Lenovo G50-30 Dual Boot Windows 7, 8.x - IMPOSSIBLE!

I have come to the conclusion that it is impossible to configure this laptop to dual boot Windows 7 and 8.1, unless anyone knows better. The issue seems to be with the BIOS settings which appear to be mutually exclusive to booting either Windows 7 or Windows 8.x – but not both.

Whether opting for a MBR or GPT configuration, or installing Windows 8 directly from USB media or within Windows 7 the issue remains.

I ‘downgraded’ the pre-installed, bloatware ridden Windows 8.1 on this laptop to a clean install of Windows 7 Pro with no problems using default Windows 7 BIOS settings (Win 7 OS, load default settings) on a 500GB partition using DISKPART as per directions on this site. The problem occurs when trying to install Windows 8.1 on the remaining unallocated 500GB partition on my hard drive using these Windows 7 optimised BIOS settings. When booting 8.1 directly from USB (downloaded 8.1 – same version - using Windows media creation tool as I have OEM key in BIOS) the installation will freeze (no mouse pointer) on the initial ‘select keyboard layout’ screen. If I attempt an installation from within Windows 7 it’ll get as far as to when it reboots then hang.

Sure, I can load Windows 8 optimised settings in BIOS and then install 8.1. Problem is then when I select 7 from the bootloader, booting will freeze during the formation of the Windows logo with a BSD 0xA5 BIOS in system not fully ACPI compliant.. error – and there’s no ACPI settings in BIOS. If I then change back to Windows 7 optimised settings, I’ll get into a ‘Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart...’ loop. I’ve updated BIOS from A7CN40WW to the latest A7CN43WW to no avail. I’ve also attempted an GPT/UEFI install and run into the same issue, and I’ve tried about ever permutation of BIOS settings available.

Any help here would be greatly appreciated as I’m tearing my hair out over this one.

windows 8 uses a partition that windows 7 does not so you need to create an extra 350mb partition at the end of the disk

KYHI said:

windows 8 uses a partition that windows 7 does not so you need to create an extra 350mb partition at the end of the disk

Click to expand...

Thanks for your input but can you please elaborate? You mean simply create a basic 350MB partition after the Windows 8 partition??? I don't see how this could help as I can't even install Windows 8 with Windows 7 optimised settings.