Has anyone set up laptop to Dual Boot Windows 10 with Windows 7

[Flamenca]

I have an ex-corporate laptop arriving Tuesday but it has Windows 10 installed. I have a number of programs which will not run on Windows 10 and I do not like that OS anyway so am considering dual booting Windows 10 and 7. From what I have read I would need to do a clean install of Windows 7 on the machine then install Windows 10. Has anyone done this successfully and have any tips for me?

 

[Langtoftlad]

After I forked my PC trying to set up a dual boot Linux/Windows, my PC Repair fellow set up my machine with an extra hard drive... one for each operating system.
He showed me how to physically disconnect one drive so that Linux would be installed on the drive of my choice, thus removing any risk of corruption or messing partitions.
Not that I have got around to doing the Linux installation, still chugging along with Win7.
Perhaps something to do if enforced coronavirus isolation ?

As it's a laptop, that solution is not applicable ...
But could you not have Win7 Portable on a USB stick and boot up from that when necessary?

There's a long thread about Linux/Win dual boot somewhere - but it got far too technical for me.
Found it:
https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/upgrading-win7-to-linux-mint.205344/

[ completely forgot I started the thread ]

 

[Quackers]

If the laptop has a decent size hard drive take a look at Hyper V which is an optional feature of W10 Pro. That would allow you to run windows 7 as a virtual machine. So you start the laptop up as Windows 10 and then run windows 7 in a separate window as a virtual operating system.

 

[Flamenca]

Langtoftlad Thanks for the information. Your solution is possible on both my present laptop which already has two internal SSD's and an eSATA port for an external SSD. The new laptop will have the same facilities. At present I only use the second SSD as an encrypted data store.

I have chosen this time to buy another laptop to give me plenty to occupy my time in isolation

 

[DBK]

The HD drive in the laptop might be very easy to remove and a replacement very cheap if you don't go for a huge size. A small SSD drive would be an option, they are pretty cheap now too.

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[Flamenca]

The HD drive in the laptop might be very easy to remove and a replacement very cheap if you don't go for a huge size. A small SSD drive would be an option, they are pretty cheap now too.

Thanks. The laptop comes with an 256GB SSD and I already plan to install a larger primary SSD to cope with two operating systems.

 

[Geoff D]

There is a comprehensive article in the current issue of Computer Active that covers all the options for running both Windows 7 and 10 including dual booting and virtual PC.

 

[Quackers]

I would favour Virtual Machine over dual booting, seen too many dual booting setups fail.

 

[Gellyneck]

I've got a number of laptops dual-booting Win7 \ Win10 \ Linux distros. Relatively easy to do but, as you say, it's easier installing 7 first followed by 10 however it can be done the other way around.
In relation to running programs in 10 have you tried to run them in "Compatibility Mode"?

 

[Flamenca]

I've got a number of laptops dual-booting Win7 \ Win10 \ Linux distros. Relatively easy to do but, as you say, it's easier installing 7 first followed by 10 however it can be done the other way around.
In relation to running programs in 10 have you tried to run them in "Compatibility Mode"?

Thanks for your thoughts. I will try to run them in compatibility mode when the 'new' laptop arrives. However, I really dislike Windows 10. I believe there is a 'looks like' Windows 7 mode which I will try but I have 7 on all my computers and do not relish the learning cycle. From setting up a pc with 10 for a friend it is very unfriendly to use and Microsoft seem to have changed so much just for the sake of change. Not to mention the additional embedded spyware in 10 (I know Microsoft call it something else and pretend they are being helpful) which will probably take a lot of effort to disable. Sorry to go on a bit but I am of the school that Windows 98SE was the best and it has been downhill ever since Showing my age now.

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[Allanm]

Probably no help, but I have 2 Panasonic Toughbook laptops. The hard drives are mounted in caddies that slide out. I have Win 7 on a drive for each and Win 10 (with Linux Ubuntu) on the others.
Not keen on Win 10 when I first got it, but it gets a little easier, but I only use the laptops for programming radios, running astronomy software and guiding telescopes and Win 7 is the easiest to use and most familiar.

 

[Gellyneck]

Not to mention the additional embedded spyware in 10 (I know Microsoft call it something else and pretend they are being helpful) which will probably take a lot of effort to disable.

Have a look at https://www.oo-software.com/en/shutup10 You can turn on and off what is sent to Microsoft.
I was the same when first using 10 (heap of ****) however it has improved over the past couple of years and very rarely in 7 now. Use Linux Mint regularly now.
98SE - XP

 

[Flamenca]

Probably no help, but I have 2 Panasonic Toughbook laptops. The hard drives are mounted in caddies that slide out. I have Win 7 on a drive for each and Win 10 (with Linux Ubuntu) on the others.
Not keen on Win 10 when I first got it, but it gets a little easier, but I only use the laptops for programming radios, running astronomy software and guiding telescopes and Win 7 is the easiest to use and most familiar.

That is interesting. Especially because the laptop I am buying has the primary hard drive in a caddy which slides out. I will search online for a spare caddy

 

[Flamenca]

Gellyneck I have downloaded shutup 10 software and will transfer it to a usb stick to run on the laptop which is due to arrive tomorrow. I plan to run the software and make changes before connecting the laptop to the internet for updates, etc. Is this the best method rather than doing updates first? Thanks.

 

[Gellyneck]

Gellyneck I have downloaded shutup 10 software and will transfer it to a usb stick to run on the laptop which is due to arrive tomorrow. I plan to run the software and make changes before connecting the laptop to the internet for updates, etc. Is this the best method rather than doing updates first? Thanks.

You can do it either way around as O&OSU10 does not stop Windows 10 updates actually happening. All it does is tighten up what it sends out to Microsoft.
If you want to stop Windows 10 updates have a look at Windows Update Blocker (currently on v1.5) as this cut off access to MS update servers. https://www.sordum.org/9470/windows-update-blocker-v1-5/

The way I "manage" Windows 10 is (and this does not say I'm right!) -

• I created a new folder on the Windows 10 operating system partition (normally C drive and called it "Portable Software". This simplistically reflects the way Windows manages installed software in folders "Program Files" and "Program Files (x86)". It also means you have all portable software (which O&OSU10 and WUB are) in one location.
• In that "Portable Software" folder I then have sub-folders created \ named O&OSU10, WUB, etc with the appropriate .exe and other files contained within these.
• I then create a shortcut to each of these .exe files on the desktop for ease of access.
• On a new or clean install of Windows 10 I would normally follow this process -
  • Remove all unwanted "fluff", ie installed 3rd party software and Microsoft Windows components I don't want.
  • Update Windows 10 with all available updates. This will normally include latest security and functionality changes, Malicious Software Removal, Netframework, etc amongst others. It may also install latest drivers for hardware.
  • "Install" and run O&OSU10 and WUB. Set these up with the settings you want. In respect of WUB I have -
    • Disable Updates and Protect Services Settings selected.
  • In respect of O&OSU10 I only allow -
    • Disable automatic Windows Updates
    • Disable Windows Updates for other products
    • Disable Windows Defender
• Then install any additional software you want \ need. If this includes Microsoft Office you'll need to get any updates for this.
• To do this, and when you want to install updates in future, all you do is "Enable updates" and "Apply now" in WUB and then run "Update and Security" in Windows 10 Settings. Once they are finished just "Disable updates" again.
• Now go back into O&OSU10 and select "Show only changes". Once these display click "Revert changes" and you'll be back to what you set-up previously.
• Microsoft generally updates Windows on a monthly basis (usually the 2nd Tuesday) and I have a look at AskWoody website to see what the released patches will do and decide if I want to install or not. Microsoft regularly has issues with some updates and AskWoody is normally good at identifying these.
• Follow the process above to permit updates and then disable them again.

Think that's about it (in simple format, hopefully) but give me a shout if anything unclear.
Best of luck but it is a fairly simple process. You just need to decide what you want to install and use or not!

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[Flamenca]

Gellyneck Many thanks. Your guide is extremely helpful. All done. A further question if you do not mind. Before I take the step of software installation I want to address the matter of drives. The main drive is a 256GB SSD in a dock and there is also an internal facility to install an additional drive in the form of an mSATA. Can you think of any reason why I should not install an mSATA for my primary drive to allow me to transfer a 960GB SSD from my old laptop which is used solely for data storage?

 

[Gellyneck]

Gellyneck Many thanks. Your guide is extremely helpful. All done. A further question if you do not mind. Before I take the step of software installation I want to address the matter of drives. The main drive is a 256GB SSD in a dock and there is also an internal facility to install an additional drive in the form of an mSATA. Can you think of any reason why I should not install an mSATA for my primary drive to allow me to transfer a 960GB SSD from my old laptop which is used solely for data storage?

No probs for the guide and pleased it went well.
In respect of installing an mSATA drive I've never done this but think you should be able to transfer the operating system from the SSD to an mSATA drive using cloning software. From memory there's even a Microsoft app in Windows 10 for doing this.
However, as an alternative option that may be easier \ cheaper, have you considered getting a USB3 external enclosure (maybe around a tenner or so) for your old SSD? OK it will be slower at reading \ writing data but as it's only for data storage that shouldn't be a problem. I use a number of external 3.5" USB3 hard discs for storage \ back-up functions that will probably be a lot slower than an external SSD and no problems with this for me. In addition, it means you'd be able to plug into any laptop \ desktop to access your data.
It also means you won't end up with a "redundant" 256Gb SSD that you may end up buying an external enclosure for anyway!

 

[Flamenca]

If the laptop has a decent size hard drive take a look at Hyper V which is an optional feature of W10 Pro. That would allow you to run windows 7 as a virtual machine. So you start the laptop up as Windows 10 and then run windows 7 in a separate window as a virtual operating system.

Thanks @Quakers This method appears to be a lot sleeker than dual booting. I have W10 Pro so will give it a try after I have upgraded my SSD and locating my mislaid W7 Pro disk. For some reason Microsoft will not allow me to download a W7 ISO using any of my three genuine product keys, two of which are being utilised as I write this.