Windows 8 on VHD in Windows 7 Home Premium

[mentasm]

Can I put Windows 8 in a VHD in Windows 7 Home premium?

 

[Brink]

Hello Mentasm, and welcome to Seven Forums.



Yes, you sure can.

• VirtualBox - Install Windows 8
• VMware Player - Install Windows 8
• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2953-virtual-hard-drive-vhd-file-create-start-boot.html

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[Solarstarshines]

Hello Mentasm, and welcome to Seven Forums.



Yes, you sure can.

• VirtualBox - Install Windows 8
• VMware Player - Install Windows 8
• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2953-virtual-hard-drive-vhd-file-create-start-boot.html

Hope this helps,
Shawn

I want to try this but upgrading to more ram would be a good idea
8Gbs wouldnt cut it / also would you be able to use a full version of win 8 in VM mode too ?

If not understandable but i want to just test it and really see for myself but from a far it looks bland and basic really

I appologize for asking a question when it isn't my thread but mind you The Op got me interested in what he is trying to do so sorry if i stepped on any toes

 

[Brink]

Hello Tommy,

No problem. Yes, you sure can. I'm using VMWare Player, and just used the Windows 8 ISO to install it as per the tutorial just like you normally would Windows but inside the WMWare Player instead.

Your system having 8GB of RAM is plenty. If you use the 32-bit Windows 8, then you could set the VM (guest) to use say 3GB when you have it opened so as to leave 5 GB for your Windows 7 (host).

VMware Player - Install Windows 8
​

From what I'm hearing below, the final RTM version of Windows 8 is going to be the real plain looking one.

RTM is ugly as heck
​

 

[mentasm]

At Everyone but I've head some tutorial that you can't do a VHD boot in windows 7 home premium?

 

[Brink]

Sorry Mentasm,

Yes, you are correct. With Windows 7 Home Premium, you will only be able to use the 1st two links.

 

[mentasm]

Is there any other way for me to boot Windows 8 developer preview from my VHD? since using a virtual machine will make the windows 8 slower. + I only have an i3 processor which has 2 cores and 3.2ghz and 2gb of ram. and I don't know if the VM would be enough if I try to run Vs2012.

Are there any 3rd party programs that wll let me boot from VHD?

also for example if I installed windows 8 successfully in my VHD how would I use it if the boot from VHD is not available ofr Windows 7 home premium?

 

[DavidE]

fyi

I just installed VMware Player (free) so i could test Win 8.
I could not get Win 8 to install in a VM.
It kept giving an error "Could not read the Product Key from the unattended script file".
Something like that, unfortunately i did not grab a screen print with the exact message.

I then tried to install Win 7 x64 and it installed without any problems.
I then tried to install Win 8 x64 and it installed without any problems - as the second VM OS.

So, for me with a new install of VMware Player, i could not install Win8 as the FIRST VM OS.

I'm running Win 7 x64 Ultimate as the Host OS on this PC with 4GB RAM.

 

[mentasm]

What I ment was Windows 8 might run slow in a Virtual Machine

 

[DavidE]

What I ment was Windows 8 might run slow in a Virtual Machine

I agree, and i just added my experience so far, fwiw.

I'm running this on my TEST box using an old AMD Athlon x64 dual core with 4 GB Ram.
I don't see 4GB RAM as practical for running VM's and expecting "good performance".
But, I'm not testing Win 8 performance right now, just Win 8 usability.
For that, i can work with this system as is for now.

With 2 GB RAM, i'm not sure what you can expect...or if it will work
Try it and see.

I made a System Image Backup before i started testing this on my PC...

hth,
David

 

[mentasm]

That kinda sucks. I was planning on creating my first metro but I guess my os limits me. are there any third party programs out there that would let me boot my OS to a VHD?

or are there anyway that I can use the VHD as my os for the meantime? or select it on Windows 7?

 

[DavidE]

Sorry, i can't help any further.
I just gave you what i know with my limited experience with this.

I don't have your hardware or OS version.

I just boot Win 7 normally, and then run VMware and start a Win 8 VM OS running as a client OS under the Win 7 Host.

Don't take what i say as the "know all" answer, i'm no expert.
I'm just learning VM and Win 8 as we speak...
Others here may have better answers for you to solve your issue, and post a reply.

 

[Kebero]

At Everyone but I've head some tutorial that you can't do a VHD boot in windows 7 home premium?

You cant install Windows 7 Home Premium to a VHD and boot from that VHD. However, if you have Win 7 HP as your OS in a regular install, you can still take advantage of booting from a VHD onto which Win 7 Ultimate, Win Server 2008 R2, or Win 8 is installed.