Solved Windows 10 Home Single User dual boot on Windows 11 Pro

Hello! I'm trying to set up windows 10 Home Single User x86 to dual boot on Windows 11 Pro x64

I need steps to achieve this.

Do note:

I do not wish to use VHD. This is strictly for a single program use, 3dsmax 7, that someone suggested on discord that works for them with their specified operating system.
I need that specific edition to try, afterwards, I'll tri-boot on another Windows version to keep testing.

Windows 11 Pro version 25H2 (OS build 26200.7840)

gondracorn said:

I'm trying to set up windows 10 Home Single User x86 to dual boot on Windows 11 Pro x64

Click to expand...

An OS does not dual boot on another OS. They are separate.

Dual Boot Windows 11 with Windows 10 - ElevenForumTutorials


Best of luck,
Denis

---

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You first install Windows 10 then use disk management to allocate free partition space for Windows 11 and install Windows 11 on free unallocated space that will take care dual-boot.

In my past experience, it's never good to run 2 OS's in a dual boot, I would say especially 2 different OS"s, but you may have a better experience than I did.

gondracorn said:

Hello! I'm trying to set up windows 10 Home Single User x86 to dual boot on Windows 11 Pro x64

Click to expand...

Welcome to Eleven Forum...

gondracorn said:

Do note:
I do not wish to use VHD....

Click to expand...

Why not? Native boot vhdx is by far the easiest and safest way to multi-boot Windows. This is not a virtual machine, it is running directly on the hardware like any other install, the only difference is the type of disk it's running from. I use native boot for all my Insider builds and Windows 10.

Try3 said:

An OS does not dual boot on another OS. They are separate.

Click to expand...

Yes, I know they are seperate. Poor choice of words.

FreeBooter said:

You first install Windows 10 then use disk management to allocate free partition space for Windows 11 and install Windows 11 on free unallocated space that will take care dual-boot.

Click to expand...

Why would I need to uninstall windows 11 first? I already have windows 11 pro installed... and it's license is a one-time valid license, same with my Microsoft office 2021(?). So, if I were to install windows again, I would need to purchase a valid license again for both programs. Is there another way to install windows 10 with windows 11 pro without having to resort to reinstalling windows 11?

Backstory: I got this computer originally with windows 11 installed with a multi-time use product key (from Microsoft or something like that, official). However, day 1 of setting it up, I encountered a problem: I couldn't remember or find my password I set it up with! So, I had factory restore windows, which in turn, somehow deleted the license key that was put onto my PC (It's a custom build). I was not supplied the original license key, as I had a 3rd party build it and they didn't give me the license key. So I bought a new license key from a 3rd party reseller, which resells working license keys for cheaper, but the catch: They only work once! I needed a quick way to get my pc running as I was kinda broke then after getting all the parts for my pc. I am also really broke now, so I can't afford to buy an official Key if I were to set it up. I was so happy with the key they gave me, I bought one for Microsoft Office as well.

Bree said:

Welcome to Eleven Forum...


Why not? Native boot vhdx is by far the easiest and safest way to multi-boot Windows. This is not a virtual machine, it is running directly on the hardware like any other install, the only difference is the type of disk it's running from. I use native boot for all my Insider builds and Windows 10.

Create Windows 11 Virtual Hard Disk (VHDX) at Boot to Native Boot

This tutorial will show you how to create a Windows 11 Virtual Hard Disk (VHDX) file at boot and natively boot it to dual boot with Windows 10 or Windows 11. Native Boot allows you to create a virtual hard disk (VHDX), install Windows to it, and then boot it up, either on your PC side-by-side...

www.elevenforum.com

Click to expand...

That link takes me to dual booting windows 11 with windows 11, what's the process for VHD for windows 10 with windows 11?

I never mentioned that you uninstall Windows 11.

FreeBooter said:

I never mentioned that you uninstall Windows 11.

Click to expand...

FreeBooter said:

"You first install Windows 10 then use disk management to allocate free partition space for Windows 11 and install Windows 11 on free unallocated space that will take care dual-boot."

Click to expand...

You said "Install Windows 11". I think I got what I you mean now, you meant install windows 10. My bad!

EDIT: I just reread your post again, You also stated to first install Windows 10. But I already have a copy of windows 11, do I just use disk management on windows 11 to allocate free space for windows 10?

gondracorn said:

That link takes me to dual booting windows 11 with windows 11, what's the process for VHD for windows 10 with windows 11?

Click to expand...

Exactly the same, just use a Windows 10 install USB for the version you wish to install.

gondracorn said:

You said "Install Windows 11". I think I got what I you mean now, you meant install windows 10. My bad!

EDIT: I just reread your post again, You also stated to first install Windows 10. But I already have a copy of windows 11, do I just use disk management on windows 11 to allocate free space for windows 10?

Click to expand...

You see if you installed the newest version of Windows before older version (Windows 10) will take over boot order but because older versions of bootloader may not recognize Windows 11 boot process which can cause Windows 11 not boot any longer before you repair boot file (BCD).

You can edit boot file with EasyBCD utility.

Bree said:

Exactly the same, just use a Windows 10 install USB for the version you wish to install.

Click to expand...

Ok, but I'm still having problems. I want to dual boot with a vhdx but my bios isn't showing the newly created VHDX mounted drive as windows 10, just windows 11. I already created the VHDX, mounted and attached it in Windows 11, but the mounted drive isn't showing in mounted drives in the setup process. It's supposedly drive 4, there are 6 drives (including drive 0 and drive 5) on the pc, but drive 4 is missing.

what do I need to do to get drive 4 to appear?

Steps taken:
Use window's 11's built in vhd manager to create and attach a vhdx.
Use command prompt to finish attaching the vhdx
Restart and Update computer
attempt to install windows but find no drive 4

gondracorn said:

Restart and Update computer
attempt to install windows but find no drive 4

Click to expand...

Boot from the install USB for the Windows you wish to install.
At the installer screen, press Shift+F10 to open a Command Prompt, then type Diskpart.
In Diskpart you can attach your virtual disk file using the following commands.
SELECT VDISK FILE=<full path to your vhdx file> then ATTACH VDISK

You can now close the Command prompt and continue the install, the attached vdisk will be seen and available to use.

Your VHD drive must be initialized as MBR as Win 10 x86 (32 bits) doesn't run on a GPT drive.

When creating and attaching the VHD in Windows Disk Management, you choose to "Initialize Disk" and select MBR.

Thanks to everyone for the help! I was able to get a dual boot going with the VHDX file through virtual windows by following the steps you guys provided!

also, one thing to share: If you cannot see your drive in Diskpart in Windows 10 setup, it's because your drive has no assigned letter. Assign a letter through these steps:

LIST VOLUME
SELECT VOLUME X
ASSIGN LETTER=Y

X is the number of the volume that's not appearing as a drive letter,
Y is the letter of the drive which will be assigned (this letter may be reassigned later after restarting!)

gondracorn said:

Thanks to everyone for the help! I was able to get a dual boot going with the VHDX file through virtual windows by following the steps you guys provided!

Click to expand...

Good news. One thing though, the Windows isn't 'virtual', it's as real as any standard install. It's only the disk drive that's a virtual drive. In all other respects it's the same as any other install.

gondracorn said:

Hello! I'm trying to set up windows 10 Home Single User x86 to dual boot on Windows 11 Pro x64

I need steps to achieve this.

Do note:

I do not wish to use VHD. This is strictly for a single program use, 3dsmax 7, that someone suggested on discord that works for them with their specified operating system.
I need that specific edition to try, afterwards, I'll tri-boot on another Windows version to keep testing.

Windows 11 Pro version 25H2 (OS build 26200.7840)

Click to expand...

This does not make much sense. Any prigram that runs on Home 32bit will run on Pro 64bit. The single version is only a licencing issue not an execution issue.

It is not clear what you are trying to do.
Regarding VHD, are you referring to ising a virtual machine?

cereberus said:

This does not make much sense. Any program that runs on Home 32bit will run on Pro 64bit.

Click to expand...

Not if there’s any 16-bit code.

cereberus said:

This does not make much sense. Any prigram that runs on Home 32bit will run on Pro 64bit. The single version is only a licencing issue not an execution issue.

It is not clear what you are trying to do.
Regarding VHD, are you referring to ising a virtual machine?

Click to expand...

I was quite confused too. I realized that it was indeed not a 16 bit program, and that Home Edition Single Language was not the issue either.