Ordered new laptop with Win 8 but plan to install Win 7 - partitions?

As shown in Bypass UEFI to Install WIn7 you'll also need to Clean the HD then add command Convert MBR so disk can be used for an MBR install.

So this means getting rid of everything on the 750GB HDD including Windows 8? Oh man - this is even more annoying than I thought! It's ending up being so expensive this new laptop - I've already bought 2 16GB flash drives, Windows 7 and this laptop! Does this mean I can only do a secure boot if I choose to convert the entire disk into MBR but continue using UEFI and disabling Secure boot? This has been a hellish week - not just for my computer problem but other things relating uni. I've missed about 60 hours of sleep too!

Or have I misunderstood again?

Its important to get enough rest and to pace yourself as otherwise you'll make serious mistakes and overlook steps that are critical.

For example have you double-checked that you completed everything in Downgrade Windows 8 to Windows 7?

As to the Bypass EFI steps, are you using a normal Win7 installer with the latest official ISO written to stick using UltraISO Software To Create Bootable USB Flash Drive using the Format button first? There is no need to modify the installer if not trying EFI install.

I was following the steps for UEFI install as theog was suggesting but to no avail.

Annoyingly, I have an Acer BIOS like the person with the Packard Bell which has demotivated me quite a bit! Argh - I'm getting more personal here now but I've really started to have all these changes going on - changing motherboards and new operating systems from using BIOS to UEFI - if Windows 8 was much more like Windows 7 with ALL the features of Windows 7 and a built-in option for the "metro" UI system or whatever it's legally called now to be a switchable option of what your PC goes into on start-up AND if the old start menu, shut down and search where in there respective and convenient places I wouldn't have bothered with buying a copy of Windows 7 to do dual-boot.

I'm also not at all fond of using programs to modify Windows because I really don't like the risk of complications later. I prefer to just use what is built by the developers but I don't want to use Windows 8 particularly much anyway - I just feel that If I've spent money on a computer with an operating system installed already then my money has also gone towards paying for the licence to use that software.

I apologize for the rant but I'm extremely annoyed right now. I've never been so tripped up by software or technology so much in my life until this week!

You might ask over at www.eightforums.com where they deal with Windows 8 PC's more than we do here. They are going through the same process there to develop the key install fixes and workarounds for EFI/GPT like ones we've used here for four years for MBR disk installs and repairs.

I will try. I really hope I can get my system running as I want to. Thank you and theog for the support over the week.

jayrap said:

but when I try to pick my partition I made for Windows 7 it's greyed out where it says next

You not booting the DVD/USB in uEFI mode.

Also, I have no boot menu option in UEFI boot

Acer is F12, but check your manual to be sure.

4 partitions there - I can't find an option to make another one!

You can delete, shrink, extent, & create partitions in Drive Options in setup.

Other backup methods are to copy to another PC on the network, upload to Skydrive 7gb free with each Windows Live ID - which later can be sync'd back down to any device using Skydrive app.

Perhaps the PC is still in Legacy BIOS since neither installer was designated EFI to boot.

Well, the only way I can enter BIOS is by doing the advanced start up and selecting the UEFI firmware settings that way - in BIOS the UEFI is enabled while Secure Boot disabled. Boot selection by F12 is also enabled which can be pressed very quickly to work but no display of F2 for BIOS setup when the BIOS is in these settings.

I guess I'll have to try the back up to another PC.

The storage drive I use does't need to be clean tor a mirror does it?