Solved Trying to Install Dual-Boot W7 and W8.1

[BuckSkin]

I read this:

https://www.sevenforums.com/tutoria...e-firmware-interface-install-windows-7-a.html

However, in the first few sentences it says I need a blank disk; that sort of negates what I am trying to do.

I have searched and read and reread and all I am getting is in way over my head.
I have done this several times before and have never ran against this before.

The machine is a HP laptop with factory-installed Windows 8.1
I have made three partitions on the disk; one for W8.1, one for data, and one for the Windows 7.
I have finally managed to get Secure Boot turned off and got it to accept booting from the DVD; it loads the files and then seems to hang at Starting Windows.

I found an option in System Configuration that will enable Legacy Support; it is currently disabled.

The information sidebar says "When Legacy Support is enabled, BIOS will load (CSM) to support Legacy OS such as Windows 7 etc. etc."

When I tried to enable Legacy Support, I get a notice that the OS will be unable to boot with LS enabled.

I thought I had better ask the experts before going any further.
Also, as weird as the machine with 8.1 is, I may never be able to get back into System Configuration to change it back.

Without getting me way out there in waters way over my head, am I going to be able to dual-boot W7 on this machine, or should I just forget it ?

Thanks for reading and all help is appreciated.

 

[BuckSkin]

I may have a better solution to this dilemma; seeing as, once Windows 7 is installed, it will probably never be booted into W8.1 ever again for the rest of time, what would be the outcome if I did enable Legacy Support, went ahead with my W7 install, and if, for whatever unfathomable reason I ever had need for W8.1, it would be a simple matter in W7 to access the System Configuration and simply disable Legacy Support.

Are there any holes in that plan ?

Thanks.

 

[johnhoh]

I may have a better solution to this dilemma; seeing as, once Windows 7 is installed, it will probably never be booted into W8.1 ever again for the rest of time, what would be the outcome if I did enable Legacy Support, went ahead with my W7 install, and if, for whatever unfathomable reason I ever had need for W8.1, it would be a simple matter in W7 to access the System Configuration and simply disable Legacy Support. Are there any holes in that plan ? Thanks.

Your exact situation is discussed here:
Dual Boot Windows 7 with preinstalled Windows 8 on GPT-formatted hard disk and UEFI BIOS.

and a solution is proposed on 12/31/2013 by Stan. Then other people try to implement Stan's solution yet none of them can get it to work, so no luck there. I could not find any other sites that discuss how to do what you want, aside from Brink's tutorial which requires a blank disk.

The plan you outline in your second post will not work because you are proposing installing win7 in legacy mode, which means to an MBR-partitioned disk, and your current disk is GPT-partitioned. To convert it to MBR would mean losing the 8.1 installation. Maybe someone else can solve this one, but I do not see a solution.

Note that by using freeware programs classic shell and winaero tweaker you can make win8.1 operate just like win7. I have three systems here at the house, win7, win8.1, and win10 and they are almost indistinguishable from each other in appearance and operation. So your choices as I see it are to modify win8.1 and use it, or to just dump 8.1 and just go with win7. Hopefully you have an hp factory dvd for win8.1 if you ever really needed to re-install it.

 

[BuckSkin]

Note that by using freeware programs classic shell and winaero tweaker you can make win8.1 operate just like win7. I have three systems here at the house, win7, win8.1, and win10 and they are almost indistinguishable from each other in appearance and operation.

Thanks for your advice and information; your suggestion looks to be my most viable alternative.

Of course, I have one other = put W7 on a separate disk and swap it in; I could use the remaining 900GB of the 8.1 disk as an external.



>>> On EDIT:
I have just installed Classic Shell on the 8.1 machine and I am well pleased with the results; it is no longer a fight to do the simplest things.

Again, Thanks !

 

[johnhoh]

>>> On EDIT:
I have just installed Classic Shell on the 8.1 machine and I am well pleased with the results; it is no longer a fight to do the simplest things.Again, Thanks !

To answer your earlier question about the two programs: in a nutshell classic shell changes the interface back to what you are used to and winaero tweaker gets rid of all the new ways windows 8 and 10 will annoy you with roadblocks and "are you sure" questions.

 

[Megahertz07]

Win 7 can be installed on a Legacy - MBR or UEFI - GPT disk.

If you already have an OS and you want to install Win 7, you must:
- Find out what type is your disk type (MBR or GPT). To do so, open Disk management (C:\Windows\System32\diskmgmt.msc). On the top menu select View - Top - Disk list. On the Partition Style column you will see if it's MBR or GPT.
- On BIOS, turn off Secure Boot and Fast Boot.
- If BIOS has an option to set OS type, select OTHER.
- Normally CSM is only required if you want to install as Legacy - MBR.
- If your disk is MBR you must boot the Installation disk as Legacy. If your disk is GPT you must boot the Installation disk as UEFI.

 

[SIW2]

8.1 is less irritating with classic shell.

One other possibilty could be to convert the disk to mbr - ( some 3rd party partition managers can do it without data loss). Then install win 7 on another partition in legacy mode.

- If your disk is MBR you must boot the Installation <s>disk</s> media as Legacy. If your disk is GPT you must boot the Installation <s>disk</s> media as UEFI.