTOOLS.DTA cabinet file placed on Windows Me OEM bootable CD.
- Install Windows 2000.
- Copy into C:\ following files:
- WINBOOT.SYS renamed from IO.SYS got from inside TOOLS\NETTOOLS\FAC\LTOOLS.DTA cabinet file placed on Windows Me OEM bootable CD
- MSDOS.W40 renamed from MSDOS.SYS got from inside TOOLS\NETTOOLS\FAC\LTOOLS.DTA cabinet file placed on Windows Me OEM bootable CD
- COMMAND.W40 renamed from COMMAND.COM got from inside TOOLS\NETTOOLS\FAC\LTOOLS.DTA cabinet file placed on Windows Me OEM bootable CD
- Create in C:\ following text files:
- CONFIG.W40 filled with country specific settings
- AUTOEXEC.W40 filled with country specific settings
- Remove from BOOT.INI [operating systems] section following line: "C:\ = "Microsoft Windows"
- Add to BOOT.INI [operating systems] section following lines:
- C:\ = "Microsoft Windows Me" /win95dos
- C:\ = "Microsoft DOS Me" /win95