Dual Boot Installation - Windows 8 and Windows 7 or Vista

How to Do a Dual Boot Installation with Windows 8 and Windows 7 or Vista​

   Information

This will show you how to set up a dual boot installation with Windows 8 and Windows 7 or Vista when Windows 7 or Vista is installed first.

Windows 8 : frequently asked questions

   Note

Windows 8 System Requirements
Windows 8 works great on the same hardware that powers Windows Vista and Windows 7.

Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster

RAM: 1 gigabyte (GB) (32-bit) or 2 GB (64-bit)

Hard disk space: 16 GB (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit)

Graphics card: MicrosoftDirectX 9 graphics device or higher

Additional requirements to use certain features:

• To use touch, you need a tablet or a monitor that supports multitouch.
• To access the Windows Store and to download and run apps, you need an active Internet connection and a screen resolution of at least 1024 x 768.
• To snap apps, you need a screen resolution of at least 1366 x 768.

   Tip

If you dual boot Windows 8 with another OS (ex: Windows 7 or Vista) with Windows 8 set as the default OS to run at startup, then it gives you the Change default or choose other options link as in the example screenshot below to make it easier to boot into the Startup Options menu for more System Recovery Options.

EXAMPLE: "Choose an operating system" Screen at Boot
NOTE: This is the new "Windows Boot Manager" screen that Windows 8 uses now to allow you to select either Windows 8 or say Windows 7 to start when your boot or restart the computer. Clicking on the Change default or choose other options link at the bottom will allow you to change the default time to wait before starting the default OS, change the default OS to start automatically after wait time, or to choose a recovery option.








Here's How:


1. Other than the hard drive that you plan on installing Windows 8/8.1 on, it's recommended to disconnect all hard drives that do not have an OS installed on them.

2. Start Windows 7 or Vista, and log on to an administrator account. Go to either step 2 or 3 below for what you wanted to install Windows 8 on.

   Warning

If your motherboard as UEFI, then also see either tutorial below:

UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) - Install Windows 7 with

or

UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) - Install Windows 8 with

3. If you Already Have an Empty Hard Drive or Partition to Install Windows 8 On

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A) Go to step 5 below.​

4. If you Want to Shrink a Partition to Install Windows 8 On

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A) Shrink a partition, such as the Windows 7 partition (ex: C: drive), in Disk Management by at least 20GB (20480MB) (1GB=1024MB) to have unallocated space to be able to install Windows 8 on, and go to step 5 below. (see screenshots below)​

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NOTE: This example has the 100 MB System Reservered partition that Windows 7 creates when installed on a unallocated HDD. If your Windows 7 installation does not have the 100 MB System Reservered partition, then that is fine since this will still work to dual boot with Windows 8. Just do not delete the 100 MB System Reservered partition if you do have one.​

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5. Do either step 6 or 7 below for how you want to start installing Windows 8.



6. To Install Windows 8 at Boot to Dual boot with Windows 7 or Vista

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A) Insert or connect your Windows 8 installation DVD or USB thumb drive, and restart the computer to boot from your Windows 8 installation media.​

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B) Go to step 8.​

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7. To Install Windows 8 from within Windows 7 or Vista to Dual Boot with

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A) Do step B or C below depending on if you are using a Windows 8 DVD/USB or a Windows 8 ISO.​

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B) Insert or connect your Windows 8 installation DVD or USB thumb drive. In the Computer window, right click on the Windows 8 installation USB/DVD drive, and click on Open. Go to step 7D.​

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OR​

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C) After installing a free program like 7-Zip, right click on the Windows 8 ISO file, select 7-Zip and click on Extract Files, extract the ISO file to a folder (ex: WindowsDeveloperPreview) on your Desktop in Windows 7 or Vista, and open the extracted folder when finished. Go to step 7D.​

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NOW​

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D) Open the sources folder first, and run the setup.exe file inside the sources folder. (see screenshots below)​

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   Warning

If you run the setup file in the root directory instead of the one in the sources folder, then you will be upgrading Windows 7 or Vista to Windows 8 instead of dual booting with Windows 8 and will lose Windows 7 or Vista.

   Warning

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E) Click on the Go online to get the latest updates for installation option. (see screenshot below)​

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F) Continue on to step 8.​

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8. You can now finish doing a clean install of Windows 8 to either the empty HDD or partition from step 3, or the unallocated space created in step 4. Be sure to not select your Windows 7 or Vista partition to install Windows 8 to. If you do, Windows 8 will replace it.
NOTE: The screenshot below is at step 7 in the clean install tutorial.

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9. If this a Windows 8 upgrade copy, then you will now need to refresh Windows 8 for it to be activated.

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   Warning

MICROSOFT SOFTWARE LICENSE AGREEMENT

   Warning

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Windows 8 EULA​

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What about upgrading the software? ​

The software covered by this agreement is an upgrade to your existing operating system (XP SP3, Vista, or Windows 7) software, so the upgrade replaces the original software that you are upgrading. You do not retain any rights to the original software after you have upgraded and you may not continue to use it or transfer it in any way. This agreement governs your rights to use the upgrade software and replaces the agreement for the software from which you upgraded. After you complete your upgrade, additional software will be required to playback or record certain types of media, including DVDs.​

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10. When finished, you will be in Windows 8 with Windows 8 set as the default OS to start after the wait time. Restarting Windows 8 will allow you to be able to select what OS you would like to start like in the example at the top of the tutorial.

11. In a dual boot setup with Windows 8 and a previous version of Windows (ex: Windows 7 or Vista), then it is recommended to turn off Fast Startup to avoid possibly having issues with shut down, restart, and chkdsk.

12. When finished, you can reconnect any hard drives from step 1.



That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

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• How to Enable or Disable Secure Boot in UEFI
• How to Delete "Windows 8" in your Dual Boot with Windows 7 or Vista
• How to Delete "Windows 7" in your Dual Boot with Windows 8
• How to Delete an Operating System Listed in Windows Boot Manager
• How to Do a Clean Install of Windows 8 or Windows 8.1
• How to Do a Clean Install with Windows 8 Upgrade
• How to Install Windows 8 Using "Unified Extensible Firmware Interface" (UEFI)
• How to Create a Bootable USB or DVD with the Windows 8 ISO
• How to Upgrade from Windows 8, Windows 7, Vista, or XP to Windows 8 or 8.1
• How to Downgrade Windows 8 to Windows 7
• How to Download and Run the "Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant"
• How to Create or Download a Windows 8 Upgrade ISO
• How to Install Windows 8 on VMware Player
• How to Install Windows 8 on VirtualBox
• How to Reset Windows 8
• How to Refresh Windows 8
• How to Create a Windows 8 VHD at Boot to Dual Boot with Windows 7 or Vista
• How to Boot from a VHD using Windows 7 and Windows 8
• How to Choose a Default Operating System to Run at Startup in Windows 8
• How to Change the Product Key Number in Windows 8
• How to Load SATA Driver During Windows 8 Setup

 

[aem]

Dude, i'm disappointed for you and in you.

You realize that a dual boot installation is the same as a clean installation but on a designated partition which you would have created before you begin. Right?

Here is what you SHOULD have been seeing screenwise.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2299-clean-install-windows-8-a.html

 

[ICit2lol]

Not the one I wanted

No aem I wanted the dual boot so I followed Brinks instructions > download ISO (to an external) > copy to C: > open with 7zip from C: > open "sources" and should have found set.exe but only found setup.

Ah well mate it's done now the only thing I cannot find how to do is format the disk the version of 8 is sitting on, and reinstall then put back my apps from the system image on the external hard drive.

I have a couple of 500GB internals here suppose I could disconnect the 1TB and install the 7 onto the 500GB and then format the TB after that. Then do the same thing again with the TB drive adding my apps to it from the external again.

Anyway all's not lost mate to be absolutely honest as I am more p****d at myself for letting you blokes down as you have all tried to help me out on this one and I have done the Richard on it, I really shouldn't have caused so much grief!!

Besides I should have done it on this machine and not my main one

Sincerely
John

 

[Avalon]

Anyway all's not lost mate to be absolutely honest as I am more p****d at myself for letting you blokes down as you have all tried to help me out on this one and I have done the Richard on it, I really shouldn't have caused so much grief!!

Everybody makes mistakes. That's why we're all in this together. We deal with it, we fix it, and we move on.

 

[aem]

Ok just had late dinner and now back for more

So John, this is what i would do for reinstalling your Win7 back on C:\ and W8 on D:\

Format C:\
Create two extended partition as logical drives (D: and E: )
Do a clean install of W7 on C:\
Do dual boot install on W8 on D:\
Leave E:\ spare

Before you begin can you screenshot your Disk Management?

 

[Brink]

John,

I'm sorry to hear that you are having so much trouble with this.

I think you may have better luck if you create a Windows 8 installation DVD or USB thumb drivehttp://www.eightforums.com/tutorial...-usb-dvd-windows-8-developer-preview-iso.html with the ISO file and use step 5 at boot to install Windows 8 to dual boot with.

The main thing is to make sure that you are not selecting your Windows 7 partition to install Windows 8 on.

 

[ICit2lol]

Hey look you fellows I really don't deserve this as I have made such a hash of it so am going to sort it tomorrow.

I'll get back with any screen shots I can get as the 7 apps have all gone and the 8 has no programs in it at all. I'll get snip put on and take some shots from there - there are few in the 7 desktop pane perhaps I might be able to get posted.

Once again thanks for being so understanding - I really do appreciate it anywhere who knows what I would have got.

I've said it before and again this is why I think the Vista, 7 and 8 forums are so good cos of decent people like yourselves.

Off to nod land right now might think a bit clearer in the morning.

 

[Brink]

It's no problem at all John. We're happy to help. See you in the morning.

 

[skreamnight]

i once tried this but i didn't get the picture i installed it and i didn't see any partitions you could put windows 8 in so i continued installing its a good thing that one you install you will still get "windows.old" folder

 

[Brink]

Hello Skream,

It sounds like you did a upgrade install to replace your Windows 7 instead of doing clean install of Windows 8 to a separate partition/drive to dual boot with.


The only thing I can think of is that you did not open the Sources folder first and run that setup file, or by mistake selected your Windows 7 partition/drive to install Windows 8 to.

 

[ICit2lol]

Hiyya Shawn Still no go mate am now at a loss as to what I am doing wrong. Have downloaded from your Download (2nd x64 option) and extracted as per tutorial with 7 -zip and I am still not getting that setup.exe.

Have been trying now for just on a day after that original disaster and it takes so long for the ISO to download to a USB stick and then extract only to find the screen shot below. You can also see the partition ready and the sources unpacked so am at a standstill at step 6D and it never goes to step 6E just a large blue screen with those two options at the bottom for the install - which landed me in such a problem and a reinstall / backup system image etc .

Am now wondering if I will ever get it on.

 

[aem]

That setup you see right there is it John.

 

[Brink]

John,

Yep, as AEM posted, it's right there in your bottom screen shot. It's the setup file that is 287 KB.

 

[ICit2lol]

Hiyya you fellows have got the dual optional boot now as it went to that blue screen and I though here we go again and it booted into 8 had a quick look but it's going to take some figuring out. The only things are I couldn't find how to shut down properly from 8 so had to power it down, and I don't have the screen at "full stretch" but I guess if I scratch around in there I'll find the way to fix that.

But on reboot it gives me the options now - thanks so much for staying with me I know I have been a bit of a trial for you all

 

[mikedl]

... and I don't have the screen at "full stretch" but I guess if I scratch around in there I'll find the way to fix that.

Find and install the latest Win7 video drivers pertinent to your video card or chip.

Still, great news!

Oh, and you are never a "trial" you're fine!

 

[Brink]

That's great news John. I knew you could do it.

Now, for shutting it down properly, see the tutorial below.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorial...estart-shut-down-switch-user-windows-8-a.html

 

[ICit2lol]

Look thanks you fellows you have all been so patient and helpful to me I don't know how I can ever repay you what you all have done means more to me than you can imagine

Anyway better dash last two days work before holidays and then I can spend more time on it.

Once again you are such a great bunch of fellows and I mean that most sincerely.


John

 

[aem]

Looks like the perserverance has paid off John. In the end you basically did it on your own we're just here to give you pointers.

 

[ICit2lol]

Just one last thing can I set it to boot to 7 if I leave the start up too long I notice that if I go away for any reason and come back a while later it has booted into 8 automatically.
I would rather it boot that way into 7 if possible.

 

[mikedl]

Just one last thing can I set it to boot to 7 if I leave the start up too long I notice that if I go away for any reason and come back a while later it has booted into 8 automatically.
I would rather it boot that way into 7 if possible.

You would have to re-order the boot sequence and, if you put Win7 first, you'll be left with the standard Win7 boot menu.

Win 8 will be there ... just not as default.

 

[ICit2lol]

Oh by that you mean not with any of my icons etc? if so I'll leave as is and just be a bit more patient