How to Dual Boot Windows 8.1 w| Windows 7?!

Discussion in 'Windows 8' started by ThatKitten, May 24, 2014.

  1. ThatKitten

    ThatKitten MDL Novice

    Jan 8, 2014
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    Ok so as you all know I installed windows 8.1 about a month ago. When the install was almost done I saw the option to go back to Windows 7 or finish the Windows 8.1 install. I chose Windows 8.1.

    now I want to dual boot windows 7 with Windows 8.1 but I have installed Windows 8.1 first!! :(

    Can someone help?
     
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  2. bonyjose

    bonyjose MDL Novice

    Jan 12, 2013
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    just install windows 7 in another partition and add a boot entry using "easybcd" if not already added..
     
  3. murphy78

    murphy78 MDL DISM Enthusiast

    Nov 18, 2012
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    Run diskmgmt.msc and shrink your windows partition by at least 20 gb. (right click on it)
    Then just install win7 on the empty space.
    If you prefer the win8.x-style boot menu, you can boot into win8.1 and run "bcdboot c:\windows" and it will change the boot menu to the graphical one.
     
  4. ThatKitten

    ThatKitten MDL Novice

    Jan 8, 2014
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    Cool! thanks murphy78! Seems I need to do some serious defragging first :/

    now I can keep windows 8 and 7 + the coolies new bootloader!!! :D
     
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  5. s1ave77

    s1ave77 Has left at his own request

    Aug 15, 2012
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    #5 s1ave77, Jun 1, 2014
    Last edited: Jun 1, 2014
    NOTE: It's recommended to disable the Hybrid Boot in Win 8/8.x, else Win 7 will always perform checkdisk at start up, due to the 'dirty' bit left by the Hybrid Boot feature :cool2:.

    Seems i missed that it's obsolete :doh:.
     
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