Can I dualboot Windows 7 and Windows 8?

[marchuo]

Hi, I am interested in dualbooting Windows 7 and Windows 8. However, I am not sure how to do it and if it is possible. Is there some kind of tutorial for it? If you could explain, I would be so grateful. I am quite new to dualbooting. Thanks so much. All help is very much appreciated. As a side note: is it possible to dualboot using the same OS? (Using windows 7 for two separate partitions)

Also, I am using a bootable USB to create a new windows

 

[USAFRet]

Using the same OS is mostly pointless.

Win 7 & 8? Sure.

'How' depends on where you are starting at.
If this is a clean install, start with Win 7.
During the install, partition the drive in half.
Install 7

Then, install Win 8 on the other partition.

At boot time, you will be presented with a Windows 8 looking menu to choose what OS to boot into.
I have a laptop that is currently Win 7 & 10, but previously was WIN 7 & 8.

 

[marchuo]

Using the same OS is mostly pointless.

Win 7 & 8? Sure.

'How' depends on where you are starting at.
If this is a clean install, start with Win 7.
During the install, partition the drive in half.
Install 7

Then, install Win 8 on the other partition.

At boot time, you will be presented with a Windows 8 looking menu to choose what OS to boot into.
I have a laptop that is currently Win 7 & 10, but previously was WIN 7 & 8.

Hi, thanks for the quick reply. However, I am not sure what a clean install is. I already have Win 7 on the system and I am trying to make a new boot. I am using an ISO Win 8 on bootable usb.

 

[USAFRet]

Using the same OS is mostly pointless.

Win 7 & 8? Sure.

'How' depends on where you are starting at.
If this is a clean install, start with Win 7.
During the install, partition the drive in half.
Install 7

Then, install Win 8 on the other partition.

At boot time, you will be presented with a Windows 8 looking menu to choose what OS to boot into.
I have a laptop that is currently Win 7 & 10, but previously was WIN 7 & 8.

Hi, thanks for the quick reply. However, I am not sure what a clean install is. I already have Win 7 on the system and I am trying to make a new boot. I am using an ISO Win 8 on bootable usb.

OK, so WIn 7 is already installed.
If you are doing this on a single drive, then you'll need to partition that drive, making a reasonable size partition for Win 8.

Disk Management
Right click on that current Win 7 partition - "Shrink Volume..."
That will free up space for another partition to install Win 8 to.

 

[marchuo]

Using the same OS is mostly pointless.

Win 7 & 8? Sure.

'How' depends on where you are starting at.
If this is a clean install, start with Win 7.
During the install, partition the drive in half.
Install 7

Then, install Win 8 on the other partition.

At boot time, you will be presented with a Windows 8 looking menu to choose what OS to boot into.
I have a laptop that is currently Win 7 & 10, but previously was WIN 7 & 8.

Hi, thanks for the quick reply. However, I am not sure what a clean install is. I already have Win 7 on the system and I am trying to make a new boot. I am using an ISO Win 8 on bootable usb.

OK, so WIn 7 is already installed.
If you are doing this on a single drive, then you'll need to partition that drive, making a reasonable size partition for Win 8.

Disk Management
Right click on that current Win 7 partition - "Shrink Volume..."
That will free up space for another partition to install Win 8 to.

Is there anyway to create the partition from startup or install? Also, is there a way to automatically boot to my Windows 8 instead of Win 7?

 

[USAFRet]

Using the same OS is mostly pointless.

Win 7 & 8? Sure.

'How' depends on where you are starting at.
If this is a clean install, start with Win 7.
During the install, partition the drive in half.
Install 7

Then, install Win 8 on the other partition.

At boot time, you will be presented with a Windows 8 looking menu to choose what OS to boot into.
I have a laptop that is currently Win 7 & 10, but previously was WIN 7 & 8.

Hi, thanks for the quick reply. However, I am not sure what a clean install is. I already have Win 7 on the system and I am trying to make a new boot. I am using an ISO Win 8 on bootable usb.

OK, so WIn 7 is already installed.
If you are doing this on a single drive, then you'll need to partition that drive, making a reasonable size partition for Win 8.

Disk Management
Right click on that current Win 7 partition - "Shrink Volume..."
That will free up space for another partition to install Win 8 to.

Is there anyway to create the partition from startup or install? Also, is there a way to automatically boot to my Windows 8 instead of Win 7?

First, you need to make space for that partition to exist. Either from Disk Management in the current Windows install, or something like gparted.

Once Win 8 is installed, the Windows Boot Manager will allow you to choose which OS is to be the default, and how long to wait.

 

[marchuo]

Using the same OS is mostly pointless.

Win 7 & 8? Sure.

'How' depends on where you are starting at.
If this is a clean install, start with Win 7.
During the install, partition the drive in half.
Install 7

Then, install Win 8 on the other partition.

At boot time, you will be presented with a Windows 8 looking menu to choose what OS to boot into.
I have a laptop that is currently Win 7 & 10, but previously was WIN 7 & 8.

Hi, thanks for the quick reply. However, I am not sure what a clean install is. I already have Win 7 on the system and I am trying to make a new boot. I am using an ISO Win 8 on bootable usb.

OK, so WIn 7 is already installed.
If you are doing this on a single drive, then you'll need to partition that drive, making a reasonable size partition for Win 8.

Disk Management
Right click on that current Win 7 partition - "Shrink Volume..."
That will free up space for another partition to install Win 8 to.

Is there anyway to create the partition from startup or install? Also, is there a way to automatically boot to my Windows 8 instead of Win 7?

First, you need to make space for that partition to exist. Either from Disk Management in the current Windows install, or something like gparted.

Once Win 8 is installed, the Windows Boot Manager will allow you to choose which OS is to be the default, and how long to wait.

Thanks, I just have a few more questions. If I set the Winsows 8 to be the default and have the wait time to be 0 secs, how can I access the Windows 7 (I only plan to use Win 7 once in a blue moon). Also, in the case of gpartes, can I run it from boot?

 

[marchuo]

Using the same OS is mostly pointless.

Win 7 & 8? Sure.

'How' depends on where you are starting at.
If this is a clean install, start with Win 7.
During the install, partition the drive in half.
Install 7

Then, install Win 8 on the other partition.

At boot time, you will be presented with a Windows 8 looking menu to choose what OS to boot into.
I have a laptop that is currently Win 7 & 10, but previously was WIN 7 & 8.

Hi, thanks for the quick reply. However, I am not sure what a clean install is. I already have Win 7 on the system and I am trying to make a new boot. I am using an ISO Win 8 on bootable usb.

OK, so WIn 7 is already installed.
If you are doing this on a single drive, then you'll need to partition that drive, making a reasonable size partition for Win 8.

Disk Management
Right click on that current Win 7 partition - "Shrink Volume..."
That will free up space for another partition to install Win 8 to.

Is there anyway to create the partition from startup or install? Also, is there a way to automatically boot to my Windows 8 instead of Win 7?

First, you need to make space for that partition to exist. Either from Disk Management in the current Windows install, or something like gparted.

Once Win 8 is installed, the Windows Boot Manager will allow you to choose which OS is to be the default, and how long to wait.

Hey, if I set the Windows 8 to be the default and have the wait time to be 0 secs, how can I access the Windows 7 (I only plan to use Win 7 once in a blue moon).

 

[USAFRet]

Hey, if I set the Windows 8 to be the default and have the wait time to be 0 secs, how can I access the Windows 7 (I only plan to use Win 7 once in a blue moon).

At 0 secs, you'll have to go into the BIOS to switch. I am unsure of how that works with 2 partitions, vs 2 discreet drives.
I know it works with 2 discreet drives.

Set it at 2 secs. You won't notice the difference.