Slideshow: Use VHD to dual boot Windows 7 and 8
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I'll use an external hard disk to create my system image
I'll use an external hard disk to create my system image
ntIn my last blog post, Dual-boot Windows 7 and Windows 8, I showed you how to configure your Windows 7 system to dual-boot Windows 8 from a partition on your existing Windows 7 hard disk. You can use that technique in all versions of Windows 7. However, if you have Windows 7 Ultimate or Windows 7 Enterprise, which provide the Boot from VHD (Virtual Hard Disk) feature, you can install Windows 8 on a VHD.
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ntIn this edition of the Windows Desktop Report, I’ll show you how to prepare and configure your Windows 7 system to dual-boot Windows 8 from a VHD. While I’ll be using the Windows 8 Release Preview for this article, I’ve heard that the procedure should be very similar with the actual release version. Even so, I’ll revisit this topic in the near future once Windows 8 is available to the general public.
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ntThis slideshow is also available as a post in the Windows and Office Blog.
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ntPrerequisite
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ntFor this article, I’m going to assume that you have already visited the Windows 8 Release Preview site and followed Microsoft’s instructions for downloading and converting the ISO file to a DVD in Windows 7. If you haven’t, you should do so before you get started with this article. The process is pretty straightforward and Microsoft has documented the steps you need to follow.
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ntCreating a System Image
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ntThe first thing that you’ll want to do is create a System Image from within Windows7’s Backup and Restore. When you do, you’ll end up with a complete image of your hard disk. That way, if anything out of the ordinary were to occur as you follow the steps for creating a dual-boot system, you will be able to return to your current configuration. Furthermore, I recommend that you also create a separate backup of your data. Maybe just make copies of all your data files on CD/DVD or on an external hard disk. While it may sound like overkill, having an extra backup will give you peace of mind.
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ntTo create a system image, you’ll need to have a CD-RW/DVD-RW drive, an external hard disk, or access to a network drive. To access Backup and Restore, click the Start button, type Backup in the Search box, and press [Enter] when Backup and Restore appears in the result pane.
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ntOnce you have Backup and Restore up, select the Create a System Image option and choose your backup location. As you can see, I used an external hard disk attached to this system.
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ntCredit: All images created by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic.
Creating a System Image on an external hard disk is easy
Creating a System Image on an external hard disk is easy
ntOn this test system there is only one partition. To initiate the operation, just click Start backup. On my test system with a 500GB hard disk, it took just over an hour to create a System Image on an external hard disk.
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ntCredit: All images created by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic.
You'll be prompted to create a System Repair disc
You'll be prompted to create a System Repair disc
ntWhen the System Image is complete, you’ll be prompted to create a System Repair disc. This is the disc that you will use to boot your system and restore your system image in the event that you need it.
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ntCredit: All images created by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic.
For my example VHD I choose a 50GB Fixed disk
For my example VHD I choose a 50GB Fixed disk
ntWhen you see the Create and Attach Virtual Hard Disk dialog box, click the Browse button and use the Browse dialog box to create a folder and specify a name for your VHD file.
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ntAs you can see in, I have created a folder called VHDs in the root directory and named the VHD file Windows8RP.vhd. You will then specify a disk size and disk format. I have specified the size as 50GB and set it up as a Fixed size. You can use whatever size you want and choose Dynamically expanding format if you wish, just be sure that you have enough room on the hard disk to accommodate your VHD. (If you look back at the previous image, you can see that on my test system I have 350GB of free space and specifying a 50GB Fixed size VHD was an easy choice.)
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ntCredit: All images created by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic.
Disk Management displays the VHD creation progress in its Status bar
Disk Management displays the VHD creation progress in its Status bar
ntWhen you click OK, Disk Management will go to work creating the new VHD file. As it does so, you will see the progress in the Status bar.
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ntCredit: All images created by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic.
The new VHD will be marked as Unknown, Not Initialized, and Unallocated
The new VHD will be marked as Unknown, Not Initialized, and Unallocated
ntIt will take a few minutes to create a Fixed size VHD file. When the VHD is complete, you will see the new disk in Disk Management. Here you can see that my 50GB VHD is listed as Disk 2 and will notice that it is also marked as Unknown, Not Initialized, and Unallocated. Don’t worry; we’ll take care of establishing the disk during the Windows 8 installation procedure. A this point, you can close Disk Management.
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ntCredit: All images created by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic.
While you will click the Install Now button, you're not quite ready to install Windows 8
While you will click the Install Now button, you're not quite ready to install Windows 8
ntOnce the initial steps are taken care of, you’ll see the Windows Setup screen and will click the Install Now button. However, keep in mind that we aren’t exactly ready to install Windows just yet; you must first access your VHD.
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ntCredit: All images created by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic.
