Dual Booting Windows 7 & Windows 8 CP

[V23]

Ok, so this thread might be a bit premature but anyway. I, like many others, am keen to try the Windows 8 Consumer Preview when it releases in late February. I'm looking to dual boot the consumer preview with my current Windows 7 installation. What would be the easiest/least technical way of achieving this. I found this site with instructions (refers to the Developer Preview), so will this method work?

I realise I'm leaving myself open to comments such as "If you don't know exactly how to do this, then you probably shouldn't be running the Consumer Preview", but hopefully I can get some help as well.

Thanks.

[fusi0n]

EasyBCD will do this perfect, you can add xp and linux into it.

[Dot Matrix]

All you should have to do is create a partition big enough to accommodate Windows 8, and it should do the rest - setting up a dual boot for you.

[V23]

All you should have to do is create a partition big enough to accommodate Windows 8, and it should do the rest - setting up a dual boot for you.

Ok, possibly a stupid question, but every time I start up my computer will it give me the option of selecting either Windows 7 or 8 and can/how do I set one as default?

Thanks for the quick replies.

[Dot Matrix]

Ok, possibly a stupid question, but every time I start up my computer will it give me the option of selecting either Windows 7 or 8 and can/how do I set one as default?

Thanks for the quick replies.

Yes, it will give you a choice which one you want to boot into, and by default Windows 8 will become the dominant OS.

There is a way to change that though if you wish:

In START, type "msconfig" (Without quotes). You should get a window that looks like this.

Click on the 'Boot' tab, and you should see Windows 8 and Windows 7 listed, by default Windows 8 will be the default boot OS. But you can select Windows 7 to be the default instead.

[FaiKee]

If you want to have your black/white bootscreen back, goto win7 msconfig, choose win7 as default and reboot. ....

[The_Observer]

what version of windows 7 you have, cause you could just install into VHD and try out windows 8. no need to resize windows and you can delete the VHD file when done.

[V23]

what version of windows 7 you have, cause you could just install into VHD and try out windows 8. no need to resize windows and you can delete the VHD file when done.

Home Premium, my computer (laptop) isn't exactly 'bleeding edge' either.

[V23]

Took some doing but I managed to install the Windows 8 Developer's Preview by shrinking and creating a new partition (without any real problems). So I'll just install the Consumer Preview in the same way, thanks for everyone's help.

[iwod]

Search on Google for VHD options. You can install Windows 8 on a VHD if you are dual booting with Windows 7.

[c3ntury]

All you should have to do is create a partition big enough to accommodate Windows 8, and it should do the rest - setting up a dual boot for you.

That was my thought as well, certainly what I'll be doing.

[PGHammer]

Ok, so this thread might be a bit premature but anyway. I, like many others, am keen to try the Windows 8 Consumer Preview when it releases in late February. I'm looking to dual boot the consumer preview with my current Windows 7 installation. What would be the easiest/least technical way of achieving this. I found this site with instructions (refers to the Developer Preview), so will this method work?

I realise I'm leaving myself open to comments such as "If you don't know exactly how to do this, then you probably shouldn't be running the Consumer Preview", but hopefully I can get some help as well.

Thanks.

If you dual-booted 7 and the DP, dual-booting 7 and the CP is just as easy - and as painless.

The PGHammer Step-By-Step Refresher Course:

1. First make sure you are in your existing Windows 7 partition - this is where everything starts.

2. If you have WCP in ISO form (but are dual-booting 7 and the DP now), format - but do NOT delete - the partition/VHD.

3. Mount your WCP ISO using your virtual-drive utility of choice (I use VirtualCloneDrive; however, any such utility compatible with Windows 7 will work). (If you burned the ISO to DVD, insert it in your DVD drive at this time.)

4. Bring up the Run box (WinKey+R from the keyboard) then enter "K:\SOURCES\SETUP.EXE" (where K: is the letter of your DVD drive - real or virtual). If the AutoPlay dialog box appears, close it by exiting.

5. Install the CP as you did the DP, changing preferences to suit your taste.

6. After you finish your install, don't forget to return to Neowin via your browser of choice and post your experiences in the Microsoft Beta subforum.