Windows 7: dual boot

Hello
If I create a second partiton on my Win 7 C: drive, will the material on this C: drive remain or will it be removed by the 22 GB partiton I would create for Win 8?
I am trying to create a dual boot to continue working with Win 7 until I can transtion into Win 8.
Thank you

It will remain, but 22GB is really too small for Win 8 (or Win 7 for that matter).

You would be better off installing a 2nd hard drive for Win 8 then disconnect the existing drive until Win 8 is installed.
Then connect the Win 7 hard drive up again and use EasyBCD to add Win 8 as a dual boot choice (from a booted Win 7).

Hello Peter,

If this is the same Windows 7 that you used the Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant to qualify for an upgrade copy of Windows 8, then you are no longer allowed by the EULA (see below) to use the product key for this Windows 7 when you have the upgrade copy of Windows 8 installed.

If you wish to use both, then you would need to buy a "system builder" copy of Windows 8 instead.





With that said above, your data on the Windows 7 partition will remain intact. You would only be shrinking that partition. If you like, please post a screenshot of your Disk Management window showing your full HDD layout. This way we can take a look at it to see if you may need to do anything else.

Partition or Volume - Shrink

Partition or Volume - Create New

I agree with Rich above. 22GB is way to small for a Windows installation. You would be better off with at least 60GB.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

The best move for adding 8 is the OEM for System Builders media as well as having a totally separate drive to run 8 on. With the brief testing here the new entry for 8 can be added into the 7 BCD and boot into both versions without issues. When booting into 7 from the 8 boot options however both versions ended up seeing numerous drive errors with both Windows crashing. Those two setups involved the Customer and then Release Preview builds where hopefully the problem has been resolved for the retail 8.

When splitting up a drive one thing to note is that any primary too small will tend to fill up too fast to be usable. Too often people will ask what to do when they do want to lose what is on a drive but run out of space when dual booting two versions of Windows or Windows with another OS and errors come up.

Having 8 installed on a separate drive allows you to add on everything you want while leaving the 7 drive untouched which adds another side benefit!

I have been waiting to download the iso file and burn to dvd but first wanted to explore all the options. I am disappointed that my partition plan won't work but grateful that I got the isse straightened out about partitions and drives. The latter is too much for me so I have to figure how to transition from 7 to 8 if possible as the 2 pcs are family ones. I have to be considerate of their feelings.
Thanx for the guidance and back to the think tank.
Peter

Glad we could help Peter.

One thing I could add for you Peter would be if you already have a second drive on the intended case for storage whether internal or external create a full system image of the main drive before seeing any changes made. This will be a disaster recovery plan in case any repartioning runs into a problem or you try 8 out and then decide you don't want it later.

Review the guide for creating a full system image for the present 7 install at Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup

It's always good to have an image onhand in the event of any malware infection or other problem that comes up anyways since it will preserve everything you have on the drive presently and can be restored within a half hour if necessary. If you are not able to see 8 installed separately at least you can restore the original form 7 is presently in later if needed.

Hello
If it is one thing I do it is image with Acronis. It has saved so much agony.
Thank you

You're welcome! seven2 Acronis is a good one there for sure!

There's no doubt on that one at all having used it to backup older systems running Vista or XP as well as creating second images where the program will compress the image down much further then the built-in option in 7. Both have been able to restore all test images made over the last few years as well.

I tried both of the free versions provided by Western Digital and Seagate(rebranded their's to Disk Wizard) as well as keeping the 2010 Disk Director suite on. The 2013 however is already out if you are looking for the latest paid version. I've keeping an image backup for two laptops(one 7, one Vista) and 3 desktops one running Vista(the old case a friend is now running), the main Ultimate x64 case plus a recently new 7 Pro build used for some remote access projects. A family member has another 7 Home x64 case I backed up with the 7 option as well.

As you can see it helps having images onhand in case someone gets a bug!

I have one license for my desktop and use the free WD one for the laptop. Both serve my purpose as I occassionally image the system.
While here, I am thinking of installing Win 8. How does an upgrade differ from a clean install. Obviously, if I bought a retail cd it is a fresh or clean install. Isn't my Win 7 still valid?
If I use Win 7 to upgrade that is an upgrade and I think I then lose my right to it.
I don't really know how you distinguish between an upgrade procedure and a clean install, procedure without a retail cd.
Although the kind folks here explained it to me I missed it. I deal in examples better.