Thread: Windows 8 Beta Testing.

I use Acronis and it only takes about 10 min to load an image. It's also important to make and test the bootable rescue disk that most of this software uses. I also boot from that disk to make the image. That way nothing is running or auto updating to cause a problem.
On a different note everybody may not want to or be able to partition their drive. With Windows 7 Pro and Ultimate you can create a bootable virtual hard disk. Simply it's a folder that is treated like a partition. Then you are you are using your real hardware. When you're done you simply delete it. I tried it on the preview they released and it worked fine.
Joe

Good alternative suggestion, Joe.
It probably comes down to personal preference. I have, as do most, possibly, a couple of partitions which are, in some cases, reformatted from time to time. An extra Hard disk is also a useful addition.
I prefer, for testing, to run new OS releases in a dual boot environment. Right or wrong thinking, I feel it gives a more realistic useage in terms of speed, etc.

That's another advantage of the virtual hard disk it is dual boot. Some people have problems with partitions because some makers like Dell have already used all of the primary partitions allowed for their junk. I think you are only allowed 4 primary if I remember right. You get the system, system reserved, restore, and then their junk all marked primary. From the posts I've seen Dell is or was a major offender with this.
Joe

LOL. I'll keep my head down on that one, Joe. My son is an onsite repair man for DEll!

All my present Images include Win 7 Ultimate and Win 8 DP. I have Acronis TIH 2011 installed in Win 7. I can make these Images from within Win 7 or from booting to the Acronis Rescue Media. Either way I did not have to install Acronis in Win 8 DP, although I could have.

This dual Image does not take up much space on my Ext USB HD. To restore the Images, I have to restore them one partition at a time, either Win 7 or Win 8 DP. I suspect this will continue when MS releases Win 8 CR (the rumor is that MS will call the beta the Consumer Review)