Bootable Partitions with OS, Cloning/Copying, Older OS

Mgonz29 · May 14

Hello all,

Any help would be greatly appreciated. So I have an older laptop Toshiba Satellite L300 with a 320GB SATA hard drive that I use for older programs and games etc. I have the hard drive separated into 2 partitions. The first is with Windows 7 Pro and the other is with Windows 8.1 Pro. Both systems partitions are fine and boot perfectly with no problems.

Now here is where I am a bit lost. I want to add another partition for Windows XP for even older stuff that I want to revisit/use. I know that installing Windows XP on the hard drive even after creating another partition for it will cause problems because it is older that the other 2 installed OS on the other 2 partitions. I have read that there is a way around that but it seems tricky.

Was wondering if I could copy or clone both the Windows 7 Pro and Windows 8.1 Pro partitions to another drive (like an external hard drive ) temporarily and then:

1. Wipe the hard drive in the Toshiba Satellite L300 clean.

2. Create a new Partition for Windows XP and install it.

Now here is where I am unsure. Would I have to then create 2 new partitions for the Windows 7 Pro and 8.1 Pro and then migrate them back to the hard drive in the Toshiba Satellite L300 or would I just have to migrate it back to the hard drive in the laptop. I would hope after migrating them back successfully I would then see all 3 OS in the multiple boot menu upon startup and would be also be able to boot all 3 OS successfully.

Any and all suggestions are welcome.

aiArtisan · May 15

Thank you Mgonz, I understand you have Windows 7, 8 installed, and would like to also install Windows XP. Aomei Backupper and Partition Assistant can definitely help you with that.

You could backup or clone your disk to an external disk for safety, then install Windows XP on your source disk.

"I know that installing Windows XP on the hard drive even after creating another partition for it will cause problems"

Before installing any version of Windows, you do not need to create a partition ahead of time, but you will need 40GB+ empty space. On modern PCs, Windows MultiBoot is managed in a system called BCD. Beginning with Windows 8, the BCD boot menu is blue, and graphical, it will allow you to pick which Windows to boot. In rare cases, the BCD will be in the old mode, where it is menu-driven, black and white, but it will work just the same. Sometimes you may have to restart and pick the same Windows twice, that is normal.

If you are managing a disk with multiple Windows installations, you could use the standard Cmd > MSConfig, or the more powerful 3rd party EasyBCD to managing the boot settings.

If you decide to clone your disk, I recommend using PA > Exact Sector By Sector setting, because then it will also copy the partition table MBR/GPT.

Windows XP & Vista were only made to work with PCs configured with Legacy-BIOS. Windows 7/8/10 can use either Legacy-BIOS, UEFI-CSM, UEFI-nonCSM. Windows 11 can only use UEFI-nonCSM. Before installing Windows XP, please confirm your motherboard is in Legacy-BIOS.

If you want to install old Windows XP apps, you could instead use Windows 7 > Virtual PC, or Windows 8/10/11 > VirtualBox.

Since you are using an old PC, definitely check out Aomei (Win)PE Builder USB, that is a huge tool that works on PCs from 2001-2020!

Please reply with a screenshot of your disks from Partition Assistant.

Aomei makes great products, if you are managing several Windows installations, it makes sense to buy the Pro version of Backupper and Partition Assistant, just uninstall the free versions to be presented with a 50% off coupon!

Partition Assistant WinPE USB:

Add custom drivers, such as NVMe, if necessary.

Backupper WinPE USB:

Add custom drivers, such as NVMe, if necessary. Does not work on some Monitors.

Aomei (Win)PE Builder USB:

Best for PCs before 2020, includes Partition Assistant, Backupper, Recuva, 7zip, OSF Mount, CPU-Z, Bootice, DiskMgmt.msc. Supports x64 portable apps. Does not support any additional drivers, such as some internal M.2 NVMe disks.

Free tools not from Aomei:

LazeSoft - Aggressive Windows boot repair

Windows 11/10/8/7/Vista/XP x64x32 supported

Hirens Boot PE 1.08 2024 - Best live USB tool suite

Based on Windows 11, includes 160 utilities, BU 7.3.3, PA 10.2.2. Put custom drivers, into the “CustomDrivers” folder.

EasyBCD - App

Manage multiple Windows installation boot

Supergrub 2 - Force Boot Absolutely Anything

Mgonz29 · May 15

Thank you very much for the suggestions AiArtisan, I really appreciate it. I know about the BCD because like I said I have Windows 8.1 installed and when the laptop powers on I have the choice to boot either Windows 7 Pro or 8.1 Pro.

So basically you are saying to backup or clone my entire disk to an external hard drive (not each partition of Windows 7 Pro and Windows 8.1 Pro separately) and then wipe the hard drive in the laptop clean. And then install XP.

After installing the XP how would I go about bringing the partitions with Windows 7 and 8.1 back onto the disk?

Or are you saying I should backup or clone my entire disk and then just install XP and leave the Windows 7 and 8.1 alone and everything should be fine. And if it is not I can just copy what I cloned/backed up and migrate it back to the disk on the laptop.

I think I'll take the opportunity to put a lager GB hard drive in the laptop just to make sure there are no problems with having enough space. It is getting tight anyway.

I will definitely check out those links you sent me and am seriously considering upgrading to the Pro version of Backupper and Partition Assistant.

admin · May 15

@Mgonz29, Based on your needs, we are afraid that our software can't help you. Our software currently can't support backup/restore multiple boot systems.

aiArtisan · May 15

@Mgonz29 , When you change disk partitions or settings, there is always a chance that something will not boot. But, if you backup or clone first to an external disk, then disconnect the external disk, then you may safely make changes on your source disk. PA > clone with exact sector by sector setting.

If your PC does not boot after making your changes, you could try these commands to make it boot again.

bootrec /fixmbr
bootrec /fixboot
bootrec /scanos
bootrec /rebuildbcd
Bcdboot <Letter>:/Windows
Advanced instructions:

Backupper Guide

Partition Assistant General Help Topics

aiArtisan · May 16

"Or are you saying I should backup or clone my entire disk and then just install XP and leave the Windows 7 and 8.1 alone and everything should be fine. And if it is not I can just copy what I cloned/backed up and migrate it back to the disk on the laptop. "

You could try that.

The Admin has said they don't "support backup/restore multiple boot systems". Perhaps they mean the restore does not work in all cases with multiple boot systems.

Bootable Partitions with OS, Cloning/Copying, Older OS

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