For most people, running 1 operating system on their PC or laptop is enough, just in some instances it tin come in handy to have 2 separate versions on a PC. This may be due to specific software that only works with an older release of Windows,  or peradventure you lot desire to compare the differences between Windows vii and Windows x earlier committing to the switch. Thankfully Windows is designed with dual booting in mind.

You can create a dual-kick arrangement from pretty much whatever version of Windows, but hither we volition add Windows 10 to a PC running Windows seven.

(Note that Windows 7 is now end of life, so we do not recommend you run the OS whatsoever longer.)

What exercise I demand to dual boot Windows?

Patently you'll need a re-create of Windows to install, and this needs to be burned onto a CD or written to a USB retentivity stick. Microsoft provides a downloadable version of Windows 10 on its site, although you'll still need a product primal to activate it if you intend to apply the operating system long term.

Fortunately the days of dealing with an 'ISO' file are over: when y'all download Windows 10 using Microsoft'south Media Creation Tool, the process is automatic. That means y'all'll finish up with a USB stick that your computer tin boot from.

As ever, before messing around with Windows, you lot should back upward your data, as in that location'south no guarantee something won't go incorrect and you wouldn't want to lose precious files.

Here are the basic steps before we get to the details:

  1. Install a new difficult drive, or create a new partition on the existing one using the Windows Disk Management Utility
  2. Plug in the USB stick containing the new version of Windows, and then reboot the PC.
  3. Install Windows 10, being certain to select the Custom option.
  4. Select the newly created partition or the other hard disk every bit the destination for Windows x. Then click Next to install the operating organisation.

How do I install a second copy of Windows?

If you lot have bought a second hard bulldoze or are using a spare one, you can install the second copy of Windows to this drive. If you don't have one, or you can't install a second drive because you're using a laptop, y'all'll need to use your existing difficult drive and partition it.

Create a new partition

If you demand to install a 2nd version of Windows on the same hard drive as the first, at that place needs to be plenty free space. This can be tricky if you're running low on storage, as Windows 10 ideally requires around 20-25GB (and we recommend at least 50-100GB).

Hither'south how to find and delete large files taking upward space. Once you lot've backed up whatever files that are important y'all'll demand to go to the Windows Disk Management utility. To do so hold down the Windows key and press R. This opens a box, into which you lot type diskmgmt.msc and press enter.

You'll now run into a listing of the partitions on your hard drive. Select the master segmentation, usually called (C:), and then right click and select Shrink Volume.

Now yous'll come across another window that shows you the size of the partition, and asks you to Enter the corporeality of infinite to shrink in MB. To create a 25GB partition you'll need to enter 25000 and so click Shrink. This will modify the partition, assuasive you the space you need to install Windows ten.

dual boot windows 10

How exercise I install Windows 10?

Identify the previously created CD or USB version of Windows x into your PC and reboot the auto. You should be taken direct to the installation procedure, merely if your auto goes back to your original version of Windows straight away you'll need to suit the boot sequence in your BIOS. Bank check out our guide on How to enter the BIOS to help you achieve this: you're looking for an pick to modify the boot order and so removable drives are checked earlier the primary hard drive.

When the install sequence starts, select the Custom pick.

dual boot Windows 10

This opens up a console which asks y'all Where do you desire to install Windows? From the presented options select the one entitled Unallocated Space, which should be 25GB.  Click Apply and once Windows has created the partition click Next. (If y'all're using a separate hard drive, so select that instead.)

Now the installation process will go on and terminate. The adjacent time you power on or reboot your machine you will have the pick to choose between the two operating systems. The bonus is that as unlike versions of Windows even so utilize the same file system, you'll exist able to access your files from either OS.

For more than particular, see How to install Windows ten.