How To: Dual Boot Windows 7 along with Windows 8 from VHD

Here are the steps:

1. Create a VHD file (you can see the video guide here)
2. Insert the Windows 8 DVD and Boot the machine from it.
3. On the setup screen at the drive selection screen press Shift + F10 to open the command prompt.
4. Mount the vdisk file as a disk.
   1. Enter DISKPART.
   2. Enter LIST VOLUME and see what is the drive and path for the vdisk file.
   3. Enter SELECT VDISK FILE=”<path to vdisk>”
   4. Enter ATTACH VDISK
   5. Enter EXIT and close the command prompt
   6. Refresh the volume selection list in case it is not refreshed automatically to find the new volume listed over there.
5. Select that volume to install the Windows 8 in it.
6. Once the installation is done you will be able to see the dual boot menu at the time of boot.

In case you are interested in removing the dual boot, you just need to follow the following steps:

1. Run msconfig and go to boot tab.
2. Select the windows 8 from the list and click remove / delete at the bottom of the list. (remember to make the windows 7 entry as the default boot option.)
3. in case you are not planing to use your test VHD again to dual boot the machine, you can remove the VHD file to save up some space.

In case you people are facing any problems, please don’t mind leaving a comment over here and I will try to answer the problems.

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