Now, a particular comment for Mr. I-don't-like-my-yolks-runny... that's 'overhard' to you.

It's super that you are keen to have Windows8 and dual-boot to keep your Win7. Instead of asking questions 1st, I'll just shoot 1st... maybe ask questions later.

To do this I'm sure you realize you must, in your Windows7 box, have Windows8 RP on another distinct drive or partition. If, you're using the Upgrade Win8 AND want to keep 7, you upgrade the RP. Ergo, the RP has to, already be on a drive in the Win7 machine, along w/ the Win7. The RP that you DLed w/ your Windows7.

Cheers,
Drew
871

PS: Pssst, don't say Start or Metro, or even tile, too, loudly... after 5 months seems it may hit a nerve w/ some Teehee Just kidding (wink, wink, nudge, nudge, know what I mean, Eh? Know what I mean?)
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OMG, I hope somebody gets the joke :S

The way I was thinking of going is to acquire a XP install disc, delete this beta, then install XP in my dual boot. Then upgrading the XP to windows8. This should work, right?

Installing Win XP when you already have Win 7 installed first is a touch trickier. Generally it is recommended to install the oldest OS first then install the newer OS.

Why not just do this:

Leave Win 7 on partition 1 then Clean Install Win 8 RP on partition 2. Then when Win 8 Pro is released simply install Win 8 Pro directly over Win 8 RP. This why you will have Win 7 in partition 1 and Win 8 Pro in partition 2. No need to install XP then wipe it out in a couple of months, plus you won't have the problems with installing the older OS second.

How To Geek (http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/8790/dual-boot-your-pre-installed-windows-7-computer-with-xp/)shows the procedure for doing the XP second procedure. Be advised you will have to fix the MBR or you will not get Win 7 as n option when you boot.

This question really should be in the installation forum so I have moved it.

Why?? If, you, already, have dual-boot Windows7 & the Win8 RP (Beta), why wouldn't you just upgrade the RP?

Unless, I'm misunderstanding the set-up you have, currently.
And now, Ted is basically, saying the same thing I had, already, told you. Are we both missing something?

Use the KISS principle.

Regards,
Drew
875

That's what I'm saying. Already has a dual boot with Win 7 and Win 8 RP. Once Win 8 Pro is released, Upgrade Win 8 RP to Win 8 Pro. Easy as pie.

I would use the Custom (Clean) install rather than an upgrade, but same thing.

overhard, what you are saying will work but why bother complicating things with XP? Plus then you have the whole MBR problem.

Ted,
I'm going to follow your advice. I guess when I first heard about this upgrade I assumed that Microsoft would want consumers to upgrade from a paid OS and not from some free beta OS. Yes I did see that it was mentioned that you could upgrade from RP here in this forum but I guess it didn't dislodge my first incorrect assumption. I get it now.
I still find it hard to believe that for $40.00 Microsoft will sell you their newest OS. They are serious about getting consumers to adopt Windows8.

Thanks
overhard

That was the determining factor for me. I really like Win 8 RP, but I have always said, price would determine if I changed to Win 8 Pro when it was released. When I saw the price I said "OK I'll upgrade both my wife's and my PC".

I bought a new desktop less then 6 months ago and paid $300.00 for windows ultimate direct from microsoft. I could have bought one from Amazon or ebay for much less but didn't trust it to be the real deal. Now microsoft is going to let me upgrade a free beta for their lastest and greatest for $40.00. Dang it just seems almost to good to be true.

There have been many discussions about this, but I believe the bottom line is MS really wants Win 8 to succeed and it is quite a change from the previous OS, and thus is causing quite an uproar. Hence the lowered price, at least for the first 3 months.

I believe MS has made a masterful decision in developing an OS that will work across multiple platforms, from conventional PC's (desktops and laptops) to touch tablets to phones.

"That's what I'm saying. Already has a dual boot with Win 7 and Win 8 RP. Once Win 8 Pro is released, Upgrade Win 8 RP to Win 8 Pro. Easy as pie.

I would use the Custom (Clean) install rather than an upgrade, but same thing.

overhard, what you are saying will work but why bother complicating things with XP? Plus then you have the whole MBR problem. "

Exacttly, Ted, this is what I have been saying to 'overhard' from the onset.

So, terrific, 'overhard'. Ted & I are oft on the same wavelength... I appreciate him supporting me on this advice, I think, I had initially given you. The beauty of teamwork.

Cheers,
Drew
890

Two great minds, or in this case 3 great minds, on the same wavelength is awesome. No sense in wasting your time with XP when you are already past that.

Drew,
Your right you were the first to tell me. I get a lot of newsletters and email from computers sites and this windows 8 upgrade was mentioned in several of them, however the fact that you could upgrade from Windows 8 RP was not mentioned in them. They mention windows7 or XP as OS that you could upgrade to Windows 8. Just one more reason to use this forum, you guys have the more accurate details. Thanks!
overhard

Why?? If, you, already, have dual-boot Windows7 & the Win8 RP (Beta), why wouldn't you just upgrade the RP?

Unless, I'm misunderstanding the set-up you have, currently.
And now, Ted is basically, saying the same thing I had, already, told you. Are we both missing something?

Use the KISS principle.

Regards,
Drew
875

This is the thread that was leading down a path that would have cause me to lose windows 7.

Well, cool; there you go, then.

All I've done w/ 7 since the end of February has been go keep it updated, periodically.... but, it worth the few minutes away from 8 to keep it (7) up to snuff.

Cheers,
Drew
1008

My plan is to Image Win 7 just before I nuke it with Win 8 Pro. That way I will have that Image for posterity. The way Win 8 is performing I will have NO NEED to go back to Win 7.

I bought a new desktop less then 6 months ago and paid $300.00 for windows ultimate direct from microsoft. I could have bought one from Amazon or ebay for much less but didn't trust it to be the real deal. Now microsoft is going to let me upgrade a free beta for their lastest and greatest for $40.00. Dang it just seems almost to good to be true.
This is the thread that was leading down a path that would have cause me to lose windows 7. That's what I had suggested all along, before it was even official, the option of having a $40 dual boot was too good to be true. Not just MS, but most corporations has a string attached to their promos, or a "cat in the bag", so to speak. Yes, that's exactly the path towards which you were headed.

No way would I give up an OS that I just paid $300 for, for this deal, that's going deep into the hole. Because that $40 will require giving up the $300 OS that you just bought a few months back. No, no & NO, I say to this. It's robbery at it's finest. If it were the OEM version that shipped with the PC, I may say yes. Depending on the computer, how powerful it is, how well 7 runs on it. If it were a low grade PC, then 8 certainly has better power management features & is a better choice.

What you bought from MS, which won't be available with Windows 8, is a Full Retail license for Win 7 Ultimate. The most that Win 8 will be offered in, is a System Builder version, an equivalent to OEM for Win 7 & below. Many users are assuming this is a Full Retail version, when in fact, it's not. There are going to be only 2 types of Windows 8 for retail purchase, the $40 upgrade, & the System Builder. In many MS memos, OEM is often referred to as System Builder versions, & has been for some time.

Windows 7 & below, has 3 types of each (for most OS's), Upgrade, OEM & Full Retail. BTW overhard, if you were to reinstall your OEM version of Windows back onto the computer, whether it's from a backup, or recovery disk set (I assume you burned them?), or recovery partition, at least to complete the promo, you wouldn't have to give up your Full version. Because the OEM version would be there & intact. Give up that version, not your Full Retail one. You could do this a few days prior to 8's release. If the upgrading software requires another key than what was affixed to the computer as new, back out. It may or may not ask for this info, it should "see" the OEM version on the PC.

My dilemma is totally different. In my case, I have around $180 tied up in Windows Anytime Upgrade keys for two computers, converting 7 Home Premium to Pro. I'm not giving up these keys that I paid extra for, they are tied to my OEM keys, & cannot be used to upgrade another computer with. I do have one Full Retail XP package, but the current value for unopened, unactivated versions of Genuine XP Pro is worth far more than $40, one can research & see, these versions are as costly as 7 Pro, due to unopened versions being hard to come across. This version came from Newegg, not eBay.

My best option, & yours too overhard, if you don't have your original recovery Media, is to buy a System Builders license of Win 8 Pro, the Media Center extender will be included, & there will be a promo on that also. But it will cost more than $40, probably close to $100. It can be dual booted or ran within a VM, or installed on a home built computer, no questions asked, except payment/optional shipping info. Key will be emailed to the user, unless customer requests retail type packaging.

All of this controversy could have been avoided by MS, had they came clean in the beginning. The Full Terms of the $40 promo should have been revealed up front & in Full, & not leave it up to us to hunt media (3rd party) reports as to what's what. In the past, MS has done a good job with this. During that two week promo in the summer of '09 for $49 Windows 7 HP upgrades, we knew the deal. What's up with all of the secrecy & leaving it up to us to determine now?

This type of sales practice, like my words or not, is one of desperation, first off, the price. Secondly, no clear cut details to potential consumers, a stark contrast with prior Windows offerings. One MS blog that created more questions than gave answers. Three years ago, these things were all but cast in stone.

Kind of goes hand & hand with forum activity, at this time three years ago, Windows 7 forums were brimming with activity & full of serious members. There was true excitement in the air. Today, many of the Windows 8 forums staff members are spending as much time fighting off spammers as much as helping others. And some of the topics, plain out dumb ones, to say the least. 2009 was a very exiting time for Windows customers, Windows 7, the birth of MSE (it's 4th version in Beta now), a lot going on.

2012 is unlikely to be a repeat of 2009 for MS, it's doubtful that Windows 8 is going to create the sparks that 7 did, even at $40 a pop. The best that MS can hope for, & I have no doubt that this is the case, is that many XP & Vista users will upgrade to a new OS at a reasonable price. That, I can agree with, as tens, if not still hundreds of millions of users are in fact still XP users, this offer could be seen as a gesture of thanks to all of these loyal Windows users, many of whose computers couldn't run Vista/Win 7 due to the Aero issue.

These users could actually end up being the happiest of the lot, as their time is here, & around the corner.

Cat

Good post Cat,
I agree with you full heartedly. MS has not been ever forth coming on details for Windows8. I too thought it was to good to be true that MS would simply let you upgrade a beta and keep your windows7 dual boot. If I decide to purchase windows 8 it will be a System builder version. However I'll most likely just dual boot a linux and continue to learn how to use it better.
This windows8 upgrade promo is a good deal for xp users as you stated. As for MS sales tactics, it does make one wonder what's going on at MS these days. One thing upbeat I can say is I've had a lot of fun with windows8 beta and have no regrets about using it.

overhard

I really don't care what I have spent in the past for an OS (I never spent anything like $300), when I decide to switch to a new OS, I switch to the new OS. I do not want to have 2 OS's as a main OS. I have tested Win 8 to the point where I have decided to switch. My wife also likes Win 8 on her PC. I will upgrade both laptops using Custom installs, and say Adios to Win 7 (I will have Images of both PC's Win 7 OS's. That is a wise backup plan IMO)

We have been using Win 8 100 % including surfing, emailing, banking, etc. I see no reason to keep Win 7 booted when I will not go back to it intermittently.

Until SP1 is released for Windows 8, I would be going back to 7 on more than an occasional basis. It would still be my OS for critical things, just as XP Pro was before Win 7 SP1 was released. Only then, did I fully trust Windows 7 for most of my needs.

Yes, I have used both 8 CP & RP for some important things, checking emails, making purchases (where PayPal is accepted), but not my personal banking or bill paying. That is done on 7 Pro.

I would still like to see an XP Mode type app for Win 8 Pro, mabye in the form of Vista or Windows 7? MS did give 7 Pro & above users a fallback option. There is Hyper-V, but it appears far more complicated than any of MS's past virtualization attempts. I was figuring on a more user friendly option, this appears to be less user friendly than ever, with what little I did find on the app once again coming through third party sources. Thing is, I'm on MS's mailing list, the Springboard series, no mention of these things at all, except that the features would be there.

And still, now less than two months from being available for retail purchase, random BSOD's on both computers. Yes, I have a clean image to revert to, but who wants to go through this every week or two? Note that all computers aren't giving this issue, but still, there's many that are. I have to say this, it's been a full six months since the first of Windows 8 betas have been available to us to freely use, for me, 8 CP was far less troublesome than RP has been. Only had to reinstall CP once in three months & that was inside of the first week, due to my trying out Avast Internet Security. A couple of system files were quarantined, & before removal, I forgot to check that folder for it's contents & restore them. That's why the reinstall.

I also have no regrets about being a Windows 8 Beta tester, nor being a long time MSE Tester (I'm on version 4 now). It's been a ride, & still more to come. Fortunately, we have time left, after 10/26, to make our minds up about purchase. I want to see less BSOD's & more compatibility with 3rd party security apps. Another issue is the insertion of a Flash drive, then Windows Explorer crashes upon trying to open the contents, ones that's been used dozens of times on the OS. A reboot fixes the issue, but then it returns as it wishes. That's gotta go.

Back in March & April, I felt that this OS stood a legit shot at dethroning Windows 7 climb & had it been released then, as is, for $40, I'd have bought it without a second thought. There were things that didn't work, but since I didn't use them & still don't, I didn't care if they ever did or didn't. At that time, there were zero problems. No BSOD's out of the box, a pure joy to run. That's no longer the case & my patience is rapidly wearing thin. I'm also no longer able to sit behind a keyboard 8 to 10 hours per day, as I had been for several years straight, to figure these things out. I've also had to turn down most all work that has came my way, this is getting harder for me also.

I do feel that Windows 8 & it's successors has untold tons of potential, 8 is going a passing of the torch, a major one, I don't see it as a smashing overnight hit. But it will be in time. For some users, it may be best to go with a new computer, designed from the ground up for the OS. That may very well be my best bet, be it 8 or a future OS.

One last thing that I'd like to add, is that Ted's (my fellow moderator) plan above is the best. Move forward upon finding something good & don't look back. That's one thing that I've never been able to do, still almost three years after Windows 7's release & I'm still running XP for some things, even reverting to Windows 2000 at times. I suppose because those were better days for me, and this goes way beyond computing. Reminds me of those days.

Cat

I do have to say, I have a third PC, a desktop, that is presently used for storing backups on, that does have and will continue to have Win 7 installed (HP edition). I am not planning to upgrade this PC.

Like I have already said though, I will switch completely to Win 8 when it is officially released. I have my installation steps documented so I can complete the installation of both laptops in a single day, perhaps less.

I have found nothing that I cannot do with Win 8 that I could do with Win 7, only better than in Win 7.

Hey Ted,

Damn, what I was going to say doesn't sound funny when it's written :( Darn.

Anyway, what you say makes sense. And your last comment about 8 is valid.

I had a friend today, who is quite a 'hobbyist', say, "I heard, someone told something is missing in 8", I laughed for a moment & then set him straight. We shared a few laughs over stuff you 'hear' & how detrimental is can be or is to others who are, @ that point naïve & innocent.

Cheers,
Drew
1025