How to dual boot Windows 10 and Windows Server

There are a good deal of situations exactly where you'd need to have a dual boot setup. Perhaps you'll want to perform on an app that isn't compatible together with your day to day operating method, perhaps you may need an isolated atmosphere to test stuff or maybe you simply desire to play about with a various OS.

In today's post I am going to show you how you can dual boot Windows 10 alongside Windows Server on the same laptop or computer. In this example I'll be installing Windows Server 2012 R2 as the second OS on my machine but these measures also apply to the upcoming Windows Server 2016 or the older 2008 R2 which was depending on the exact same kernel as Windows 7.

There are actually a handful of thing you will will need in an effort to achieve this setup. The initial one is enough disk space. It is possible to use two partitions on the very same challenging drive but I would suggest using separate drives which will make the course of action of future reinstallation a whole lot a lot easier and will also guarantee a operating OS if one of the drives fails.

TIP: Another point to check is the fact that your principal OS is operating in BIOS/Legacy mode and not UEFI. You may use UEFI in case you favor it but I've had problems within the previous booting numerous OS's in this mode.

You will have to have some ISO images or installation medias for your selected operating systems. In the event you currently have a single of your operating systems installed on your machine and would like to maintain it then you will only need to have an ISO image for the second OS. For the sake of this tutorial I will be installing both operating systems from scratch to cover all the required actions.

If you're beginning with an empty drive, you'll need to select the primary operating technique. In my instance I'll install Windows 10 because the most important OS and Windows Server 2012 R2 because the second a single.

1. Install the primary Operating System

This step is for the customers who do not have an operating technique installed on their machines or who choose to set up a fresh multi boot setup.

Connect or insert the installation media for the key operating system, in my case Windows 10, and select it as your boot device when starting up the personal computer. You will have to press the F11, F12 or Escape key to be able to access the boot menu. Every manufacturer utilizes their own crucial so please seek the advice of your machine's manual.

As soon as you get for the setup screen just go through the installation course of action as you would commonly do until you attain the disk choice screen. If you're using the exact same really hard drive for both OS's than that is the place to produce this achievable. 1st make a partition for your primary OS leaving sufficient free of charge space for the second one particular. Now make use of the left free space to make a second partition for the dual boot operating system. Your finish outcome really should appear comparable towards the one particular in the image below.

Right after you finished producing the partitions pick the very first one and install your most important Windows as normal.

two. Shrink primary OS partition

This step is only for all those who've a single partition together with the most important OS and would like to retain it.

When you never possess a second drive or partition for the second operating technique then you are going to ought to shrink your present OS partition to totally free up space and make a brand new one. Ivan has this covered in detail in his Windows Windows 10 dual boot tutorial under "Shrink Your Method Partition to create Enough Space".

Remember to leave enough disk space for your most important OS as well as have anough for the second one particular.

Following you shrunk your key OS partition proper click on the new Unallocated space, pick New simple volume and undergo the wizard to create a brand new partition. Format it as NTFS and label it properly so you can recognize it simply when installing the second operating program.

3. Install second operating method

Connect the installation drive or insert the installation media for the second OS and boot your computer system from it.

Go through the setup menu and pick the second partition, labeled as Windows Server in my case, because the destination for the second OS. Finish installing Windows as you would typically do.

Windows usually reboots your machine many occasions throughout installation. When the very first reboot comes you are going to be prompted using a bootloader menu related for the one below. At this point pick your second OS each time till installation has finished.

You happen to be completed! You now possess a dual boot setup with Windows 10 and Windows Server, 2012 R2 in my case. You'll be able to pick between the two from the bootloader menu every time your laptop starts.

You will likely notice that the second OS is now the default boot 1. If that is how you like it then you definitely do not ought to do something else. But if need to alter it towards the other Windows installation boot into your primary OS, Windows 10 for me. Once you happen to be in the desktop press the Windows R keys to open the Run window, type msconfig and press Enter or click on OK.

This will open the Program Configuration menu. Now open the Boot tab, pick the operating system you would prefer to set as default by clicking on it and then click the Set as default button. Related tag: buy microsoft software online

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