Dual boot Windows 8.1 and Windows 7. Why the heck is Win8.1 so darn slow?

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Childer

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Mar 29, 2015
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I have a Microsoft student account and can download free software from Microsoft, and am trying out a dual-boot w/ both Windows 7 and 8.1.

Webpage after webpage talks about how lean Windows 8.1 is, and how it boots faster and performs better. My Windows 7 boots in about 50 seconds. My Windows 8.1 partition is usually at least twice that (with official Windows processes making the hard drive spin nonstop for at least 5 minutes after booting, til the hard drive finally calms down).

My laptop is a 1.4GHz AMD quad-core, with 4 gig of RAM, and a lot of free space on the hard drive.

Is there anything I should try? Or just go back to Windows 7? They're both fresh installs, and all I have installed is HyperTerminal and a game.
 
Solution
Darkbreeze
The problem is likely related to a problem with the boot partition. The boot loader in windows 7 is very finicky and if you installed windows 7 without AHCI enabled, or your unit is not AHCI capable, then windows 8 may try booting with the boot partition for 7 and have compatibility issues. I'd do a CLEAN install, removing ALL partitions, making sure AHCI is enabled in the BIOS, and install 8 first, then 7, if you really need 7. Personally, I'd just use 8 with Classic Shell.

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

Windows 7 Clean install: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html

Issues dual booting 8 and 7...
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Darkbreeze

Darkbreeze

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Jun 24, 2014
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The problem is likely related to a problem with the boot partition. The boot loader in windows 7 is very finicky and if you installed windows 7 without AHCI enabled, or your unit is not AHCI capable, then windows 8 may try booting with the boot partition for 7 and have compatibility issues. I'd do a CLEAN install, removing ALL partitions, making sure AHCI is enabled in the BIOS, and install 8 first, then 7, if you really need 7. Personally, I'd just use 8 with Classic Shell.

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

Windows 7 Clean install: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html

Issues dual booting 8 and 7: http://www.7tutorials.com/how-dual-boot-windows-8-windows-7-windows-vista-or-windows-xp

Classic Shell (To make 8 look and act like 7): http://www.classicshell.net/
 
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