Solved Dual Boot Windows 7 Ultimate & Windows 8.1 Enterprise

[Alpha0mega]

please, DO NOT REPLY IF YOU WILL JUST POST A LINK on DUAL BOOTING, because i have read most threads and i have not seen any similarity.

>>firstly and luckily, i have a created before a system image of windows 8.1 64bit (i have tried and checked system image restore and image is intact, i have further plans,if possible, so i did not restore yet , and that is what i am asking HELP from you guys.

>>I have 1TB HDD partitioned as follows: Drive C=200, Drive D=200, Drive E=531GB (for my Files)

>>now i am planning to CLEAN INSTALL Windows 7 64bit Ultimate on Drive C Partition (200GB).

>>IS IT POSSIBLE TO JUST RESTORE "my windows 8.1 system image on Drive D, instead of re-installing ??windows 8.1 again, simply i do not want to reinstall again alot on windows 8.1?

(MY WINDOWS 8.1 SYSTEM IMAGE SIZE =97 GB ONLY)

>>Will this boot as dual boot if i restore windows 8.1 system image only?



THANKS, ANY INFO IS MUCH APPRECIATED

 

[gregrocker]

Yes, you can Clean Install Windows 7 to C, then apply the image to the space you created for D.

If you use a flexible imaging app like Macrium Imaging then you can install it to C to simply drag the image from the source disk down to the target disk space you delete from D. It will fit as long as the space used on the image fits that space, then you can adjust the partition size on the link it will place below the dragged image.

It's not as easy to use Windows Imaging because it wants to restore the image to the same offset (position on disk) as it was before and will often try to delete everything else. So I'd use something as free and simple as Macrium unless you have another you trust.

Once you've applied the image from C or the imaging boot disk with all the auto settings for Drive letter, Copying Active partition, MBR and Track0, then you only need to install EasyBCD (click Download - no Name or Email required) to C to add Windows 8 by Name, Type and Drive letter, to a Windows Dual Boot menu.

One last thing: You should post back a screenshot of Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image so we can look over it for any potential problems with the partitioning setup.

 

[Alpha0mega]

@gregrocker
thanks alot cleared my doubts, working on it now.. how id like to use macrium imaging, but the reason now is i have a bit corruptep system file.. and i just want to try a new setup by restoring my windows 8.1 system image to dual boot with windows 7.

also thanks for reminding, i almost forgot about the easybcd software.

 

[Alpha0mega]

btw, here is a capture of disk management. As you can see I am using 2 internal HDD, I have partitioned my 1TB Seagate HDD into Drives C & E. Also I have the 500GB Seagate HDD as Drive D

My other option now is:

1> Reformat Drive D and use it as my primary Hard Drive to be partitioned into 2 mainly for Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit (new Drive C) and Windows 8.1 (new Drive D) on dual boot.

2> If successful on having the 500GB Seagate HDD as the Dual Boot OS, I will use the current 1TB Seagate HDD mainly for GAMES and DATA.

3> Could you please advise or give an idea how would i migrate my "windows 8.1 system image created before" to the newly created Drive D, because I will clean install Windows 7 Ultimate on the newly created Drive C?

Hope I stated my ideas clearly and not so confusing.

Thanks

 

[gregrocker]

It's always best to put the OS's on separate hard drives. So you could resize D from the left to make room for Clean Install Windows 7, unplug Disk0 to do the install. To resize from the left use Partition Wizard to Resize Partition - Video Help.

Then you wouldn't need to reimage Windows 8 to Disk0. Set preferred HD to boot first in BIOS setup, trigger the other when needed using one-time BIOS Boot Menu key, or install EasyBCD to Primary to add the other to a Window Dual Boot menu.

I already gave you the steps to put both on one disk. If you have any questions about those then ask them back.

 

[Alpha0mega]

It's always best to put the OS's on separate hard drives. So you could resize D from the left to make room for Clean Install Windows 7, unplug Disk0 to do the install. To resize from the left use Partition Wizard to Resize Partition - Video Help.

Then you wouldn't need to reimage Windows 8 to Disk0. Set preferred HD to boot first in BIOS setup, trigger the other when needed using one-time BIOS Boot Menu key, or install EasyBCD to Primary to add the other to a Window Dual Boot menu.

I already gave you the steps to put both on one disk. If you have any questions about those then ask them back.

>>already considered your advise on separate HD, this is just an idea of having Win7 & Win8 on same HD., big hearty thanks.