Set up Windows XP x86 using a USB drive on Windows 7 x64 for a dual-boot configuration
Set up Windows XP x86 using a USB drive on Windows 7 x64 for a dual-boot configuration
I tackled the problem in a different approach, hoping for a better outcome. This post aims to guide others facing similar challenges. I began by downloading an activated Windows XP x86 SP3 ISO with SATA drivers, which was readily available online after support ceased. I transferred it onto my 4GB USB drive using an older Rufus version (since newer ones don’t support XP) and restarted Lo. The result? A black screen with a flashing line in the top-left corner. I switched the BIOS to IDE mode, but still faced issues. After many attempts and trying various ISO-to-USB bootable tools, I finally found YUMI. It led me through a blue screen where XP files loaded until it crashed. I discovered the XP installer couldn’t handle USB 3.0, so I checked the port—my drive was in a 2.0 slot. Everything seemed fine then. Eventually, I burned the ISO onto another disc, restarted, and booted from the CD again. The same black screen appeared. Through extensive research, I learned Windows XP doesn’t work well with Linux or residual files. Remembering my past dual-boot experience with Windows 7, I searched my C:/ drive and found Linux files hidden in Steam game libraries. I deleted those files in hopes XP would recognize it, but nothing happened. The only solution was opening the SSD cover on my old laptop, pulling out the SSD, and installing Windows XP. I reduced the partition size by 5GB and added all necessary drivers—except a few non-essential ones like WLAN+BT. After some stress, I reinstalled XP manually via EasyBCD on Windows 7. The program couldn’t detect the second OS, so I manually added XP in the boot menu during startup. Once I rebooted, it switched to Windows 7. When opening EasyBCD, I noticed my manual entry was missing. Realizing I wouldn’t need XP often, I switched back to the main OS directly. For future reference, I pressed F7 in BIOS to select the hard drive instead of the SSD. The correct button varies by system—usually one of the F-keys or Delete. In an ideal scenario, dual-booting with a menu would be better, but I’m satisfied with this workaround. My laptop specs are secondary: i7 2820QM, 8GB RAM, GTX 460m (Sager/Clevo).
Another choice could be using the GRUB boot loader to swap in Windows instead of the current boot manager. It’s not easy to set up or configure, though. Wouldn’t it be better to run XP inside a virtual machine and send data through it?
I wasn't familiar with GRUB and decided against using XP regularly, so despite the setup effort, it doesn’t make sense. I attempted to run XP inside a virtual machine, but many games refused to load due to missing drivers, and I prefer native execution since I also need a USB-to-serial adapter for certain titles.