Windows 10: Cloning and setting up a dual boot system

I seek advice about the possibility of setting up a dual boot system on my existing Windows 10 64 bit pc.
I have an old redundant PC which I built in 2009. Windows 7 Professional 32bit OS installed.
I no longer possess the installation disc and am therefore considering cloning the OS and installing this onto my current PC provided that this difference in bit rate could be tolerated.
So my first question is can I set up a dual boot system incorporating both 64 and 32 bit systems? If not, I have 4 hard drives, small SSDs, and 2 x1TB 2 HDDs, so if necessary I would be willing to dedicate one SSD to accommodate the Windows 7 32 bit OS.
My second question is how do I set up a dual boot system?
The third question is, could I use Macrium Reflect (free issue) software to clone and if not can you suggest an alternative free system?

:)

 

How to Clone 'dual boot' Win7/Win10 HDD to new SSD

Hi Jackos,

Thank you for posting your query on Microsoft Community.

I suggest you to create a system image of Win7/Win10 and apply it to SSD.

To create system image on Windows 10 follow the below steps.

• Type File history in the search area on the taskbar and select File history.
• Click on System image backup on the left bottom corner of the Window file history Window.
• Click on Create System Image on the left panel of the System Image backup windows.
• Select the driver, where you want to create system Image.
• Follow on screen instruction.

If you want to perform a dual boot you can refer to the below link and check if it helps:

How to Dual Boot Windows 10 with Other Versions of Windows, macOS and Linux

Please let us know if you face any issues with Windows.

Thank you.

 

How to Clone 'dual boot' Win7/Win10 HDD to new SSD

I have genuine Windows 7 (x64) system with CAD software and another dual boot Windows 10 (x32) with Office 365 apps. The Win7 drive is frustratingly slow so I want to clone to a SSD. I'm worried about the dual boot? Is there software out there that will
competently clone dual booting activated systems without a glitch? Currently I default to Win7 with the windows boot manager, and option into Windows 10 when needed. Any help or advice appreciated. Thanks.

P.S. please don't judge me. I would prefer just Win10 (x64) but this is how my legal licenses fell... lol. My CAD software doesn't work correctly under Windows 10, so I really need to keep it working and productive on Win7 (x64).

 

Dual Booting with Windows 8.1


The procedure below will allow you to boot Windows separately or in dual boot configuration.
Here's what I recommend to do:

1. Disconnect the drive containing Windows 8.1
2. Install Windows 10 with one drive connected.
3. After step 2, reconnect the drive containing Windows 8.1
4. Boot up Windows 8.1. Open disk management and take a note of the drive letter of Windows 10 OS.
   NOTE: if you boot up Windows 10, then take a note of Windows 8.1 drive letter
5. Open Admin command prompt and type: bcdboot X:\windows where X: is the drive letter of Windows 10 (Windows 8.1 if you boot from Windows 10 in step 4)
6. Reboot the PC. You should have a dual boot screen.

NOTE: To break off the dual boot setting, Win+R->msconfig->boot and delete the none default entry on the list.