Dual Boot Windows 7 and Windows 11 on the Same Computer with/without USB

This guide explains how to dual-boot Windows 11 and Windows 7 on the same computer, offering two methods: one using a USB drive and another without.

Method 1: Dual-Booting with a USB Drive

This method involves creating a Windows 11 installation USB and a new partition for Windows 11. You'll need a Windows 11 ISO file and Rufus.

Step 1: Create a New Partition

1. Access Disk Management (search for "diskmgmt.msc").
2. Shrink an existing volume to create unallocated space (allocate at least 100GB for Windows 11).
3. Create a new simple volume from the unallocated space. Format it (NTFS is recommended).

Step 2: Create a Windows 11 Installation USB with Rufus

1. Run Rufus and select your USB drive.
2. Select the Windows 11 ISO file.
3. Choose MBR partition scheme.
4. Click "Start" to create the bootable USB.

Step 3: Bypass TPM Checks (Optional, but may be necessary for older hardware)

1. Create a text file named tpm.reg on the USB drive with the following content:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup\LabConfig]
"BypassTPMCheck"=dword:00000001
"BypassSecureBootCheck"=dword:00000001
"BypassRAMCheck"=dword:00000001
"BypassStorageCheck"=dword:00000001
"AllowUpgradesWithUnsupportedTPMOrCPU"=dword:00000001

2. During Windows 11 setup, open Command Prompt (Shift F10), open notepad, open tpm.reg, and merge it into the registry.

Step 4: Install Windows 11

1. Boot from the USB drive.
2. Choose "Custom: Install Windows only (advanced)".
3. Select the newly created partition.
4. Complete the Windows 11 installation.

Method 2: Dual-Booting without a USB Drive (Using a Virtual Hard Disk)

This method uses a virtual hard disk (VHD) and Dism . You'll need a Windows 11 ISO, Dism , and 7-Zip.

Step 1: Create a Virtual Hard Disk

1. Open Disk Management.
2. Create a new VHD (at least 100GB).
3. Initialize the VHD and create a new simple volume.

Step 2: Install Windows 11 on the VHD using Dism

1. Extract the Windows 11 ISO.
2. Run Dism .
3. Apply the install.wim from the ISO to the VHD. Ensure "Add Boot" is checked.

Step 3: Boot from the VHD

1. Open System Configuration (msconfig).
2. Add the Windows 11 boot entry.
3. Restart and select Windows 11 to begin the installation.

Remember to back up your important data before attempting either method. Both methods require some technical knowledge. If you're uncomfortable with these steps, consider seeking professional assistance.

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