Computers normally have a single operating system installed on them, but you can dual-boot multiple operating systems. You can have two (or more) versions of Windows installed side-by-side on the same PC and choose between them at boot time.
Typically, you should install the newer operating system last. For example, if you want to dual-boot Windows 7 and 10, install Windows 7 and then install Windows 10 second. However, this may not always be necessary — installing WIndows 7 after Windows 8 or 8.1 seems to work.
The Basics
The process for creating a dual-boot system is similar no matter what operating system you’re dual-booting with. Here’s what you’ll need to do:
- Install the First Version of Windows: If you already have a single Windows system installed on your computer, that’s fine. If not, install Windows normally. You may want to use custom partitioning settings and leave free space available on your hard drive for the second version of Windows.
- Make Room For the Second Version of Windows: You’ll need available hard drive space for the next version of Windows. If you have Windows installed, you can resize the partition. You could also insert a second hard drive into your computer (if it’s a desktop computer) and install the second version of Windows to that hard drive.
- Install the Second Version of Windows: Next, you’ll install the second version of Windows. Ensure you choose the “Custom Install” option, not the “Upgrade” option. Install it alongside the previous version of Windows, in a different partition on the same disk or on a different physical disk.
You’ll then be able to choose which copy of Windows you want to boot at boot time, and you can access the files from each version of Windows on the other one.
