Solved dual boot

[seven2]

Hello
If I create a second partiton on my Win 7 C: drive, will the material on this C: drive remain or will it be removed by the 22 GB partiton I would create for Win 8?
I am trying to create a dual boot to continue working with Win 7 until I can transtion into Win 8.
Thank you

 

[Ztruker]

It will remain, but 22GB is really too small for Win 8 (or Win 7 for that matter).

You would be better off installing a 2nd hard drive for Win 8 then disconnect the existing drive until Win 8 is installed.
Then connect the Win 7 hard drive up again and use EasyBCD to add Win 8 as a dual boot choice (from a booted Win 7).

 

[Brink]

Hello Peter,

If this is the same Windows 7 that you used the Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant to qualify for an upgrade copy of Windows 8, then you are no longer allowed by the EULA (see below) to use the product key for this Windows 7 when you have the upgrade copy of Windows 8 installed.

If you wish to use both, then you would need to buy a "system builder" copy of Windows 8 instead.

   Note

MICROSOFT SOFTWARE LICENSE AGREEMENT

Windows 8 EULA

What about upgrading the software?
The software covered by this agreement is an upgrade to your existing operating system software, so the upgrade replaces the original software that you are upgrading. You do not retain any rights to the original software after you have upgraded and you may not continue to use it or transfer it in any way. This agreement governs your rights to use the upgrade software and replaces the agreement for the software from which you upgraded. After you complete your upgrade, additional software will be required to playback or record certain types of media, including DVDs.

With that said above, your data on the Windows 7 partition will remain intact. You would only be shrinking that partition. If you like, please post a screenshot of your Disk Management window showing your full HDD layout. This way we can take a look at it to see if you may need to do anything else.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2672-partition-volume-shrink.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2674-partition-volume-create-new.html

I agree with Rich above. 22GB is way to small for a Windows installation. You would be better off with at least 60GB.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[Night Hawk]

The best move for adding 8 is the OEM for System Builders media as well as having a totally separate drive to run 8 on. With the brief testing here the new entry for 8 can be added into the 7 BCD and boot into both versions without issues. When booting into 7 from the 8 boot options however both versions ended up seeing numerous drive errors with both Windows crashing. Those two setups involved the Customer and then Release Preview builds where hopefully the problem has been resolved for the retail 8.

When splitting up a drive one thing to note is that any primary too small will tend to fill up too fast to be usable. Too often people will ask what to do when they do want to lose what is on a drive but run out of space when dual booting two versions of Windows or Windows with another OS and errors come up.

Having 8 installed on a separate drive allows you to add on everything you want while leaving the 7 drive untouched which adds another side benefit!

 

[seven2]

Win 7 to 8

I have been waiting to download the iso file and burn to dvd but first wanted to explore all the options. I am disappointed that my partition plan won't work but grateful that I got the isse straightened out about partitions and drives. The latter is too much for me so I have to figure how to transition from 7 to 8 if possible as the 2 pcs are family ones. I have to be considerate of their feelings.
Thanx for the guidance and back to the think tank.
Peter

 

[Brink]

Glad we could help Peter.

 

[Night Hawk]

One thing I could add for you Peter would be if you already have a second drive on the intended case for storage whether internal or external create a full system image of the main drive before seeing any changes made. This will be a disaster recovery plan in case any repartioning runs into a problem or you try 8 out and then decide you don't want it later.

Review the guide for creating a full system image for the present 7 install at http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/663-backup-complete-computer-create-image-backup.html

It's always good to have an image onhand in the event of any malware infection or other problem that comes up anyways since it will preserve everything you have on the drive presently and can be restored within a half hour if necessary. If you are not able to see 8 installed separately at least you can restore the original form 7 is presently in later if needed.

 

[seven2]

image

Hello
If it is one thing I do it is image with Acronis. It has saved so much agony.
Thank you

 

[Night Hawk]

You're welcome! seven2 Acronis is a good one there for sure!

There's no doubt on that one at all having used it to backup older systems running Vista or XP as well as creating second images where the program will compress the image down much further then the built-in option in 7. Both have been able to restore all test images made over the last few years as well.

I tried both of the free versions provided by Western Digital and Seagate(rebranded their's to Disk Wizard) as well as keeping the 2010 Disk Director suite on. The 2013 however is already out if you are looking for the latest paid version. I've keeping an image backup for two laptops(one 7, one Vista) and 3 desktops one running Vista(the old case a friend is now running), the main Ultimate x64 case plus a recently new 7 Pro build used for some remote access projects. A family member has another 7 Home x64 case I backed up with the 7 option as well.

As you can see it helps having images onhand in case someone gets a bug! :roflmao:

 

[seven2]

Acronis

I have one license for my desktop and use the free WD one for the laptop. Both serve my purpose as I occassionally image the system.
While here, I am thinking of installing Win 8. How does an upgrade differ from a clean install. Obviously, if I bought a retail cd it is a fresh or clean install. Isn't my Win 7 still valid?
If I use Win 7 to upgrade that is an upgrade and I think I then lose my right to it.
I don't really know how you distinguish between an upgrade procedure and a clean install, procedure without a retail cd.
Although the kind folks here explained it to me I missed it. I deal in examples better.

 

[Brink]

Peter,

It all comes down to the EULA that I posted above. When you by an upgrade copy, Microsoft gives you a price break by you not having to buy a more expensive "full" copy when you have a qualifying OS (ex: Windows 7) that you want to replace with Windows 8, and you agreeing to the EULA for that.

If you purchased an upgrade copy of Windows 8, then you can do a clean install or upgrade install with it. However, to abide by the EULA, you must uninstall or upgrade from your say Windows 7.

If you purchased a system builder copy of Windows 8, then you can install it and still be able to use your Windows 7.

Hope this helps to clear it up better.

 

[seven2]

Win 7 + 8

Yes, I think I have it. Technically, I should have either Win 7 or 8 but not both as I only paid full price for the one that came preinstalled in my computer.
I os per one license.
I will try to use Win 8 in my desktop and keep Win 7 in my laptop until i can fully transition.
Thank you once again.
P.S. It may interest you to know that I am in correspondence with friends across the pond and they maybe not aware of the legality but there are dual booting 7+ 8 and say they have no issues. I am not advocating mind you, just commenting as they advised me to do it. That is why I was looking into doing it before you advised me.
I am happy with the results here.

 

[Night Hawk]

The main difference between 7 and 8 besides the RT/8 touchscreen gui and no longer seeing the Start button and menu is at the core level which includes some compatibility issues. For planning a dual boot if you go for the OEM type media release seeing 8 set up as a stand alone install on a totally separate drive and then later adding a boot entry into 7 is the best route. You can leave the 7 drive set as the default boot device.

The reason for that is running into a variety of problems that came up when booting into 7 from the 8 RP install. I can't say for sure that MS has fixed an apparent bug that may have lingered on into the retail release and why a stand alone is recommended.

For the second case I have here I ended up with a 7 Pro upgrade disk but not having any OS on a new build recently while still having older XP and Vista media on hand. The clean install was hesitant at first but was able to be activated there. With an 8 upgrade disk?

That's still up in the air at this time if the same would work since you now have to enter and watch as the product key is verified before the Windows installation will proceed. I haven't heard from anyone who has seen a clean from an 8 upgrade go and activate without the second install over the first required.

 

[seven2]

choices

In my attempt to find the easiest way to put Win 8 in my pc I guess I asked too many questions and watched too many tutiorials as there are conflicting ideas and methods.
I have a Dell which is mavericky to begin with. It has a recovery partition and the C: drive when I can see at system restore.
I don't know if I should buy a retail disc, order one, all to get the program for $40 rather than pay $300.
Then again I like Win 7 and it should be around for a while.
My goal was to dual boot but there were too many conflicting ideas.
Then I thought I might install Win 8 on one pc until I am ok with it and keep Win 7 on the other for my wife until I can instruct her with Win 8.
Now I am in a state of flux. I thought I knew where to download from but I have several sources now. There too many crs and other acronyms.
I thought I was supposed to remove all partitons but I was just told to keep the Win 7 and recovery ones.
I was told to do an upgrade then told to do a clean install - not knowing the difference makes that hard to perform.
I really am in a quandry.
What do you say about the type of install (iso to burn) (clean vs upgrade and how)and also (the partitions to keep or remove), the source ie retail or MS download)?

 

[Ztruker]

The first question you have to ask yourself is, Will I ever want to restore Windows 7 on this computer? If no, then here is what I would do.

1. Get the $39 download: Buy Windows - Microsoft Windows
2. Create an .iso during the download. Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant - Download and Run
3. Burn a DVD or create a bootable flash drive from the .iso.
3. Do a Clean install using the DVD or flash drive. Delete all partitions and create a new one during the install that encompasses the entire disk.

If you have an external hard drive, do an image backup of the current entire drive first.

 

[Night Hawk]

I definitely have to agree with seeing a full system image created before making any large change there. As far as the availability of the Release Preview you can see for yourself that now that 8 is out the option to buy is all you will find at this time. That is any "Genuine MS" downloads would be the retail 8 only!

The decision is yours to make however on which to buy and your actual plans for seeing a dual boot. You wouldn't see it buying an upgrade disk too easily while the OEM disk would be the disk that can easily perform a full clean install of 8 onto a second primary.

That won't cost any $200+ or $300+ like prices seen for previous versions however! You can grab a 64bit 8 Pro disk for $99-. Once you have the 8 media you can also create a new iso to written to a flash drive mage bootable to see the Win 8 install go a little faster then the hour by dvd average time. You can even mount iso images which can speed things up a bit since 8 does take a lot longer then 7 to go on!

 

[seven2]

Win 7 - 8

Hi Z - Even as you gave directions, my lack of ? does not allow me to understand.
Examples;
1- What about the programs I lose like bluetooth etc(per assistant). Other people are complaing about losing the Office 2010 which I also have.
*2- Your directions seem to say, in order, get the program and create an iso, THEN or NEXT, get the upgrade assistant and download and run. I find the sequence confusing.

After that I understand about burning the dvd and installing Win 8.

What about the programs that I had with Win 7 like bluetooth?
Do you buy them again or are you unable to use them in Win 8?

Likely, until I overcome some of these nonintuitive issues I will accept Win 7 until it is no longer supported; it may outlast me, seriously.
Meanwhile I have a substantial system that will do all I ask of it.
I am disappointed that I was not up to the task.

On a personal note, may I add, you have had a tremendous amount of patience with my short comings which I am realy thankful for.
I always enjoy our little dialogues so any time, during a thread, you think you are getting frustrated, just click delete. I will understand.
Peter

 

[Ztruker]

We all learn from discussions like this.

As for my #2 response. I was basically pointing you to Step #17 which shows you how to create a .iso of the download. Should have said that.

Clean install, you lose everything you currently have, software (programs ... blue tooth, office) and data thus a image backup is the way to go.

Staying with Windows 7 is not a bad choice. I upgraded to 8 mainly because it was cheap and I wanted to play with it. I have Win 7 and Vista on my other computers. I don't use the Metro interface (apps) at all, don't like it, find it ugly so I now have Windows 8 looking and feeling exactly like Windows 7 so I'm happy. $40 poorer but happy

 

[Night Hawk]

That's one other thing found with 8 is that so far there isn't any option to perform any type of repair install on Windows if you want to save a present installation and just see system files refreshed. The PC Refresh option wipes everything on 8!

At least with 7 you run the installer while booted in Windows and select the upgrade option to install over the existing 7 install while keeping the programs as well as your files and folders intact less the need to reinstall some device drivers.

Essentially 8 amounts to an updated core of a desktop edition while MS stripped things out like the Media Center, dvd playback support in WMP, and simply slapped the Windows RT for Surface Tablets main gui on. The gui or Metro(Modern) was designed with Tablets and swipe touchscreens in mind but is awkward when applied to any desktop release!

With a large amount invested in softwares that run well on 7 you will be in for a disappointment when a few or even several may not run on 8. Just another to mention here. This would be due mostly to compatibility issues often seen when going from one version to a newer version of Windows.

Ironically the 32bit 7 saw far more XP drivers even run as well as old XP programs that would not on the 32bit Vista for the same reason. The backward compatibility factor saw a large improvement in 7 and lost again in 8 it seems.

(And you wonder why MS had to drop the prices way down for 8 with all that going against it?)

 

[seven2]

bluetooth

I did find that I could go to Dell after upgrading and install the one I lost then update the drivers, at least that is advice from Shane at Tweaking.

However, it has been a learning experience just trying to decide what to do.
Contrary to my compulsive nature, I am glad I did not pull the trigger and will stick with seven.
I can't complain as it does everything I need but I sure would have likes to have played with 8.
I think I shouldd not install new over old but, when necessary, buy new and take what comes with it.
Thank you again and c u soon, as the kids say.