How to dual boot two existing operating systems?

[Samuel_gaming]

I have windows 10 on my computer already, but i want to also be able to access my old windows xp OS without having to change the boot order every time. Please help. (Please use SIMPLE terms because I may not understand.)

My computer specs:

HP workstation xw8400
Intel Xeon
6Gb RAM
2 HDD via IDE
2 HDD via SATA

Other Things:
The Windows 10 is on the IDE while the Windows XP is on the SATA

 

[Colif]

Are they on two different drives?

if so, you might be able to rebuild the MBR and add the XP install to the boot menu
In win 10, go to settings/update & security/recovery/Advanced Start up - Press the restart now button
this loads advanced startup
choose troubleshoot
choose advanced
choose command prompt
look at step 4 here: http://www.thewindowsclub.com/repair-master-boot-record-mbr-windows (ignore any downloads they offer)

I think this works, I have never tried it.

 

[kango69]

Use this software
http://neosmart.net/EasyBCD/
https://neosmart.net/wiki/easybcd/dual-boot/bcd-based/

 

[Rocky Bennett]

To the OP, if I understand you correctly you already have both operating systems installed in your computer. A real easy way to access either OS is to press F8 repeatedly after you start up your computer. That works easily and you don't have to mess around with an additional boot loader.

 

[Paul NZ]

Probably not a good idea, dual booting XP and Win10.

If XP was installed in IDE mode. If AHCI is enabled for Win10 it'll crash.

And if secureboot is enabled for Win10, XP wont boot

You'll have to change both in the BIOS, so XP will boot

 

[Solandri]

Probably not a good idea, dual booting XP and Win10.

If XP was installed in IDE mode. If AHCI is enabled for Win10 it'll crash.

And if secureboot is enabled for Win10, XP wont boot

You'll have to change both in the BIOS, so XP will boot

Agreed.

Have you considered converting the XP installation into a virtual machine? Then you can run it inside a window in Win 10. You can also create a snapshot after you get it converted and always revert back to it before starting the VM. That way any (new) malware which exploits an unpatched XP vulnerability to infect your XP OS will be erased each time you start the VM.

https://my.vmware.com/web/vmware/evalcenter?p=converter
https://my.vmware.com/web/vmware/free#desktop_end_user_computing/vmware_workstation_player/12_0

 

[Samuel_gaming]

Probably not a good idea, dual booting XP and Win10.

If XP was installed in IDE mode. If AHCI is enabled for Win10 it'll crash.

And if secureboot is enabled for Win10, XP wont boot

You'll have to change both in the BIOS, so XP will boot

Agreed.

Have you considered converting the XP installation into a virtual machine? Then you can run it inside a window in Win 10. You can also create a snapshot after you get it converted and always revert back to it before starting the VM. That way any (new) malware which exploits an unpatched XP vulnerability to infect your XP OS will be erased each time you start the VM.

https://my.vmware.com/web/vmware/evalcenter?p=converter
https://my.vmware.com/web/vmware/free#desktop_end_user_computing/vmware_workstation_player/12_0

Can you pls explain in simpler words cause I dont understand...

 

[Solandri]

Can you pls explain in simpler words cause I dont understand...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmPY9nEFPMk