What happens if I install Windows 8 on a separate partition?

shadowboy1795 · 01 Jun 2012

Hello everyone.
I have a Windows 8 Consumer Preview DVD that I burned a couple of days ago, and, I was about to install it last night when I found FAQ for it. I read a post on how the Windows 7 partition only booted to the recovery mode, and that it wouldn't load. Ever since then, I've been worried as to if I should try installing it or not. All of my important files are on Windows 7, and, get this, unless I boot from the DVD, it asks me to uninstall Microsoft Security Essentials AND avast!. (Seriously?)
Also, I know that if I try to run Microsoft Office (from the Windows 7 partition), it wouldn't open.

Any help?

~Shadowboy1795~

ignatzatsonic · 01 Jun 2012

shadowboy1795 said:

All of my important files are on Windows 7, and, get this, unless I boot from the DVD, it asks me to uninstall Microsoft Security Essentials AND avast!. (Seriously?)
Also, I know that if I try to run Microsoft Office (from the Windows 7 partition), it wouldn't open.

I wouldn't install Windows 8 in your situation. You have some significant problems that you should resolve first.

If all was well, you could simply make a new partition and install Windows 8 to it without any issues. Leaving aside whether or not you think Windows 8 is an improvement over Windows 7.

gregrocker · 01 Jun 2012

The 8 Upgrade advisor is simply telling you that MSE and Avast aren't needed (you should only run MSE anyway) since Windows Defender has replaced MSE in Win8. But this is not germane since you're installing a Dual Boot and not overwriting 7.

I could use Office just fine from Win7 when I dual-booted 7 and 8.

You want to shrink 7 and create a space for 8 large enough for the OS, install it from boot, it will configure the Dual Boot with the metro interface. Dual Boot Installation - Windows 8 and Windows 7 or Vista

Then I would browse to my User folders in Win7, rightclick to add to the related Win8 library, same as here: Library - Include a Folder - Windows 7 Forums

As with any install or repair you should always have your files backed up. You should have them backed up anyway. One way is to download and install Skydrive from MS, drag user folders into the Skydrive folder to upload them to 7gb free storage for each Windows Live/Hotmail ID.

Ztruker · 01 Jun 2012

I know why it ask you to uninstall your MSE and Avast, because it is freeware and it is not good. The better one is N360, but you will need to pay every year.

I disagree with this statement. Both are excellent Anti-virus programs. Free does not mean no good. Norton, any version, is a dog that slows down system performance significantly. It's an excellent Anti-virus program but puts to much load on the system.

shadowboy1795 · 01 Jun 2012

Hmm... Now I don't know what to do. I don't want to overwrite Windows 7, and I don't want anything to be ruined, so what do I do???

ignatzatsonic · 01 Jun 2012

shadowboy1795 said:

so what do I do???

Do what any sane person would do.

Avoid Windows 8.

gregrocker · 01 Jun 2012

I gave you the steps to Dual Boot complete with illustrated tutorials. Why specifically are you still worried? Did you read the information I gave you?

As long as you boot the Win8 installer and select ONLY the empty partition you create to install it upon then you will not overwrite Win7.

But you should back up your files and a Win7 backup image just to be extra safe: Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup

shadowboy1795 · 01 Jun 2012

I read the information you gave me, but... Windows 8 Consumer Preview expires on January 15, 2013. If the Metro UI is going to replace the Windows 7 bootloader, what do I do when January comes? Do I erase the partition or... what? That's quite confusing if you ask me.

gregrocker · 01 Jun 2012

When Win8 is installed second from boot as you'd be doing, it configures a Dual Boot but leaves the boot files on Win7 or it's 100mb System Reserved partition which also remains marked Active.

So when ready to remove Win8 you only need to delete it in Win7 Disk Mgmt, or you can install over it the next version of Win8 from booted installer.

Ztruker · 02 Jun 2012

You don't want Windows 8 Consumer Preview, you want the just released Windows 8 Release Preview.

My computer has Win 7 on C:. It has D: E: F: G: and H: Partitions. I also have a 80GB drive that is identified as I:. This is where I installed Win 8 RP. The only change I made after was to boot Win 7, run EasyBCD and change the default drive to Win 7 instead of Win 8. Not necessary but I prefer it that way.

No other impact on Win 7 at all.