I have set up dual boot of Linux (Crunchbang) and Windows 7 on my machine. Now, I want to test drive Windows 8 (Release Preview).

I guess I will need to remove Linux before I install Windows 8. How should I proceed? Can I simply install Windows 8 onto the partition in which the Linux distro is now living? Do I have to deal with the current MBR? After Windows 8, how do I install Linux? Any possible issue with the MBR?

Any help will be much appreciated.

you might have a big problem even installing win 7 on a win 8 computer
and an even bigger problem installing a linux distro that did not pay the racketeering fee( $99) to Microsoft for a boot signature for the "secure boot"

but the unpatched and not finished " preview " ????? you might get away with it for the 30 day preview

1 members found this post helpful.

if you really want/need access to win8 (see why above not to ever use it) then run it in a VM inside of your Linux. MS is taking ownership of YOUR hardware without paying you for it starting with win8. They have been trying this since winXP, sadly there is not enough uproar about it this time to stop them.

win 7 or win 8 are not supporting the Keil. By installing the VM ware software in win 7 or win 8 it will support the all types of the files which in order to install. But i am not getting any kind of result by this. If there is a another source to install the keil in win 7 or win 8 please tell me?

Please start your own thread for unrelated questions like this.

John_VV and lleb, please stop spreading that FUD. The OP clearly states that he has already Windows 7 and Linux installed, which indicates that his computer either not supports Secure Boot or it is disabled. If the computer does support Secure Boot Windows 8 will not allow itself to install unless it will be enabled by the OP. Nonetheless it will not "take ownership of your hardware", you can simply disable Secure Boot if you don't want to run Windows 8 anymore. Please be so kind and inform yourself about the topic before posting next time on that topic.

@kenknwong: If you have free space on your harddisk you don't need to remove Linux first, you should be able to install it side by side with the existing systems. Keep in mind that it in any way will replace the current bootloader, which may be problematic if your computer has an UEFI firmware, since Windows 8 will require UEFI to start the system rather than the BIOS emulation. If you don't have UEFI firmware on your board (if unsure please post maker/model of your motherboard) you shouldn't have problems, but you have to reinstall your bootloader in any case. So the advice to go for a VM is actually not a bad one.

Thank you guys for your advice.

Tobi is right that my machine doesn't support Secure Boot (luckily?). In fact, it is a ThinkPad T60.

I have already tried out installing Win 8 alongside with Win 7 after removing Linux (Crunchbang). Then, installed Linux back. During the process, I screwed up the bootloader a couple of times. Putting Linux back helped save the bootloader. One issue is, every time when I tried to boot into Win 7, it required to do a chkdisk; I chose to skip it and it could boot normally.

Now, I have removed all those things from my hard disk. I have installed Lenovo's recovery partition and Win XP Pro back. It seems to me that Win 7 and Win 8, especially the latter, is snappier than Win XP, to my surprise. I know I know, M$ is going to do something to Win 8 many of us don't like, but as far as the OS itself is concerned, it seems to be better than its grandfather.

I will try to install Linux alongside with Win XP. I am just wondering, if I also want to have Win 8, in a VM maybe, should I put it on Linux or Win XP (if possible)?

I personally would put it Linux, but it doesn't really matter, I would think. It may be possible that you get better performance from the VM if you use a lightweight Linux, the Crunchbang you used already should be a good candidate.

Since Windows-8 is designed to be more aware of its environment, I'd suggest that you review MS documentation about running it in a virtual machine ... then, run it in a virtual machine.

VM technology is supported natively with Intel's microprocessors these days, and it is in fact de rigueur for running it in rack-mounted server boxes all over the planet. Whenever I have a need to run multiple operating systems, that is how I do it. One fairly-minimal "host" operating system running one or more "guests."