How do i try Windows 8 with out being married to it?

[WALTERKOCHEC]

I am running windows 7 on a decent laptop with a 500 gig hard drive. i also run ubuntu on a laptop with a 150 gb solid state hard drive that i use as a dlna that stores all my media files to play to my home network via ssh. (i know that sounds backwords but there is a reason) I would like to try windows 8 without getting stuck with it givin the fact that i dont have a touch screen. i recently changed to a W8 phone and am very impressed, granted i had an iphone for two years so it wasnt going to take much to impress coming off that useless thing. i would prefer not to run it off a vm. thank you

 

[Brink]

Hello Walter, and welcome to Seven Forums.

If you like, you could download the Windows 8.1 Preview ISO file, then use the ISO file to install Windows 8.1 in a virtual machine on your Windows 7 to play with without affecting anything.

Windows 8.1 Preview - Download and Install

VMware Player - Install Windows 8

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[WALTERKOCHEC]

true but i was afraid that i wouldn't get an accurate impression running in a vm due to the limited resources allocated to it. i assume it has steeper hardware requirements than the prior windows. does microsoft offer a trial iso that i can download or do i have to just get it the... other way.

 

[Brink]

You could use the same ISO above to create an installation USB/DVD to be able to install it how you like. Another option, would be install Windows 8 on another partition or drive to multiboot with your current setup.

 

[lehnerus2000]

VHD

You could create a VHD instead of a VM.
I tried the W8 previews using a VHD.

The VHD version will use your hardware and drivers.

I used these instructions:
Mister Goodcat | Installing Windows 8 Developer Preview as bootable VHD

Remember to create a Backup HDD/SSD image before trying this.

 

[Brink]

In addition:

Windows 8 VHD - Create at Boot to Dual Boot with