Thread: How are you supposed to install Windows 8 DP?

Hi

I may be doing this wrong.

Are you supposed to start the installation from within Windows 7 or by booting from the DVD?

I have tried booting from the DVD with no luck, (I don't think it's loading my video drivers) but when I tried to start it from within Windows 7 it didn't look like it was going to let me decide where to install it.

It asked me if I wanted to keep or remove my preferences and data, I hit the install button and it just started doing something without asking my where to install, so I backed out.

I don't want to screw up my W7 installation.

If I start it from within W7 and hit the Install Now button is it going to give me the options to install to another drive before it starts messing with my C:\ drive?

I have a longer post in the Installing W8 forum.

Mike

Hang in there Mike maybe someone who has successfully performed a dual boot will be able to share their experience with you.
My install personally was done to a dedicated third drive with my other OS (Win7) drive disconnected because I didn't want it messing with the system reserved partition. So now I just use the F12 key on my keyboard during post to select the drive I want to boot to. Seemed the safest way for me.
I would highly recommend whatever you decide to do that you first create an image with either the built in backup utility or the software of your choice (Ghost if I remember correctly).
Going to try a dual boot later today in a Virtual Machine to see how that works.
Regards
Randy

I posted this on anther forum, Mike. I was also worried about blindly hitting that install key:
" I was on a dual partition. This will seem clumsy for some, but this is what I did. I used Acronis, but any image program will do. I made a new image of Windows 7. I then installed Windows 8 (From a DVD). Went into Admin tools and shrank the partition. (Windows 8 had taken over the Whole disk and 7 was gone). I then imaged Windows 7 back to the new partition I had created and used Easybcd to set up a dual boot. I had to repeat the easybcd operation for some reason, but now all is working 100%.

P.S. Later. I have read, since posting, that many have installed in twin partitions, with a dual boot option. I have no idea why, but I was not offered an option to choose a partition. "

I initially performed the installation from within Windows 7. The reason it does not let you select an installation location at that point is because it's basically performing prerequisites. Once that's completed, your PC reboots (which may cause driver issues for you?), and proceeds with the installation as if you were booting from a DVD. Your Windows 7 partition will be untouched an appear as a boot option in the new Windows 8 bootloader.

So yes, it will allow you to select installation location.

Hi Guys

I have already created a dedicated partition on my second hard drive to install W8.
And I have a back up of my Windows 7 disk saved to an external hard drive.

So far when booting from the DVD I can't get the installation to complete.

Just before I get to the screen that should ask me how to name my internet connection the screen goes black, with an active cursor and I can't get any farther.

I'm assuming that this is the screen where I should be seeing the options available, but the video is dead.

I thought that maybe starting the installation from within Windows would help it install the video drivers during the install.

Here's a question, if the video doesn't work how can I see the cursor moving around on the screen?
I never thought about that before.

Mike

Hi Mitchell

Ok, as long as I know I'm going to get the option I'll give that a try.

Mike

Hi again.

I think I screwed up!

I started the install from withing Windows 7.
After a long time the computer rebooted.

When the "Press any key to boot from CD" message key came up, without thinking I hit the space bar.

It then started the install process.

When I finished I was right where I was before. Just a black screen.

When I used F12 to get to a boot menu I now had 2 entries for W8 Preview on the list along with Windows 7.

So I shouldn't have hit the boot from disk button, Right?

When I got back into Windows 7 I got a screen saying it couldn't install W8.

I removed both W8s from the boot menu and formatted the partition the it was installed in again.

I have company coming so I'm done for today.

Tomorrow I'll try again.

I just want to be clear, once the installation starts I should not boot from the DVD again correct?
It has already copied the data to a temp file on the hard drive, right?

Thanks for the help, I think I'm causing my own problems here by being too careful. LOL

Mike

Once the install process starts, you don't boot to the cd anymore. That just starts the process over again. I can't really help you with starting the install in windows 7. I booted to the cd to start the install.

I need to grab a couple more screen shots and I'll get back to this thread later.

Hi Guys

Thanks for the help.

I'll give it another shot tomorrow, I thought that starting in Windows may help with my driver issues since it does a lot of stuff before it reboots.

I knew I shouldn't hit the key but I just reacted without thinking.

I keep worrying that it's going to replace Windows 7 without asking me!

It doesn't seem that anyone else is having any problem installing it, and I never have problems installing anything on this computer. So I don't know what's going on, but I tried booting from the DVD 4 times and it wouldn't complete. I have the latest drivers for my video card, everything is up to date, clean and defragged and I don't have any non standard drivers or anything.

Bye for now.

Mike