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Microsoft => Microsoft Windows => Windows Vista and 7 => Topic started by: Frankie on March 29, 2012, 07:48:27 AM

Title: Help dual booting windows 7 and 8
Post by: Frankie on March 29, 2012, 07:48:27 AM

Hi, I have just purchased a new HD and want to install windows 8 on it. I already have windows 7 installed on another HD and I want to know what I will need to do to get them to dual boot. I heard some people have problems getting them to boot when they are on separate drives and I don't want to run into the same problems. Thankyou!!

Title: Re: Help dual booting windows 7 and 8
Post by: patio on March 29, 2012, 08:32:21 AM

This is actually the cleanest method for a Dual-boot setup...and since Win8 is still a Beta i highly recommend it...
The basic procedure is to unhook the Win7 HDD and do the complete install of 8 to the other HDD...
Once all is up and running then re-connect the Win7 HDD ...
This way they won't bang heads...
At boot you enter Setup and select which Drive/system you want to boot to at that time...
PS file sharing etc. are completely workable in this scenario as well so i'd suggest this is the way to go...

Let us know if you have any further questions.

Title: Re: Help dual booting windows 7 and 8
Post by: Gray1989 on April 06, 2012, 01:15:15 AM

I used VMWare Player, installed Win7 on it w/o product key and upgraded that to developer preview

Title: Re: Help dual booting windows 7 and 8
Post by: patio on April 06, 2012, 07:09:13 AM

There's no upgrade path from Win7 to DP8...

Title: Re: Help dual booting windows 7 and 8
Post by: Gray1989 on April 06, 2012, 12:03:30 PM

I have done it myself. In fact you *NEED* a previous Windows OS installed or "DP8" will refuse to continue. Basically an "Upgrade", don't you think? Anyways like I said I went through all of this myself, I have a copy on VMWare that I use for testing