Hi there, I currently have Windows 8.1 on my desktop but would like to dual boot it with Windows 7 so could I do this by installing a second hard drive on my system and installing Windows 7 to the second hard drive to prevent losing Windows 8?
Solution
Chicano
Judicious
- Aug 29, 2011
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Yes you can install on a second hard drive but you can also install Windows 7 on a second disk partition and won't lose Windows 8 if you just make sure you select the second partition when installing. If you don't have a second partition you can create it with a Partition Manager like Minitool Partition Wizard, AESSEUS Partition Master, etc.
The installation will probably create the dual boot on it's bootloader and if doesn't you can install a Boot Editor on any of the two Windows to create the dual boot.
You can also install on a second hard drive and use the Boot Editor to create the dual boot.
Best disk partition software
Boot Loader Editor
The installation will probably create the dual boot on it's bootloader and if doesn't you can install a Boot Editor on any of the two Windows to create the dual boot.
You can also install on a second hard drive and use the Boot Editor to create the dual boot.
Best disk partition software
Boot Loader Editor
Chicano
Judicious
- Aug 29, 2011
- 5,071
- 29
- 35,490
Right, and to clarify it a bit and add a possible solution I missed before:
In the remote case the Win 8 bootloader is overwritten by the Win 7 installation you can also use the Win 8 DVD to repair its bootloader... but according to paragraph 19 on this linked tutorial on How to install Windows 7 after Windows 8, the dual boot should be automatically created even if Windows 7 is installed after Windows 8 which is not exactly following the normal and recommended installation order of Windows Editions.
How to Dual Boot Windows 8 with Windows 7 if your newly purchased computer or the one you just built has Windows 8 installed. You now want to install Windows 7 as a second operating system.
http://www.pagestart.com/win8dbwin701181301.html
In the remote case the Win 8 bootloader is overwritten by the Win 7 installation you can also use the Win 8 DVD to repair its bootloader... but according to paragraph 19 on this linked tutorial on How to install Windows 7 after Windows 8, the dual boot should be automatically created even if Windows 7 is installed after Windows 8 which is not exactly following the normal and recommended installation order of Windows Editions.
How to Dual Boot Windows 8 with Windows 7 if your newly purchased computer or the one you just built has Windows 8 installed. You now want to install Windows 7 as a second operating system.
http://www.pagestart.com/win8dbwin701181301.html
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