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Dual Boot with Windows XP SP3 and Windows 8.1

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BTN Production received a request from one of our viewers, and they wanted to know if Windows XP and Windows 8/Windows 8.1 could work together in one machine "dual boot".

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Step 1 – We need to find a good program that will allow us to partition our current Hard Drive, so we have something to install Windows 8/Windows 8.1 into. We find EaseUS Partition Master Free Edition to work well.

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Step 2 – We are using Windows XP Professional SP3, but it doesn’t matter which version of Windows XP you have.

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Step 3 – Open EaseUS Partition Master Free Edition > Click on the “Resize/Move”
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Step 4 – The “Resize/Move” dialog box. Use the slider to indicate the size of the new partition. Make sure to leave enough space for your primary hard drive.
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Step 5 – Once your click on the OK button on the Resize/Move dialog you then have to click on the “Apply” button and tell the program that you are ready to partition your drive.
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Step 6 – Don’t worry the machine will reboot and this is normal.
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Step 7 –  EaseUS Partition Master Boot Mode will start the process, but if you change your mind you have about 5 seconds to abort! Be sure this is what you want to do 🙂
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Step 8  – Sit back and relax this process shouldn’t take to long
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Step 9 – When the process is done you will see the Unallocated partiton drive in Compute rManagement
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Step 10 – Place the Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 DVD in the CD/DVD drive and go into your BIOS settings and change the order of your Boot order so your CD/DVD drive runs first
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Step 11 – If the BIOS setting was configured correctly you will the “Press any key to boot from CD or DVD….”
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Step 12 – Click Next and accept the license terms from Microsoft
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Step 13 – Select the Drive that we create earlier. It should be labeled as “Drive 0 Unallocated Space”
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Step 14 – Click on “Drive Option (advanced)” – we need to create new partition to install Operating System into.
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Step 15 – Click on the “new” button to give the partition the size amount you want to give it
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Step 16 – Once the process is completed your new partition drive was state “Drive 0 Partition 2” – make it is picked then click on Next and let the Opearting System installation do it’s thing.
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Step 17 – When the installation is completed it will boot into your new Operating System. If you reboot the machine it will take you here giving you the option to pick what Operating System you want to boot into
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Image Credit: bjtechnewsphotolibrary

About BjTechNews (1056 Articles)
An IT guy trying to learn everything about technology and sharing it with you all. I'm a blogger and video blogger who highlights daily news in the tech industry, promoting tips and hacks for fellow techies.

6 Comments on Dual Boot with Windows XP SP3 and Windows 8.1

  1. I have a Lenovo Ideapad Y580 64. It came preloaded with Win8, and since been updated to 8.1. No CD was provided. There are certain prgms from my old XP pc that no longer function properly in 8.1.

    Is it possible to set up a partition on the Ideapad to run XP OS, and still retain the partitions that run 8.1?

  2. Thank you very much for your fantastic tutorial,
    I did it already and it is functioning perfect

  3. alfanalff // May 6, 2014 at 6:15 pm // Reply

    I’m excited about this. But, I had problem. I’ve been installed windows 8.1 and I wanted to install windows XP SP3, when I went to bios mode and selected boot from USB, it didn’t work to enter the setup of windows XP. It’s still enter windows 8.1 mode.

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