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46371
August 9th, 2015 07:00
Dual Boot: Can't change my boot mode. Why?
My Dell XPS 8500 has two hard drives. Windows 10 64 bits which I have upgraded from Windows 8.1 is installed on hard drive C. I want to install a fresh new copy (not a factory image) of Windows 7 on the second hard drive. I want to install Windows 7 through a bootable usb pen drive. I spent hours trying to boot my computer on the bootable usb drive but to no avail.
I went to the bios to change the boot mode.
Before trying to install Windows 7, my boot mode was:
1st Boot Device: UEFI: Windows Boot Manager
2nd Boot Device: USB: Storage Device
3rd Boot Device: Internal ODD Devices
4th Boot Device: USB Floppy Device
5th Boot Device: Outboard Nic Device
and I placed the ‘USB: Storage Device’ in the 1st Boot Device, expecting that my pc will boot through the USB: Storage Device so that I will be able to install Windows 7 on the second hard drive. But it didn’t. It booted on Windows 10 again as if I didn’t do any changes to the boot mode.
On my old pc I used to change my boot mode and I was able to install a new operating system through a DVD but on this computer, when I change the boot mode nothing happens.
What should I do to install ‘Windows 7’ through my bootable usb pen drive on Drive D?
Last Question: Why in my boot mode there is not my dvd drive listed? What can I do so that it will appear in the list?
Please help. I want a dual boot on my pc but I’m stuck. I have searched on other forums and even saw videos on youtube. I have followed or at least tried to follow the instructions on how to change the boot mode but I wasn’t able.


Zschalberg
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August 14th, 2015 06:00
I'm having a similar problem with an XPS 15z trying to install Windows 10 alongside 7. In my case I was able to boot from the USB, however. For me, it was have the USB stick in and keep pressing F12 until it lets you choose what to boot from.
According to @DellCares on Twitter last night they said that Dell does not support dual booting for non-commercial PCs so it could be a BIOS restriction that they have.
Lastly, I could be wrong but wouldn't the ODD Device be the CD drive? Or have you replaced your original CD/DVD with a hard drive?