Hi there,

I would like to install windows 8 release preview. I did the hard drive format before windows 8 installation, but I just realize that it did not seem to do the hard drive format. I did not see the drive format processing and it still using my same user account name and never ask for new user account info. So i am thinking it never did the drive format. i booted from the dvd created from the iso image and follow the steps shown on screen.

Can you tell me how to do the hard drive format before windows 8 installation?

Kathrine,

The machine on which you are installing Windows8, also, has Windows7 on it, already?

> Disc Management. There, look @ the status of the drive where you are going to put Windows8. If, it is not a healthy New Volume... Rt Clk on it & Delete it; then Rt Clk on it, again, & format it (Create New Volume).

The other way is:
Insert the Win8 DVD. "Hit any key", Install Now... when you get to select location to install, highlight desired drive, delete & format (best to both delete & then format) **Tip - either way the formatting is quick.

Maybe, you thought was not done cus it's quick & doesn't make a lot of fuss over it.

Cheers,
Drew

Thank you for help, Drew.

I believe both Drew and I used a dual boot scenario for our Win 8 RP tests. I did this because I am using my laptop for these tests. Since changing HD's in a laptop is more involved than on a desktop, the dual boot seemed to work best for me. (I did not like the performance hit using a VHD).

In your case that is what I would suggest for you as well. A dual boot keeps the integrity of your Win 7 and installs a second OS in another partition. Yes, there is some interaction between the 2 OS's (They will share a MBR) and possibly others, but for my H/W this seems to be working well.

You're welcome, Kathrine.

How is it, all, now?

Cheers,
Drew

I'm pretty certain that the answers given here have worked, but for those reading this thread months on down the road, let me just say how I do it. Eh?

To assure that any hard drive, on to which I intend to install an OS, is clean and error free, I first set up my (2) PARTITIONS using my DOS (Windows ME) boot disk and the DOS program FDISK.
After a mandatory RE-Boot, I then use the DOS Format command to format both partitions.
(One partition for the OS and a second one for data storage, backups, etc.)
That assures that both partitions are 100% free of errors.

Then I go ahead and install my new OS, from the bootable DVD. I've done that for every one of my installs of Win-8 over the past six months or more, now totaling a dozen or more, with never a problem. It may take a little longer, but it's well worth the added effort. When Win-8 installs, it will convert the FAT-32 partition (DOS Format) to NTFS for its own needs. That is done very quickly.

The same thing can be done using a boot CD created by a partition management program like Easeus Partition Manager. Partitions can be created or deleted and they also can be re-formatted, all from the bootable CD. It's all very quick and easy.

Cheers Mates!
TechnoMage