Update to Windows 8.1

I am finally updating to Windows 8.1 Preview but I don't know what will happen if I install it on my external hard drive and keep Windows 7 Ultimate on my laptop hard drive. I am thinking 2 things:

1. It will work on Windows 8.1 with my External HDD in and work on Windows 7 without it plugged in
2. It will write to my CMOS or BIOS to tell it to only boot to Windows 8.1

Please help because I don't want mess my laptop up

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| Windows 8.1 Update| | SevenForums|

Hi Invoxitechhelp, welcome to the Seven forums.

Please post your questions regarding Windows 8 & 8.1 on our sister forums the Eight Forums.

That being said, Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 cannot be installed on an external disk. Windows 8 Enterprise and 8.1 Enterprise can be installed as Windows To Go system on a USB3 stick, but as the Windows To Go installation must be done from within existing Windows 8 Enterprise installation, even that requires you to first install 8 on an internal hard disk.

To put it short, it will not work in either way you described.

You options are dualboot, installing Windows 8.1 to a separate disk or partition on your laptop, or to install it on a virtual machine. For both of these options you get help and advice on the Eight Forums.

Kari

Thanks for the info! I shall go on eight forums to ask for help :)

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| Cannot dualboot| | SevenForums|

Dual boot is easy, even if you only have one partition. It's very simple:

• Shrink your Windows 7 partition (tutorial: Partition or Volume - Shrink)
• Create a new partition (tutorial: Partition or Volume - Create New)
• Reboot from the Windows 8 install media selecting the new partition when setup asks where to install (tutorial: Dual Boot Installation - Windows 8 and Windows 7 or Vista)

Kari