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How can I dual boot Windows 10 and Windows 7 on a Surface Book 2?

windows 10 windows 7 dual boot

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#1 nar

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Posted 30 July 2020 - 01:31 PM

I have a licensed copy of Windows 7 and a licensed OEM copy of Windows 10. Windows 10 is the native OS, and I want to dual boot it with windows 7. When running setup.exe from the USB inside windows 10 via explorer, it says I'm missing a required driver during the instillation. When booting off the USB, the boot screen freezes at the Starting Windows animation. The only way to get rid of it is via a hard reset. Any advice?



#2 Wonko the Sane

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Posted 30 July 2020 - 02:48 PM

It is strange, there doesn't seem to be the need for any particular driver according to:
https://www.infofuge...ook-2-from-usb/

 

Maybe some BIOS/UEFI settings need to be changed? :dubbio:

 

 

:duff:

Wonko



#3 nar

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Posted 28 August 2020 - 02:47 PM

It is strange, there doesn't seem to be the need for any particular driver according to:
https://www.infofuge...ook-2-from-usb/

 

Maybe some BIOS/UEFI settings need to be changed? :dubbio:

 

 

:duff:

Wonko

 

I lost access to this account, sorry for the lack of responses.

---

Thanks for the article! Ill look into it!

 

It does have bad english though  :lol:



#4 alacran

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Posted 28 August 2020 - 03:20 PM

Basically Win7x64 is not fully capable to boot on modern pure UEFI/GPT environment, or from USB 3.x ports, it lacks a required generic graphic driver for UEFI booting and also lacks USB 3.x driver.

 

General use info:

 

If your UEFI firmware allows to enable CSM and there is a USB 2.0 port available:

 

You may try this way and install from a USB device plugged to a USB 2.0 port if available.

 

If your UEFI firmware allows to enable CSM and there is not a USB 2.0 port available:

 

You may boot from a Win10PE or a 8.x-WinPE and by means of WinNTSetup install Win7. This is the easier option.

 

Or make a new USB install device, just copy content of a Win8.x.iso (8.x is prefered option, no unattend.xml required) or Win10 Iso (you may need a  unattend.xml, or you may not be able to acept the licence latter during install) as the base and replace the install.wim with the one from Win7, and install from it. This is the second easier option.

 

Or integrate USB 3.0 driver to boot.wim Index 2 and also to install.wim (your required index), this option is more complicated, and may not always work, since also some files on the source folder need to be updated too, see:

 

http://reboot.pro/to...for-win7-vista/

https://forums.mydig...sh-drive.81923/

 

UEFI installs:

 

I have seen some threads on MDL to make UEFI installs, using a modded graphic driver and having SafeBoot disabled or on some rare cases enabled, but this procedure depends a lot or the specific graphic driver, first link is more recent, see:

 

https://forums.mydig...-devices.82137/

https://forums.mydig...hout-csm.79551/

https://forums.mydig...hout-csm.80876/

 

NOTE: It is very possible you have to be a member to see those MDL threads.

 

alacran


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#5 Wonko the Sane

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Posted 28 August 2020 - 05:38 PM

I lost access to this account, sorry for the lack of responses.

---

Thanks for the article! Ill look into it!

 

It does have bad english though  :lol:

Well, if you stick around here you will probably see worse English.

 

On the board there are people from all over the world, and their (our) English may not be exactly "proper", it is more than anything else a "service language" to exchange ideas.

 

Re-checking, it seems like the Surface Book 2 is

1) UEFI only
2) USB 3.x ports only

which plainly mean that the reference article I initially posted a link to is m00t (though it has a valid point in suggesting the good Rufus tool).

 

But the freezing when booting from USB is anyway "queer" it should produce a 0x0000007b BSOD in the absence of an USB 3+ driver. :dubbio:

 

You'll better follow Alacran's advice above, even if it is likely to bring you down a rabbit hole.

 

:duff:

Wonko


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#6 alacran

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Posted 28 August 2020 - 06:09 PM

To make things easier (for non MDL members) in case of Win7 UEFI installs this is a quote of:

 

UefiSeven: Easily boot Windows 7 on UEFI class 3 devices, link: https://forums.mydig...-devices.82137/

 

Spoiler

 

See UefiSeven releases on github: https://github.com/m...iseven/releases

 

NOTES:

  • Before attempting this procedure, make a backup image of your current partitions, just in case.
  • I suggest it is better to check first if you can get Win7x64 drivers for all devices on your equipment.
  • Even if the procedure could be capable to UEFI boot Win7 on your equipment, it is very possible the modded bootx64.efi on this procedure may not allow dual booting Win10.
  • For help or additional info go to the original topic.
  • Haven't tried the procedure myself, so if this works for you please let us know.

alacran


Edited by alacran, 28 August 2020 - 10:56 PM.
More Notes added

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#7 Blackcrack

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Posted 29 August 2020 - 05:56 AM

i have running Fedora on blackysgate.net as Server and have run Dual Ordering systems via Grub..

 

1.st info

you can make 4 Primary partitions on a normal Harddisk and also a ssd, 4 Primary Partitions be able in the Partitions-Tabel

in the 4th Partition can you make as Extended Patitions Table wit more extended patitions.. this on Harddsks'

 

2.nd info

Windows must be in the First partition for correct working.. spezially Win7 with the whole patches.. it must be on the first patition..

(spezially the "Bootpartition" with the ~ 100mb)

 

3.rd

Linux need a Headpartition " / ", with a Swap partition (no formated, only as Swap marked)

 

both Systems don't need a EFI-Bootmanager

 

= so we need 4 Partitions

1,2 : Win7Boot, Win7 Ordering Partition

3,4 : Linux root "/" with a swap, but we use the swap more in the middle for better running and then the root:

 

Winboot,WinOS,Linuxswap,LinuxOS

 

if we have a 250Gig Harddisk :

 {[100MB Boot][125 Gig WinOS]}[1Gig LSwap][125 Linux / Root]

 

so, 1st step, go in the Bios, make off the EFI-Boot

 

take a Liveiso Partitions Magig or an other LivePartitions PE

and make 4 Partitions

 

100,125,1,125 (ext4fs, BTrfs is not directly ready is in direction of Beta->tested.. imho, next 1 Year is it ready and tested!)

if it is created,

then

delete the 100 and the first 125, therewith exist the last 2 Linux partitions

the 2nd Step, install Win7

 

Let WinNT install in the first - emty - space, therewith create Win7 a [Boot] and a [OS Partition] by self !

 

3rd Step, install Fedora or an other Distro and try to add the Bootrecord

to sda3 or sda4, therewith it is posssible for reinstall Win7 again and you can start with a usb-stick or with Grub4Win

who you be in able to install in Win7

 

in other hand can you also install the Grub on sda1 (and grub starts on any boot (what's not bad) anc| you can select at every boot your orderingsystem..

and you need a livesystem from the same system who you able to reinstall the Grub if you reinstall the Win7,

with chroot /dev/sda4 can you change the root to you installed Linux System

and can make grub-reinstall or something..

with chroot works the installed system also again in "slim mode" without started the systemd deamons from the installed system..

 

 

i hope it have a bit helps for the future WinNT/Linux installs

it is only 2 rule's on one Harddisk,

Install every WinNT first then let manage the Linux System the rest..

the 2nd.. never touch a running System ;)

 

in a Desktop-System it is more easy, there can you select the boot Harddisk via Biosown Bootselector with F11 or F12 or F9.. or what ever is seted up in the Bios.. up to manny sda-connectors exist can you select the Harddisk's via Boot-selector out from the Bios..

 

 

so heapp pfun !

and a good hack..

best

Blacky

 

blackysgate.de



#8 nar

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Posted 02 September 2020 - 10:06 AM

Basically Win7x64 is not fully capable to boot on modern pure UEFI/GPT environment, or from USB 3.x ports, it lacks a required generic graphic driver for UEFI booting and also lacks USB 3.x driver.

 

General use info:

 

If your UEFI firmware allows to enable CSM and there is a USB 2.0 port available:

 

You may try this way and install from a USB device plugged to a USB 2.0 port if available.

 

If your UEFI firmware allows to enable CSM and there is not a USB 2.0 port available:

 

You may boot from a Win10PE or a 8.x-WinPE and by means of WinNTSetup install Win7. This is the easier option.

 

Or make a new USB install device, just copy content of a Win8.x.iso (8.x is prefered option, no unattend.xml required) or Win10 Iso (you may need a  unattend.xml, or you may not be able to acept the licence latter during install) as the base and replace the install.wim with the one from Win7, and install from it. This is the second easier option.

 

Or integrate USB 3.0 driver to boot.wim Index 2 and also to install.wim (your required index), this option is more complicated, and may not always work, since also some files on the source folder need to be updated too, see:

 

http://reboot.pro/to...for-win7-vista/

https://forums.mydig...sh-drive.81923/

 

UEFI installs:

 

I have seen some threads on MDL to make UEFI installs, using a modded graphic driver and having SafeBoot disabled or on some rare cases enabled, but this procedure depends a lot or the specific graphic driver, first link is more recent, see:

 

https://forums.mydig...-devices.82137/

https://forums.mydig...hout-csm.79551/

https://forums.mydig...hout-csm.80876/

 

NOTE: It is very possible you have to be a member to see those MDL threads.

 

alacran

 

If I use WinNTSetup, will I still be able to use my USB ports whilst booted into Win7?



#9 Rootman

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Posted 02 September 2020 - 11:55 AM

A while back before we started using Windows 10 in our organization (late bloomer), I tried to put Windows 7 on a Dell tablet that did EFI booting only.

 

If I recall correctly I managed to install it by taking a Windows 10 ISO and deleting all but the BOOT folder and placing the Windows 7 files in the remaining ISO and saving it.  I managed to boot to it, install the OS (not dual boot BTW) and get it to run - sorta.  However there were a lot of devices I could simply NOT find drivers for including the touchpad and keyboard.  This tablet happened to have USB 2 ports so I could at least connect a USB hub with a mouse and keyboard to use it.  If the device has USB 3 ports you'd be pretty hard up to be able to make it work should the units touchpad and keyboard not work. 

 

I've got some MS Surface stuff, it's tough to get them to work outside of a full Windows 10 OS.  I can't even get them to function on my WINPE without an external KB & mouse. For grins and giggles I even tried a full Linux ISO, I think th eKB worked but no touchpad, although it did drive the USB 3 port.  I seem to remember there were a few other devices that lacked drivers and Win 7 would not take the Win 8 or Win 10 versions of them, none were available for Win 7.  

 

I suspect that it's going to be tough to get it to function fully should you get the Win 7 OS installed. 

 

I'd recommend using a VM if you really need it for Win 7. 



#10 nar

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Posted 14 September 2020 - 10:45 AM

A while back before we started using Windows 10 in our organization (late bloomer), I tried to put Windows 7 on a Dell tablet that did EFI booting only.

 

If I recall correctly I managed to install it by taking a Windows 10 ISO and deleting all but the BOOT folder and placing the Windows 7 files in the remaining ISO and saving it.  I managed to boot to it, install the OS (not dual boot BTW) and get it to run - sorta.  However there were a lot of devices I could simply NOT find drivers for including the touchpad and keyboard.  This tablet happened to have USB 2 ports so I could at least connect a USB hub with a mouse and keyboard to use it.  If the device has USB 3 ports you'd be pretty hard up to be able to make it work should the units touchpad and keyboard not work. 

 

I've got some MS Surface stuff, it's tough to get them to work outside of a full Windows 10 OS.  I can't even get them to function on my WINPE without an external KB & mouse. For grins and giggles I even tried a full Linux ISO, I think th eKB worked but no touchpad, although it did drive the USB 3 port.  I seem to remember there were a few other devices that lacked drivers and Win 7 would not take the Win 8 or Win 10 versions of them, none were available for Win 7.  

 

I suspect that it's going to be tough to get it to function fully should you get the Win 7 OS installed. 

 

I'd recommend using a VM if you really need it for Win 7. 

 

I had tails running fine on my computer







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