Dual Boot Win 8 to Win 7

[KayEee]

How will I be able to Dual Boot the new Win 8 Upgrade release scheduled for the end of October 2012? I have Win 7 Pro. I have two hard drives. Is it better to install both OS on one drive or separate them. Also, are the instructions any different between 32 bit OS and 64 bit OS.

Thanks in Advance . . .

 

[LittleJay]

I have two different copies of Windows 7 installed on two separate drives and use Easy BCD to add an entry to the copy connected to SATA port 1. That way, when I start my computer up, I have the choice of which OS to load. I was able to do the same thing with Windows 8 comsumer release when I wanted to try it out. The biggest reason I like to keep different OSs on separate drives is because it makes system imaging much neater, and also if one drive fails for some reason, or gets infected by malware, then I have the other drive to fall back on. The instructions for installing either 32 bit, or 64 bit should be the same, as far as I am aware. At least I have never seen any difference when installing either version on my PC's

 

[Brink]

How will I be able to Dual Boot the new Win 8 Upgrade release scheduled for the end of October 2012? I have Win 7 Pro. I have two hard drives. Is it better to install both OS on one drive or separate them. Also, are the instructions any different between 32 bit OS and 64 bit OS.

Thanks in Advance . . .

Hello KayEee,

If you purchase an "upgrade" copy of Windows 8, then you will need to upgrade Windows 7 to Windows 8 instead. You cannot keep both Windows 7 and Window 8 installed since that is part of the EULA agreement.

Upgrade Install from Windows 7 or Vista to Windows 8
​

If you purchase full retail version (system builders) copy of Windows 8, then you could install it separately to dual boot with Windows 7 if you like.

Dual Boot Installation - Windows 8 and Windows 7 or Vista
​

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[AddRAM]

Do not upgrade to W8, you will hate it.