Best way to test Windows 8 quickly and safely !! (UPDATED)

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Ahmed Nefzaoui
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Best way to test Windows 8 quickly and safely !! (UPDATED)

Post by Ahmed Nefzaoui »

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
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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"
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3- Select the location where you want to put VHD (Virtual Hard Drive). Also, enter it's size and format
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4-Congrats! Now it's ready but still few steps :)
Right click on our new disk and select "Initialize"
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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.
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6-Disk status is changed to Online. Right click in the Unallocated space and chose "New Simple Volume"
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7-A wizard will appear, you don’t need to change any options. Just keep proceeding with Next button.
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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.

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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.
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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

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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

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All done, now every thing back to normal :)
Last edited by Ahmed Nefzaoui on Sun May 08, 2011 5:34 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Happy Windows 8 Testing.. Looking forward for what's coming after :D

jaidev66
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Re: Best way to test Windows 8 quickly and safely !!

Post by jaidev66 »

nice one man i like it,
jaidev66

igeorge
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Re: Best way to test Windows 8 quickly and safely !!

Post by igeorge »

Very useful! Thank you!
Thanks for reading my signature. Unfortunately your computer needs to be restarted. Please restart manually to see that signature.

SA7039
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Re: Best way to test Windows 8 quickly and safely !!

Post by SA7039 »

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

stefank968
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Re: Best way to test Windows 8 quickly and safely !!

Post by stefank968 »

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

spunker88
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Re: Best way to test Windows 8 quickly and safely !!

Post by spunker88 »

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.

DeFacto

Re: Best way to test Windows 8 quickly and safely !!

Post by DeFacto »

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

Cego
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Re: Best way to test Windows 8 quickly and safely !!

Post by Cego »

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 :D

regards.
linuxlove: It may never leak. Just be happy that you got 7955 even if it is using a Windows 7 installer.
posted Wed May 04, 2011 7:50 am

3 Days Later:

mrpijey: Microsoft Windows 8 (''Windows 8'' 6.2.7955) (Ultimate m2) (alt).rar

:P :P :P :P

Ahmed Nefzaoui
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Re: Best way to test Windows 8 quickly and safely !!

Post by Ahmed Nefzaoui »

@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 ;)
Happy Windows 8 Testing.. Looking forward for what's coming after :D

DeFacto

Re: Best way to test Windows 8 quickly and safely !!

Post by DeFacto »

Ahmed Nefzaoui wrote:@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... ;)

Ahmed Nefzaoui
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Re: Best way to test Windows 8 quickly and safely !!

Post by Ahmed Nefzaoui »

@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 :)
Happy Windows 8 Testing.. Looking forward for what's coming after :D

SA7039
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Re: Best way to test Windows 8 quickly and safely !!

Post by SA7039 »

Ahmed Nefzaoui wrote:@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?

Ahmed Nefzaoui
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Re: Best way to test Windows 8 quickly and safely !!

Post by Ahmed Nefzaoui »

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
Happy Windows 8 Testing.. Looking forward for what's coming after :D

ccmax
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Re: Best way to test Windows 8 quickly and safely !!

Post by ccmax »

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

TechDudeGeorge
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Re: Best way to test Windows 8 quickly and safely !!

Post by TechDudeGeorge »

I haven't tried this, but I would not for 7955 as the patch to get the new logon and such breaks it apparently.
Current Windows 8 Leaks: 7850 / 7929 / 7955 / 7959 (x64) / 7989 (x64)
Current Windows 8 Releases: Windows Developer Preview - 8102 (M3) , Windows 8 Consumer Preview - 8250, Windows 8 Release Preview - 8400
Future Release: Windows 8

vinnyt
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Re: Best way to test Windows 8 quickly and safely !!

Post by vinnyt »

TechDudeGeorge wrote: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?

SA7039
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Re: Best way to test Windows 8 quickly and safely !!

Post by SA7039 »

vinnyt wrote:
TechDudeGeorge wrote: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 ;)

TechDudeGeorge
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Re: Best way to test Windows 8 quickly and safely !!

Post by TechDudeGeorge »

vinnyt wrote:
TechDudeGeorge wrote: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?
I think it's safe now as the patch is now working for a VHD.
Current Windows 8 Leaks: 7850 / 7929 / 7955 / 7959 (x64) / 7989 (x64)
Current Windows 8 Releases: Windows Developer Preview - 8102 (M3) , Windows 8 Consumer Preview - 8250, Windows 8 Release Preview - 8400
Future Release: Windows 8

Ahmed Nefzaoui
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Re: Best way to test Windows 8 quickly and safely !!

Post by Ahmed Nefzaoui »

It's safe.. i did it and nothing went wrong
Happy Windows 8 Testing.. Looking forward for what's coming after :D

vinnyt
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Re: Best way to test Windows 8 quickly and safely !!

Post by vinnyt »

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.

Immolated
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Re: Best way to test Windows 8 quickly and safely !!

Post by Immolated »

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

leomate
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Re: Best way to test Windows 8 quickly and safely !!

Post by leomate »

Thx for the tips :)

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

martinmine

Re: Best way to test Windows 8 quickly and safely !!

Post by martinmine »

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!

Spider-Vice
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Re: Best way to test Windows 8 quickly and safely !!

Post by Spider-Vice »

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

supaflyx3
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Re: Best way to test Windows 8 quickly and safely !!

Post by supaflyx3 »

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

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