Many Windows XP users have decided to skip Windows Vista and jump on directly to the Windows 7 bandwagon when it releases. Windows 7 RTM is going to officially release on August 6 and the final version will release by October. If you already have Windows XP and want to install Windows 7 on another partition and use both XP and Windows 7 in a dual boot configuration, you just need to install Windows 7 and it will automatically create a boot loader entry for the Windows XP installation. If that does not happen, you can manually add Windows XP to Windows 7 Boot Menu.
To Add Windows XP to Windows 7 Boot Menu
Assuming that you have Windows XP installed on D: and Windows 7 on C:
Open an Elevated Command Prompt and type
C:>bcdedit /create {ntldr} /d “Windows XP”
This will create a boot loader entry using NTLDR for your Windows XP installation.
C:>bcdedit /set {ntldr} device partition=D:C:>bcdedit /set {ntldr} path ntldr
C:>bcdedit /displayorder {ntldr} /addlast
This will point the boot entry to your Windows XP partition – D: , set the path to NTLDR and add it to the end of the boot menu options.
You can view the changes by selecting the Boot tab in Run > MSCONFIG.
Check out this tutorial to see How To Add Windows Vista to Windows 7 Boot Menu
You can also use EasyBCD to edit and manage your bootloader entries using a GUI.
Via Kombitz
December 22nd, 2009 at 4:23 pm
Thanks for these details – I’m a big fan of Windows XP and Windows 7… and this will come in VERY handy!!!
October 9th, 2010 at 1:13 pm
I tried that twice id dont solve my problem
what more i can do?
November 10th, 2010 at 1:33 am
I have a 64-bit Windows 7 system and I need to run an RS-23 pedal on it. Will the XP add-on solve the problem? There is no 64-bit driver for the pedal.
November 19th, 2010 at 1:12 pm
I love it! the colours work so well together, and the form really improves on his/her’s previous work. The use of goats testicles is really quite innovative!
January 15th, 2011 at 7:58 am
Hi. Thank you for the info on adding Win XP to my Win 7 Boot Menu. The editing went smoothly and I was told all was successful. Unfortunately, after using bcdedit and following the instructions to the letter, it still boots directly to Win 7. When I run MSCONFIG I get, Windows 7 (C:\Windows): Current OS; Default OS and nothing about my Win XP HDD, which is set as slave. I used E: in BCDEDIT as the Win XP HDD as that is how it is seen on my system. Do you have any next steps? Thank you very much.
June 4th, 2011 at 10:45 am
hi can anybody tell me please how to set the path to NTLDR.
August 12th, 2011 at 7:49 pm
Useful article. These things really help to increase user experience on windows Xp. I also wrote an article about few days ago on squidoo. We both are writing about the same topic, no?
September 23rd, 2011 at 7:19 am
schöner rfting der bereitra zu mebell mit bestidach und verestzul. verje den blien des pferess ohne verzhaba, ernan, ssech oder rgere.
October 4th, 2011 at 3:16 am
shalom, highly regarded blog on lardy loss. this helped.
January 25th, 2012 at 7:51 am
Hello there! This is the third time visiting now and I really just wanted to say I truley enjoy looking at your blog website. I have decided to bookmark it at stumbleupon.com with the title: How To Add Windows XP to Windows 7 Boot Menu | Pathik Shah and your Web address: http://www.pathikshah.com/blog/how-to-add-windows-xp-to-windows-7-boot-menu/. I hope this is okay with you, I’m making an attempt to give your terrific blog a bit more publicity. Be back soon.
January 26th, 2012 at 6:05 am
Hi there would you mind letting me know which webhost you’re working with? I’ve loaded your blog in 3 completely different browsers and I must say this blog loads a lot faster then most. Can you recommend a good web hosting provider at a reasonable price? Kudos, I appreciate it!