I have a PC running Windows 10 pro, 64 bit, installed in EFI mode on a GPT partitioned HDD. I want to install Windows 7, 32 bit, to a virtual hard drive (.vhd) in dual boot configuration. I have created the vhd and copied the required files to it (DISM...install.wim, etc.). However, I am unable to add the boot entry for the new OS. I keep getting the message that this version of bcdboot (from Windows 7) is incompatible with the current system, and that the required files could not be copied. Is what I want to do possible? Waiting to hear from you guys before I clean the HDD and repartition it as MBR. Also, I think I should install Windows 7 first and then install Windows 10. BIOS mode instead of EFI?
Why not just try Windows 7 in a "normal" VM such as VirtualBox? Seems like an awful lot of trouble just to get a working VM like you're wanting to do.
I need the hardware performance. I can install to a partition too, but I don't want to lose my existing Windows 10 installation. VMs have pathetic hardware, especially graphics.
It's strange as I did a dual boot with installing windows 7 home on my PC running windows 10 anniversary 1607. It created a dual boot at startup from which I had just to choose what OS load
Is your HDD GPT or MBR? I cannot create an MBR partition on a GPT disk. Windows 7 setup does not like GPT - Windows cannot be installed to this partition. (might be a 32 bit thing - haven't tried with 64 bit DVD).
yeah it is a MBR ( windows X64 ) I don't use GPT format as I don't see any difference but managing huge HDD-SDD
Windows 7 32bit doesn't support EFI mode, you would need to switch HDD to Bios MBR mode to make it work on same HDD. Other solution is simply add another HDD to boot MBR and copy win7 VHD and choose which HDD to boot from. You can have a GPT disk in mbr mode it just can't be the boot drive.
If your need is that great, maybe a second computer altogether. Or as BigReds suggested use a separate HDD. Now days drives are dirt cheap.
Ok, thanks, all, for confirming what I suspected. I shall now proceed to nuke the GPT partitions and create fresh MBR partitions, and go back to BIOS boot. GPT and EFI sounded good, but turned out to be too restrictive. Now how about vhd? Can I install Windows 10 64 bit first (as my primary OS), and then install Windows 7 32 bit on a vhd? Or will it still say that the Windows 7 bcdboot is no good?
The whole point of this exercise is to run an old software which needs Windows 7 32 bit. (Vista and XP will also work).
You don't need to use bcdboot (unless you want to boot that VHD on a VM as well) You have just to add the VHD entry to your current W10 bootloader. Just use easybcd and add the entry using the dedicated menu.
Thanks, T-S. At least EasyBCD got me to the stage where I saw two options for the OS on the boot screen. However, Windows 7 32 bit still doesn't know how to access the vhd (an MBR partitioned VHD on a GPT partitioned HDD).
In my country we have a said that roughly translated sounds as "it was better when it was worse". Google, MS and Apple are confirming constantly that said
I don't use EFI mode or GPT.. I would be use Lency AHCI mode and I made dual boot my hard drive without any trouble on 32 bits or 64 bits Windows 7 and 10 as well, no trouble! ATGPUD2003