Create dualboot system with Windows 7 and 8 using VHD

TipsMake.com - In the following article, we will show you how to create and use Virtual Hard Drive (VHD) to install and start Windows 8 on a working computer with Windows 7. Actually, there are actually many ways to do this, and the way presented below is the easiest and easiest to implement.

To create VHD , open Start Menu> Run and type diskmgmt.msc:

The main control panel of the MMC is displayed, along with Disk Management:

Select Action menu > Create VHD:

Select the archive folder of the VHD file and set the required capacity (minimum of 20GB ), should choose Fixed Mode to ensure performance:

The process of creating Windows VHD will begin, you can monitor through the MMC Status Bar :

When this is done, the newly created partition will be listed in the Disk Management list . At this point, you need to prepare the initial settings for this partition through the Initialize Disk function :

Keep the partition format as MBR - Master Boot Record and click OK :

At the end of the process, we will have to create a volume on this partition, right-click on the black area and select New Simple Volume:

The next options are displayed, you can leave the default options unchanged, change the Volume label to Windows 8 for convenience, then click Next and Finish :

And this new VHD file will have functions like a real hard drive:

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Install Windows 8 on the VHD partition:

The first thing to do at this process is to open PowerShell via Run As Administrator mode (Start Menu> All Programs> Accessories> Windows Powershell):

When PowerShell starts, we need to change some policies regarding the system's ability to execute the program to apply with some of the following code. Type the command:

Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned

A security message will appear, press Y and press Enter to continue:

Next, please visit here and download the * .ps1 file , copy it to Windows C drive:

Open the properties - Properties of this * .ps1 file and click the Unblock button at the bottom of the window:

To continue, please assign the * .iso file of Windows 8 Developer Preview with a program to create any drive, such as Deamon . Then return to the main control screen of PowerShell , type command CD C:

And continue typing the following command:

.Install-WindowsImage.ps1 –WIM J: SourcesInstall.wim –Apply –Index 1 –Destination I:

One point to note here is that you should replace the drive letters behind the –WIM parameter corresponding to the * .iso file of Windows 8, the drive to be installed (in this test I is :) is the VHD partition just created earlier:

The system will display as shown below when this process ends:

Open the Command Prompt application and type bcdboot.exe I: Windows (drive I is the Windows 8 installation partition):

From this point on, when the system starts, you will see the selection screen as follows:

Good luck!