Hello, this is a simple tutorial on how to test any windows version without having to wait all that installation
long time or without having to loose your OS and too without having to use virtual PC or any software like it.
Its based on a Virtual Drive and some simple steps



1- Right click on Computer icon on your desktop then choose manage




2- Window of computer Management should be opened now..
Now click on "Disk Management" then click with right mouse button on it again
and choose "Create VHD"




3- Select the location where you want to put VHD (Virtual Hard Drive). Also, enter it's size and format




4-Congrats! Now it's ready but still few steps
Right click on our new disk and select "Initialize"




5- ok now a here is a new window appears, all you have to do is to make sure that the new disk is checked
and and partition style is set as MBR. Click Ok.




6-Disk status is changed to Online. Right click in the Unallocated space and chose "New Simple Volume"




7-A wizard will appear, you don’t need to change any options. Just keep proceeding with Next button.










8- Now here is some magic!!
We all know 7-zip the compression software
You have to install it on your PC.. then go to the iso file then extract it
In the extraction folder go to the folder "sources" and look for a file named "install.wim"
now this file contains the windows OS right click on it and choose "7-zip" in the sub menu choose "extract files"
(Now excuse me for this picture it's written in arabic.. i know rules here says i should only write in English.. but sorry guys 7-Zip for some how didn't changed to English") any way the option you should click is "extract files"
then you have to choose the destination where all these files will go.. sure to our new VHD.. so choose your hard drive and wait for few minutes untill the extraction finish.





9- Now, we will create an entry in boot menu for this VHD using EasyBCD.
you can download it from here
Download EasyBCD

Launch EasyBCD and go to tab Virtual Disk. Add a name of your choice and select where ".VHD" file is located
and click "Add Entry.




10- Now reboot your PC and you will see a Boot Menu
Select Windows 8 entry and Enter. Now, Windows 8 setup will take some time and you are ready to play with it.


I know little bit long tutorial but i hope you like it.
Thanks


UPDATE : what If you want to delete it after you are done testing ?

Yes if you want to delete this windows 8 after you are done testing it, it's very possible and it's much easier

-Make sure you are not booting from Windows 8
1st : Go to the .VHD file and delete it

2nd : Open EasyBCD
This windows will appears,
Choose Edit Boot Menu



3rd : What you will see now is the menu of OSs
Click on the name of OS you want to delete
Then click the button Delete



All done, now every thing back to normal

nice one man i like it,

Very useful! Thank you!

Whats the minimum harddrive space required for this to successfully work?

This is really good! Now I can test it on a virtuel HDD, but on real hardware.

Nice tutorial. Since Windows 8 now wants VT to run in an emulator this is going to be the only way many of us try out Windows 8 without VT processors.

it's easier to just install on a new physical partition... too many steps.

Agree x2 Defacto... but is a nice tuto... is good to know another methods to install... so, in my case, I didn't know to create and install VHD Disk

regards.

@DeFacto, well it's a little bit long but i think it's well explained for those who keep testing Windows 8 builds so you don't have to be afraid of a hard drive crush hope it's useful

no worries, it's a good tut...

@SA7039
i use 40 GB but if you are going to only test Windows without adding third party softwares then you will not need more than 20 GB

okay thanks for the response. One more question can i dual boot with Windows 7?

Yes! it's very possible
After you install Windows 8 in the VHD
you will finally see in the boot menu your current OS (windows 7) and the new one (Windows 8)
It's possible too that you delete it when you're done with it
Sure with some help from EasyBCD

@SA7039: Of course! I don't know if the MS bootloader is able to do it, but grub does it without further config.

I haven't tried this, but I would not for 7955 as the patch to get the new logon and such breaks it apparently.

So you're saying that you shouldn't do this with build 7795?

He said that one of the patches breaks it, so i reckon you should try it

I think it's safe now as the patch is now working for a VHD.

It's safe.. i did it and nothing went wrong

Ok good but now i have problem...I made a VHD but it not showing up.

EDIT: I Kind of fixed it just deleted the old VHD and made a new one.

You have to wait a minute or so, there is a progress bar on the bottom of the window.

Thx for the tips

I installed and i tried many pil unlocker and the pil worked in VHD only BluePill 1.3

Thanks man! Been looking for a way for doing this myself! Last time I installed a Win8 build on my PC, it over-wrote my boot file so I couldn't boot in W7 aggain, lol!

You can actually delete it easily? I'm thinking of doing it on my main PC.

Yes, you can delete the VHD file, and remove the windows 8 option in the bootloader and you're fine.