How to install Windows XP after installing Windows 7

Well it is not possible … at least not easy to Dual boot Windows XP with Windows 7!

I find it quite frustrating not being able to play games released a few years ago under the pretext that publishers do not want to update their products for Windows 7.

Same is for old Microsoft Office Versions (Microsoft Office 2000 or back )

Who still wish to  reinstall Windows XP in dual boot with Windows 7, this is written for them.

Let us recapitulate :

Windows 7 installed on the first primary partition, you have a second and third partition too.

You are trying to install Windows XP on the second partition, but when copying of the needed files is done, reboot resulted in an error “read write error.”

The problem is the boot sector on the hard disk that is not configured for dual boot PC. You should therefore use the Windows 7 DVD to repair the boot sector and boot the same Windows 7. Fortunately the repair works.

Once in Windows 7 ;  try to install Vista Boot Pro (a small utility that I do not recommend), but you may return without any result.

In retrospect you may also forgot to remove the boot partition (hidden) generated by Windows 7 at the first attempt to install.

In conclusion if you want to ensure compatibility with your (former) favorite games, I suggest you actually make a Dual Boot Windows 7 – Windows XP because the XP mode of Windows 7, if it works, do not handle Advanced graphics drivers  and you will not be able to enjoy advanced graphics or 3D.

To ensure a clean installation and in the case or Windows 7 or Vista is already pre-installed, we suggest you remove it, install Windows XP on your primary partition and then install Windows 7 or Vista on a second partition. Only the OS can handle the dual boot with an older operating system. Other manipulations are, in our experience, the hacks at best ineffective and at worst dangerous to your data.