Solved How to Install Windows 7 Over Windows 8 | Dual Boot

[Evil Nemesis]

Hi I would like to install windows 7 X64 with my windows 8 RTM X64 so I could dual boot but I know installing windows 7 in D drive will remove the windows 8 MBR right ? I don't want to loose all my settings and apps in windows 8 and I don't know how to start this procedure, I'm doing this co'z Hitman Sniper challenge ain't running on windows 8 even with compatibility mode.

Plz help me. Thanks

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello.


Just install Windows 7 to an Extended partition / Logical drive like I have Windows 8 below and it won't be able to steal the boot-loader from Windows 8 and removing Windows 7 will be as easy as a right click, delete when you're finished with it.

Partition / Extended : Logical Drives

click to enlarge

​

 

[Brink]

Hello S.Orangzeb,

If you like, you could just format the partition or drive that you want to install Windows 7 on so it is not "Unallocated space", then install Windows 7 to it at boot as usual.

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

Since Windows 7 was installed last, it will be made the default OS to run at startup and to use it's boot screen instead of the new Windows 8 GUI boot screen. To fix this, just set Windows 8 to be the default OS to run at startup again.

Startup Options - Choose a Default OS to Run at Startup in Windows 8

or

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2282-default-operating-system-change-default-boot-os.html
​

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[Evil Nemesis]

HI just came back after installing windows 7 x64 Ultimate over windows 8 RTM x64 Enterprises , and unlike previous windows versions I didn't had any MBR over-righting issue, GOOD, but now I can't see the GUI win8 bootloader ! is it even exist in RTM ? I tried your suggestions BRINK but I still see the old black screen bootloader.

I'm gonna try this now :

bcdedit /set {current} bootmenupolicy Standard.

edit : and yeah I didn't format my D drive as I had much stuff in that drive

nops, tried that command in CMD (as Admin) it said operation completed successfully but I still see the old black screen bootmanager.

 

[Brink]

Just to clarify. When you say, "after installing windows 7 x64 Ultimate over windows 8 RTM x64 Enterprises", do you mean that you installed W7 on the same partition that W8 was on to replace W8 with W7, or installed W7 on a separate partition/HDD to dual boot with W8?

If you installed on W8, then you replaced W8 with W7, and that is why you only have the old W7 boot screen.

 

[Evil Nemesis]

i'm sorry if it was confusing but I didn't installed on c drive, I installed win7 on D drive but just didn't format the d drive. Now I don't have the GUI bootloader.

 

[Brink]

Ok. Did you have C connected at the time you installed W7? Could you also post back with a screenshot showing the full layout of your Disk Management (diskmgmt.msc) window to see if it may help reveal why?

 

[Saltgrass]

Any chance he needs to set the Windows 8 as default in the BCD store?

 

[Evil Nemesis]

Well I only have 1 HD: screenshot attached.

I'm talking about getting this screen back :

IMAGE

 

[Brink]

Any chance he needs to set the Windows 8 as default in the BCD store?

That's what I was thinking as well.

Well I only have 1 HD: screenshot attached.

I'm talking about getting this screen back :

IMAGE

Have you already changed Windows 8 to be the default OS to run at startup as posted above?

http://www.sevenforums.com/installa...s-7-over-windows-8-dual-boot.html#post2065159

 

[Evil Nemesis]

yup windows 8 is the default operating system now but I still see black screen bootloader.

 

[Brink]

Be sure to double check each item in the blue NOTE box at the top of the tutorial below to make sure you meet the requirements to see the new W8 GUI boot screen.

Startup Options - Enable or Disable in Windows 8

 

[Saltgrass]

I made mine default, and no help. Removed the Windows 7 entry, so the system booted to the Win 8 install, no help.

I am currently doing a repair install, and the RP will allow you to keep settings, or so it says. I will let you know.

I am also thinking, since he did not use the extra System Reserved partition it may cause a problem.

I have not tried a Bootrec /rebuildbcd command.

If I find something, I will post back the results. Not really used to these Legacy installs!

 

[Evil Nemesis]

I will try a full shutdown this time and will post back the results.

 

[Saltgrass]

This is all I can do. I reinstalled Win 8 with the System Reserved Partition.

Had to use the Bootrec /rebuildbcd command to add the Windows 7 boot loader.

But maybe one of the attachments will help. I ran the bcdedit command in normal and verbose mode.

 

[Saltgrass]

Well, I may have found a way. My system is a throw away and I can mess with it all I want, so this is a disclaimer about being careful with yours.

But I was able to restore the Win 8 GUI in your situation, by booting to the Windows 8 install media, select troubleshoot, advanced options, command prompt. By opening an administrative command prompt in Windows 8 and typing the bcdboot c:\Windows command, which replaced the BCD store. Of course, c: is the Windows 8 install partition since Win 8 is in the first partition, and Win 7 in the second on the drive.

I now know, thanks to gregrocker, the command will not allow using the F8 "Repair your Computer" options in Windows 7. But in this case, it appears the option is still available in Windows 7 but not Windows 8, if it ever was.

I will be re-running the test to see if I can duplicate, I will edit this post as to whether the second test worked also.

Edit: Now confirmed with second test command does restore the Windows 8 boot GUI, but it does look like the Windows 7 F8 options are gone. This may be normal for a Windows 7/Windows 8 install, not sure. Exporting your BCD store before doing the operation might be a good idea, so you can import it back later if needed.

Windows Boot Manager
--------------------
identifier              {bootmgr}
device                  partition=C:
description             Windows Boot Manager
locale                  en-us
inherit                 {globalsettings}
default                 {current}
resumeobject            {624f2e1a-ee99-11e1-a36b-8df5e69c0a13}
displayorder            {current}
                        {19b54205-ee91-11e1-a697-ff2d5db0e5dc}
toolsdisplayorder       {memdiag}
timeout                 30
Windows Boot Loader
-------------------
identifier              {current}
device                  partition=C:
path                    \Windows\system32\winload.exe
description             Windows 8
locale                  en-us
inherit                 {bootloadersettings}
allowedinmemorysettings 0x15000075
osdevice                partition=C:
systemroot              \Windows
resumeobject            {624f2e1a-ee99-11e1-a36b-8df5e69c0a13}
nx                      OptIn
bootmenupolicy          Standard
detecthal               Yes
Windows Boot Loader
-------------------
identifier              {19b54205-ee91-11e1-a697-ff2d5db0e5dc}
device                  partition=D:
path                    \Windows\system32\winload.exe
description             Windows 7
locale                  en-US
inherit                 {bootloadersettings}
recoverysequence        {19b54206-ee91-11e1-a697-ff2d5db0e5dc}
recoveryenabled         Yes
osdevice                partition=D:
systemroot              \Windows
resumeobject            {19b54204-ee91-11e1-a697-ff2d5db0e5dc}
nx                      OptIn

 

[boyans]

The display of text-metro boot menu is simple and clear:
You have "metro" boot menu if Windows 8 is default loader and bootmenupolicy is set to standard.

Startup Options - Enable or Disable in Windows 8

Note:
1. Any other loader (XP, Vista, 7) set as default -> text menu
2. ems set, displaybootmeny set -> text menu.

Use bcdedit or Visual BCD Editor to edit loader, bootmgr and other settings.
Other BCD tools cannot do as they have limited functionality.

 

[gregrocker]

I just reimaged Seven onto another partition and was able to add it from EasyBCD 2.1.2 installed to Eight. I still have the Metro Dual Boot menu when 8 is set as default, old style Dual Boot menu when 7 is set as default.

 

[Saltgrass]

The display of text-metro boot menu is simple and clear:
You have "metro" boot menu if Windows 8 is default loader and bootmenupolicy is set to standard.

I think Evil Nemesis would agree, this will not help if Windows 7 is installed last...

I have not found the exact problem which keeps the GUI from starting with the OP's install process. But if you watch the installs, when Win 8 is installed after Win 7, the install shows the GUI when rebooting. If you install Win 7 after Win 8, your get the text for reboots...maybe means something.

Also, if you set the bootmenupolicy to Standard on the Windows 7 bootloader, you will not get the boot menu if Windows 7 is set as default.

From this, I suppose I have learned, the bootmenupolicy Standard setting causes any boot menus to be skipped.

 

[Brink]

The display of text-metro boot menu is simple and clear:

Startup Options - Enable or Disable in Windows 8

You have "metro" boot menu if Windows 8 is default loader and bootmenupolicy is set to standard.

I think Evil Nemesis would agree, this will not help if Windows 7 is installed last...

I have not found the exact problem which keeps the GUI from starting with the OP's install process. But if you watch the installs, when Win 8 is installed after Win 7, the install shows the GUI when rebooting. If you install Win 7 after Win 8, your get the text for reboots...maybe means something.

Also, if you set the bootmenupolicy to Standard on the Windows 7 bootloader, you will not get the boot menu if Windows 7 is set as default.

From this, I suppose I have learned, the bootmenupolicy Standard setting causes any boot menus to be skipped.

I installed Windows 8 first, then Windows 7 last, and it works the same for me as in the NOTE box in that tutorial.

Windows 8 must be set as the default OS to run at startup.

You must set bootmenupolicy to Standard for the Windows 8 identifier.