Installing Windows XP Before Windows Vista or Windows 7

By default, installing Windows Vista or Windows 7 after Windows XP will result in an automatic dual-boot, as the newer versions of Windows will automatically detect and configure the dual-boot.

However, you may want to use EasyBCD to perform one or more of these post-install configurations:

• Rename the Windows XP entry from "Legacy Windows Entries" to "Windows XP" (or whatever name suits your desire),
• Change the timeout from the default of 30 seconds to a more reasonable 5 to 10 seconds.

If you have more than one Windows XP copy installed on different partitions prior to attempting a dual-boot with Windows Vista or 7, you'll find that the boot menu selection will take part in two stages - you'll first be prompted to select between Windows 7 or Legacy Versions of Windows, and upon selecting the latter you'll be presented with a second menu asking you which copy of Windows XP you'd like to boot into. EasyBCD can merge these into a single menu with three options.