According to the Sinofsky blog there was a lot of interest in running the Windows 8 Developer Preview in a virtual environment. So now I'd very much like to know how people are going to be using the Windows 8 Consumer Preview. Do you have an old PC lying around that you're going to use? Or are you going to dual-boot, triple-boot, etc. on a PC that has your main OS. Maybe run from USB? Or not at all? Or are you going to use Virtual Machine? And if so, which one? VMWare, VirtualBox or something else? Just like with the WDP I'm going to use VMWare Workstation 8. Assuming of course the CP will run on it. It is after all still only a beta, and will eventually have to be removed. So I'm not going to risk having to reinstall my main OS.
Both (as I did with the WDP). I'll be doing the same with the WCP as well. Reasons are rather simple - I never run x32 bare-metal anymore (which means that if x32 gets tested it has to be in a VM). ASlso, I have been using the WDP as a test case to compare various free VM solutions - this will continue with the WCP. However, there is a strong likelihood that the WCP could replace my Windows 7 install - not the WDP install. That is pretty much due to *lack* of compatibility issues between my normal applications and the WDP. The sixty-four-cent question is can I install the WCP the same way I installed the WDP, but from the WDP partition (and replacing Windows 7 instead)?
I won't use VMs since I got my old Paq to work again . It's ideal: I run the x86 on the Paq and the x64 on my main PC. I'm planning on running it as primary OS again on my Core i7
I'll be dual-booting with Windows 7 x64 on my laptop, as i'd like to see what changes MS has made to WCP build since WDP (which i hated.)
If I had an old PC somewhere I'd go for a normal install too. I do have an old computer though (still working), but its a Commodore 128D. I don't think it can handle Windows at all. So on my laptop it's going to be VM. But if I really like the CP, than I'll probably do a normal install on my 6 year old desktop PC, making that a triple-boot machine.
I using both of my test rigs for the CP install. Dual booting w/ Windows 7 (actually 1 has 6 OSs & the other has 4 OSs, incl 1 w/ XP even).
i'll be testing both. first i'll run it in vmware and then if all that goes well, i'll setup a partition for it. maybe i'll look into setting in up as a .vhd. i've never done that before
Inmediately after to had downloaded, I install it as main os, in my laptop, obviously saving before some files, like when i did with leaks and DP.
I did a normal install using Developer Preview and I've been using it since September 2011 I'll definitely switch it with Beta the same way, Virtual Machine is pretty much useless, I would use VHD rather than a VMachine.
When I dual boot I always use a 2nd hard drive and disconnect all other drives before I install the other OS. This prevents problems. Works for me.
I would install in dual boot with Win 7 x64. My PC is tactille with screen and TV card. It is unclear what will Media Center on WCP. If Media Center is also interresting that in Win 7, I would not hesitate to install single boot.