Triple Booting Win8 with Win7 and XP

[Omega1]

I currently have a system (not the system I'm on now) that triple boots in this order : WINXP/WIN7/WIN7.

I would like to keep XP and one of my Win7 installations as is and upgrade the second WIN7 installation to Win8, so I would then have a triple boot like this: WINXP/WIN7/WIN8. Will this work? or am I going to lose the XP and other Win7 installation.

I know the system I want to do this on does meet all requirements, so that's not a problem, I just want to know if I'm going to lose any of the other Windows installations if I were to try this.

 

[Windunce]

I think that, yes, you would loose one. But with two internal HD's it should be doable.
Clone your current HD... WINXP/WIN7/WIN7...

Then have Win 8 wipe it with a fresh install.

Place the image of WINXP/WIN7/WIN7 on your second hard drive and then at boot
choose either HD1 or HD2 as the boot device.

The best of both worlds. ummm maybe?

 

[Arpan]

I currently have a system (not the system I'm on now) that triple boots in this order : WINXP/WIN7/WIN7.

I would like to keep XP and one of my Win7 installations as is and upgrade the second WIN7 installation to Win8, so I would then have a triple boot like this: WINXP/WIN7/WIN8. Will this work? or am I going to lose the XP and other Win7 installation.

I know the system I want to do this on does meet all requirements, so that's not a problem, I just want to know if I'm going to lose any of the other Windows installations if I were to try this.

If all your OSs are on a single hard disk in different partitions, you shouldn't have to lose any OS (assuming everything goes as they should).

If your OSs are on different Hard Disks, I can't comment on that as I have never done this. Some other members might confirm you on that.

Hope I could help

 

[OzzYGuY]

I would simply format one of your win 7 partitions, and leave as unpartitioned space.

Install win8 to the unpartitioned drive.

It should detect the other 2 operating systems, and your good to go.

OzzY

 

[Omega1]

I shouldn't need to format any of my drives, atleast I don't think I would.
My drives are like this:
Drive 1 is C:\ = Windows XP
Drive 2 is D & E = Windows 7 on both partitions

Now I'm thinking IF use the Windows 8 Pro Upgrade on the copy of Windows 7 on my Drive E:, I shouldn't have to format anything. Would the Windows 8 Upgrade just add itself the boot menu without destroying anything on my C or D drives?

 

[Arpan]

Would the Windows 8 Upgrade just add itself the boot menu without destroying anything on my C or D drives?

It should (If nothing unexpected happens).

I have experimented a lot with multi booting. Installed-uninstalled OSes lots of times. Nothing ever went wrong with me.

 

[Omega1]

Would the Windows 8 Upgrade just add itself the boot menu without destroying anything on my C or D drives?

It should (If nothing unexpected happens).

I have experimented a lot with multi booting. Installed-uninstalled OSes lots of times. Nothing ever went wrong with me.

Same here... I'm constantly experimenting with something... Sometimes something might go wrong, but never to the point of losing anything (I only experiment on a system I built strictly for that purpose), but with a new operating system like Win8, I'm not too sure... so I think I may just take a chance....

 

[OzzYGuY]

I currently triple boot win8 win7 and mint 13. These are all on the same drive. As long as you wipe the partition you want win8 on during install, im certain you will be fine. All your other partitions and data will be left intact. If in any doubt, id suggest usin acronis to backup your entire drive beforehand just as a precaution.

Edit. Maybe i should start posting some tutorials

Triple booting is fun.

OzzY

 

[Omega1]

Edit. Maybe i should start posting some tutorials

Triple booting is fun.

OzzY

Not a bad idea... Tutorials always help...

 

[theog]

This is not recommended.

1) Install Windows XP.
2) Install Windows 7.
3) Install Windows 8.

 

[Omega1]

theog, I don't understand. Why is this not recommended?? What you posted above is almost identical to one of my systems.

The only difference is my system is:
C = Windows XP (Drive 1)
D = Windows 7 (Drive 2 (Partition 1))
E = Windows 7 (Drive 2 (Partition 2))

Now for me to install Win8 I will or want to Upgrade Windows 7 on Drive E to Windows 8. This is why I'm asking if it will work, I really don't want to lose the XP or other Win7 installation.



Note: I will be using Windows 8 Pro NOT the Windows 8 Pro Pack to do this.

 

[theog]

Why is this not recommended??

As most new MOBO's have uEFI BIOS, & no driver support for Win XP.

 

[DeaconFrost]

If you are doing so to experiment, then virtualizeeverything but one host OS. Restores are much easier, and you don't need to mess around with partitions or boot loaders.

 

[Omega1]

Okay, I spent a few days "experimenting" on another system before I did the upgrade.

The only problem I had was when I installed XP then Win7 and then the second installation of Win7. After the first copy of Win7 was installed the added a second copy, my computer would only boot into WinXp or the second copy of Win7... So I didn't bother trying to fix it, I just again reinstalled everything.

On my second attempt, everything installed as it should, si the system had WinXP, Win7, Win7...

Then when I installed Win8 Pro, it went off without a hitch.... The system then showed WinXP, Win7, Win8..

After playing with that for a few days, and having no problems, I upgraded one copy of Win7 on my main system. As it is right now, it's running perfect. I thought I'd need to use something like EasyBCD but discovered it wasn't needed.

The boot screen now shows:
Windows 8
Windows 7
Windows XP

and again all 3 copies (versions) of Windows stayed intact and run very smoothly.

But now I have one other question, has anyone tried using MicroSoftSecurity Essentials in Windows 8? I can find no definite answer.

 

[theog]

But now I have one other question, has anyone tried using MicroSoftSecurity Essentials in Windows 8? I can find no definite answer.

Have you checked on there website for a Windows 8 update.

 

[Omega1]

I've looked but can see no update.. but from what I have read, including the system/program compatability program that we can run before the Win8 installation, alot of people are "undecided" as to whether it works or not... I could just try it... I the other programs I use work, so I don't think it'll hurt to try it... if it works, it works... if not, I'll just use another anti-virus....