How I set up Win 8 and Win 8.1 in a dual boot.

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I initially created an Image for my Win 8 OS as I always do when I am loading a new OS. This allowed me to restore Win 8 easily if things did not work out with Win 8.1.

I then downloaded the Win 8 ISO file to my PC. I did not burn a DVD at this time. I always can do that later, and I figured why waste a DVD if I do not have to. Next I started the installation and chose to keep everything.

When the installation completed I started my customization. First there were a few updates from WU. Next I had a few things that had to be reinstalled. AVG 2014 beta was installed and took over automatically from Windows Defender. Next LastPass had to be installed (it did not carry over, I suspect because of the new IE 11. I had to turn off Enhanced Protection Mode). I also heard of a beta version of Start8 beta. This can only be downloaded by those registered Start8 users. It worked flawlessly. I knew it would not be long before these Start Menu add-on apps were updated for Win 8.1. I also had to reinstall my printer driver.

Once I had everything customized properly and to my satisfaction, I defragged the entire setup then created an Image of this new OS with my Acronis TI boot disk. Once I had the image, I restarted and booted into Win 8.

I then used Partition Wizard mini-tool to create a new partition at the end of my data partition. I set it to about 40 GB. I formatted it to Logical NTFS drive. I then rebooted to my Acronis TI boot disk and restored my Win 8.1 Image to this new partition. Some would think I was done at this point, but not so.

Because Win 8.1 was not installed, just restored from an Image, I had to once again boot into Win 8 and use EasyBCD to add Win 8.1 to my Boot Record. This allows my PC to see both Win 8 and Win 8.1 OSes when I boot. Without this step, when I booted, my PC only saw the Win 8 partition.

Now when I boot, I am given the choice of which OS I wish to boot to, nice!

I also have a separate Data Partition. Since I installed Win 8.1 directly over Win 8 initially, all my data pointers were still pointed to the Data Drive. Now whether I boot to Win 8 or Win 8.1, everything still points to the same data folders on my Data Partition, nice!

I know this seems a rather lot to go through to set up a dual boot, but it really was not, and allows me more flexibility to test Win 8.1 easily.

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The only possible problem I see is one license for two installations of Windows, unless you have bought a second license.

Windows 8 Pro License Agreement.

Of particular interest is ADDITIONAL TERMS section 1. Each installation of the software requires its own separate license, even on a virtual machine.

Back in August, 2009, I tracked this down specifically with Microsoft Customer Service regarding dual booting Windows XP. It took lots of emails to ever get a proper response (I kept getting referred to Customer Support), but this is what I was finally told:

“Hello Bruce,

Thank you for contacting Microsoft Customer Service again.

I am Nivedita Paul’s colleague and we apologize for the inconvenience caused to you.

According to Microsoft Software License Terms, retail version Windows XP can be installed on only one computer at any given point of time. This also applies to the hard drives. Please note that one is not allowed to install Windows XP on 2 or more drives on the same computer.

For detailed licensing information, please visit: http://www.microsoft.com/about/legal/useterms/ and select the self-explanatory drop down options from the web site.

If you have further questions, please do contact us.

Thank you,

Praveen
Microsoft Customer Service”

I’m fairly certain that logical drives/partitions fits the term “drives” as far as the license agreement is concerned. The link is still good; it doesn’t list Windows 8 Pro in the initial selection dropdowns, but if just “Windows” is selected, the next dropdown offers Windows 8 Pro as one of the selections.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

We were all once "Average Users".

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Bruce,

I’ll have to respectfully disagree here since Win 8.1 is a Preview it is not really an Upgrade from 8.0, which would require a separate license to have both installed. After all MS wants you to try out 8.1 so you can report bugs. :cheers:

May the Forces of good computing be with you!

RG

PowerShell & VBA Rule!
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Bruce,

I’ll have to respectfully disagree here since Win 8.1 is a Preview it is not really an Upgrade from 8.0, which would require a separate license to have both installed. After all MS wants you to try out 8.1 so you can report bugs. :cheers:

Valid point, Bruce.

I don’t do Previews or Betas, since I don’t do standard installations, either. It will be easy enough for MS to kick the one Preview Product Key to the WGA curb once the Final Release is made available.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

We were all once "Average Users".

Computer Specs

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I agree with RG. This is why I set up the dual boot. I would never have done this otherwise. Also, by downloading the ISO file, the Win 8.1 installation is actually a complete installation package. I did not choose to install it independently because I wished to save all my settings and apps, etc. This is why I chose to do it this way. Since MS calls Win 8.1 a beta, and offers free downloads with it, including a free key (they do include a separate key for installation) to install it, I also believe they want us to install it as a secondary OS to try it and report problems with it.

This is similar to installing Win 8.1 in a VM. If both Win 8 and Win 8.1 were released OSes, even installing in a VM would require purchasing separate keys. In addition, MS is calling this a beta of an UPGRADE to Win 8, not an entirely new OS, I believe this also allows us to install this as a dual boot. If I am wrong, I’m sorry and I’m sure MS will let me know. Plus MS advises NOT to replace a released OS with a beta product.

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