How do I dual boot windows 7 and windows 8 on 2 drives

[Mark3Max]

I'm not sure if this is the place to post this but:
I built the system in my signature in Dec. 2012 and it has been working fine.
I have windows 7 ultimate 64 bit on a Corsair neutron gtx 240gb ssd.
I bought windows 8 pro on sale a few months ago and want to install it on a seagate 3tb harddrive to try it out and see if I like it.
Is there an easy way to set up a dual boot with the 2 OS's ?
Can I unplug the ssd and do a clean install on the harddrive ?
Are there any precautions or recommendations for doing this ?
Also would windows 8 be better installed on a ssd ?

Thanks in advance for info on this.

 

[Snortan]

Disconnect your ssd and install Win8 on your HDD, when finished reconnect ssd and enter BIOS to set boot priority to whichever Windows you want and use the boot hotkey(f11) to change to the secondary windows when needed. Alternatively you can use EasyBCD to add both Win to the boot menu.
All operating systems are faster on an ssd but it's not the end of the world if you don't, just keep in mind that booting and some operations like copy/move/data intensive software/games will be a bit slower so don't compare Win7 and Win8 by this .

 

[Mark3Max]

Disconnect your ssd and install Win8 on your HDD, when finished reconnect ssd and enter BIOS to set boot priority to whichever Windows you want and use the boot hotkey(f11) to change to the secondary windows when needed. Alternatively you can use EasyBCD to add both Win to the boot menu.
All operating systems are faster on an ssd but it's not the end of the world if you don't, just keep in mind that booting and some operations like copy/move/data intensive software/games will be a bit slower so don't compare Win7 and Win8 by this .

Thanks for the response Snortan ,
I don't know anything about this , I googled about this and got some info but most was about windows and mac dual boot.
I wanted to put it on a second drive , hoping that if I didn't like it , removal would be easier.
I still need to read up more on this , but thanks for the info.
I'm thinking about getting another ssd to make installation and win 8 quicker.
I'm hoping that windows 8.1 will be better , I don't think I'll like metro.

 

[Snortan]

Another option would be to install Win8 in VirtualBox/VMPlayer and give it a test there.

 

[S_I_N]

win8 isnt as bad as alot of folks make it out to be. Theres just a learning curve to be had, same as its been with every major change to an operating system. My advise is do it without the dual boot option and be done with it. When i first put win8 on my rig I hated it but after a week I was like well there isnt anything better with 7 that 8 cant do its just a different way to get there. I rarely use the metro. But it is handy to have at times lol.

 

[yassarikhan786]

With windows 8 you can download Classic Shell (Free) or Start8 (Paid) to add the start button and bypass the modern UI when you log in.

 

[Mark3Max]

Thanks for the replies S_I_N and yassarikhan786,
I've read mixed reviews on windows 8 , some like it and some hate it.
I guess it's like anything else in life , most of us don't like change.
I already have an install disk , but I'm still having second thoughts on it.
I think I will wait a few more months , 8.1 is supposed to be released in October and my antivirus expires in December, plus I want to get another ssd.
Maybe around the first of next year I might be building another system, this time maybe try custom loop water cooling.
Computers are an addictive hobby , ever since I finished my first I wanted to build another. LOL

 

[NeverBackDown]

Don't play games or anything of the sort on W8.. the RTC(real-time clock)is screwed up by W8. Honestly not worth installing at all..

Here's a quick google article i found to explain.
http://www.extremetech.com/computin...worlds-top-benchmarking-and-overclocking-site

 

[Mark3Max]

Don't play games or anything of the sort on W8.. the RTC(real-time clock)is screwed up by W8. Honestly not worth installing at all..

Here's a quick google article i found to explain.
http://www.extremetech.com/computin...worlds-top-benchmarking-and-overclocking-site

Thanks for the link NBD , it sounds like Microsoft really screwed up on this one.
I wonder if they will ever get it corrected or even admit that there is a problem.
Maybe if we'er lucky they'll fix it with 8.1 , I doubt it though.
I guess I will be sticking with windows 7 until windows 9 or 10 is released.

 

[NeverBackDown]

Ya it makes things haywire. Just stick with 7 until 8.1 comes out to see if it fixes the problem.