Windows 8 Anyone know if you can install Windows 7 dual boot with Windows 8 after Windows 8 is installed.

[MikeHawthorne]

Hi

That's my question, can I install Windows 7 on my Windows 8 computer in dual boot?
I might do that if it's not a hassle.

Mike

 

[patcooke]

No problem.

 

[davehc]

It is easy enough. But if you install it second, it will create the legacy boot manager, and not the new Windows 8 manager. What I do, when needed, is make an image of Windows 8. fwiw, I use Acronis. I then install Windows 7 on a second partition, and reinstate my Windows 8 image - best of both worlds.
But, maybe digressing, if you use the legacy Desktop in Windows 8, it has all the functions of Windows 7 and, with the addition of a third party Start menu, is little different in operation or appearance, from Windows 7. You then have the best of both worlds, without the need to reboot.

 

[MikeHawthorne]

Thanks Guys

I remembered that installing Windows XP after Windows 7 was a problem and wan't sure that something like that wouldn't happen installing Windows 7 after 8.

Mike

 

[Jimbo22]

It is easy enough. But if you install it second, it will create the legacy boot manager, and not the new Windows 8 manager. What I do, when needed, is make an image of Windows 8. fwiw, I use Acronis. I then install Windows 7 on a second partition, and reinstate my Windows 8 image - best of both worlds.
But, maybe digressing, if you use the legacy Desktop in Windows 8, it has all the functions of Windows 7 and, with the addition of a third party Start menu, is little different in operation or appearance, from Windows 7. You then have the best of both worlds, without the need to reboot.

Hey davehc, I was thinking a good vid tutorial of what you have here would be very beneficial to those that would like to try that.

 

[Saltgrass]

Would you be using UEFI or Bios to install?

 

[DonC]

No problem. I have it installed on 2 computers -- a desktop and laptop.

Use EasyBCD to edit the boot manager. Letting Win8 set it up results in much slower bootup and selection. It's almost like Win 8 boots first and afterwards asks you to select a boot option. If you pick Win7, it appears your system fully reboots into 7. Klutzy!

 

[Saltgrass]

When you finish getting it set up Mike, try running using the Recovery options just to make sure they work.

You can get the Windows 8 boot GUI back by booting to the Windows 8 install media and doing a bootrec /rebuildbcd command. If you decide to do that, there is one other correction that may be necessary.

I just did an install as you suggest, and a Windows 8 Restart was taking a long time...

I still like having parallel installs so I can use the boot device menu to select, but I have UEFI...

 

[MikeHawthorne]

Thanks for the help guys.
I haven't decided for sure that I'm going to do this, I'll have to buy a Windows 7 install disk.
But I'm tempted.

I was looking at the disks on Amazon and they have what looks like the same thing at widely varying prices.
I assume that this is what I need?

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I should have bought an extra copy when I could buy them for 39.95.

Mike

 

[Drew]

Mike, you can get the $40 Upgrades til the end of January & up to a max of 5.

I have multi-booted a lot! @ least, every time I've beta tested forthcoming OSs for MS. Yes, you can put 7 w/ 8, no problem, @ all. I just want to mention, I have never had to use EasyBCD or anything like it. Had one OS, then installed the next on another drive, had a boot choice screen, done, end of story, that's it, that's all. Never any fussing about w/ Boots or the like, just simple & straight-forward, not the least bit complex or needing any special tools or utilities. Removing 1 was just as much a non-event... formatted its drive, finish, back to 1 OS... nothing else involved.

Cheers,
Drew
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[MikeHawthorne]

I started having 2 operating systems installed starting with Windows 3.1.
And both of them were Windows 3.1.

Windows 3.1 was so unstable and prone to crashing that I kept 2 independent copies installed so when one of them crashed I would boot into the other one and use it to remove and re-install the first one.

I'm guessing that I'll have to have a non upgrade disk to install Windows 7 in addition to 8.
And are you talking about a Windows 7 upgrade disk for $40?

Mike