How to Dual Boot Windows 7 and Windows 8

The final preview of the most excepted Windows 8 is now available for download and most of us must be eager to try the all new Windows 8. But if you fear to install the operating system in hard drive for loosing your present operating system, here are three simple steps with which you could dual boot Windows 8 operating system with Windows 7 (Let me assume you already installed Windows 7 in your hard drive).

If you already know to dual boot, this is much similar to it. The same basic three steps, create a new partition, install the operating system in new partition and edit the boot menu for the default operating system. Before you start to play with your operating systems, it is better to back up your important data, because we might need to format and partition drives and anything can go wrong, better not take chances.

Step One – Create a New Partition

We need atleast 20 GB of free space to install our Windows 8, and create a separate partition for the same. Inorder to do this, we are going to use Windows Disk Management. Open Start Menu, right click on ‘Computer’ and select ‘Manage’ option and click on ‘Disk Management’ in the left pane.

Find your hard drive then right click it and select ‘Shrink Volume’. Shrink it down so you have atleast 20 GB of space left on the end of the drive, then click OK. Then, click the ‘Unallocated block’ of that drive and click ‘New Simple Volume’. Click Next until you get ‘Format Partition’ window, provide a specific label for the drive (like “Win 8″) and click Next. Its formats the new drive and creation of new partition is completed.

Step Two – Install Windows 8 on New Partition

Burn the downloaded ISO onto a DVD or burn it to an USB. Now select your boot priority to your desired device and proceed your  installation. The installation is much similar to the installation process of Windows 7 and it might not be a big deal to install it.

While installing be sure that you ‘Custom’ installation option and not “Upgrade” your present operating system. Also be sure you select the new partition from the list of drive appears (the one we named ‘Win 8′). After the completion of the installation you will automatically boot into Windows 8 and if you choose to enter you Windows Live ID here, make sure that you have access to you ID and confirm else it might not let you boot into the operating system.

Step Three – Change Windows 7 to Default

Changing the default operating system is optional, but after the installation of Windows 8, your default operating system will be Windows 8 and not Windows 7. Its easy to change this, when you boot into your Windows 8 for the first time, Windows 8 will ask you for the default operating system and you can select from the list. If not, its can be selected from ‘Change Default or Choose Other Options’ in boot menu and select ‘Choose Default Operating System’. You can pick Windows 7 to make it default. Enjoy with Windows 8 developer preview and share us your experience.