How To Install Windows 7 With Windows 8

If you have a Windows 7 PC just aren't sure you lot're fix to upgrade to Windows 8 withal, a dual-kick system might be a skillful way to ease into information technology. This will let you use both operating systems, side-by-side, until you're comfy enough with Windows 8 to go all in. To configure your PC for dual-boot, all you have to practice is create a new partition for Windows 8, and then install it.

Caution: Earlier you begin, make sure to back up your system. This is a uncomplicated procedure, just in that location's e'er a run a risk of data loss whenever you modify deejay partitions. If you lot have Norton Ghost or Acronis True Paradigm handy, cloning your drive/partition is probably the all-time style to recover from whatsoever issues y'all might run into.

Create new partition in Windows 7
Step 1: In Windows 7, striking the shortcut Win+R, then type "diskmgmt.msc" to first Disk Management.

Step ii: To brand room for Windows 8, you outset need to shrink the C: volume. In Disk Management, right-click on your hard drive and select Compress Book, then choose how much space to compress.

Shrink Windows 7 volume — Screenshot by Ed Rhee/CNET

Step 3: Once the shrink task has completed, right-click on the unallocated sectionalisation, and so select New Unproblematic Volume. Get through the New Unproblematic Volume Wizard and make certain to format the new sectionalization in NTFS and give it a volume label, like "Windows 8."

Format new simple volume — Screenshot by Ed Rhee/CNET

Install Windows 8
Pace ane: Insert a bootable Windows 8 DVD or USB wink drive into your PC, and so reboot information technology to begin Windows 8 installation.

Step 2: When prompted to choose the type of installation, cull Custom.

Windows 8 custom install — Screenshot by Ed Rhee/CNET

Step iii: For the location of your Windows eight install, select the new segmentation you created.

Install Windows 8 to new partition — Screenshot by Ed Rhee/CNET

One time Windows 8 finishes installing, the kicking carte will announced with both Windows 8 and Windows seven. Past default, Windows 8 will starting time automatically later on thirty seconds, but you lot can fix Windows seven as the default by clicking on "Change defaults or choose other options" from the kick bill of fare.