A pre-beta Developer build of Windows 8 was released recently by Microsoft and saw over 500,000 downloads in less than 24 hours. However since the OS is still unstable it is not advised to install over Windows 7 so one option is to dual-boot Windows 8 alongside it.
So to help you dual-boot Windows, we decided to provide you with a guide to get it done. First there are some things you will need to have before you proceed.
So to help you dual-boot Windows, we decided to provide you with a guide to get it done. First there are some things you will need to have before you proceed.
System Requirements
- 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
- 1 gigabyte (GB) RAM (32-bit) or 2 GB RAM (64-bit)
- 16 GB available hard disk space (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit)
- DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver
- Taking advantage of touch input requires a screen that supports multi-touch (optional)
- To run Metro style Apps, you need a screen resolution of 1024 X 768 or greater
Dual-Boot Installation Steps
- Download Windows 8: You will have three options: 64-bit with tools (4.8 GB), 64-bit (3.6 GB), or 32-bit (2.8 GB).
- Burn the Image: Burn the ISO to a DVD-ROM. Note: The developer tools version requires a dual-layer DVD. Use Windows Disk Image Burner or third-party tools like Nero. You can also create a bootable USB drive.
- Backup Data: Prepare emergency recovery discs and backup all personal data. You can never be too careful with pre-release software.
- Partition Your Drive: Create a hard drive partition of at least 20GB. MiniTool Partition Wizard is a great free option for this task.
- Boot Installation: Restart your computer and boot from the DVD or USB. The process is similar to Windows 7; follow the on-screen instructions.
- Choose OS: Once completed, you will see a prompt to select between 'Windows Developer Preview' or 'Windows 7'. Select the first option to enter Windows 8.