Step by step
This article is written in a way which you can follow it step by step
Prerequisites:
- 1) Windows 7 that supports Boot from VHD (Enterprise/Ultimate)
2) ISO Image mount software (Virtual Clone Drive , Magic ISO or etc)
3) Download and install , “Windows Automated Installation Kit” (WAIK) , be aware its 1 GB in size , from here : Microsoft Download centre
PS: If you got an existing WAIK install all what we need is “Imagex” (a command-line tool that enables manufacturers,corporations and US to capture, to modify, and to apply file-based disk images for rapid deployment)
4) Download Windows Image to Virtual Hard Disk (WIM2VHD) (command-line tool allows you to create sysprepped VHD images from any Windows 7 installation source) from MSDN or here
PS: I assume you have already downloaded Windows 8 Preview
STEP ONE : Creating the VHD
1) Install WAIK with the defaults
2) Install WIM2VHD and store in a folder on your PC
PS : My WIM2VHD is stored in C:\TOOLS\WIM2VHD
3) Open command prompt (with admin privileges), copy and paste the below (or type) line and execute the code, please note that in my PC , the mounted ISO CD ROM drive is ‘G’ , modify the code based on virtual CD Drive , which has my Windows 8 ISO image
cscript WIM2VHD.wsf /wim:"g:\sources\install.wim" /VHD:"c:\TOOLS\WIM2VHD\win8.vhd" /size:20000
Once you execute the code it will start to build your Windows 8 Preview VHD file, as below screen shot
Once you see the “INFO : Done” message you can move to the second step
STEP TWO – Mounting the VHD
- - In the same command prompt type :
DiskPart.exe ( for more info about this part click here) and execute the below line:
List Vol
Select vdisk file="c:\WIM2VHD\win8.vhd"
Attach vdisk
List Vol
exit DiskPart.exe
PS: The second “list Vol” should be different to the first one, as you have just created a new volume with Windows 8 Preview on it :)
STEP TREE: Making your newly created volume bootable
After you exited “DiskPart.exe” in the same command prompt , execute BCDBOOT(quickly set up a system partition), with the below line
BCDBOOT E:\Windows
PS: Remember my new vlume was created as E:\ ( please make sure you enter the right path)
It’s time to shutdown your image via the below code and wait until your Windows 8 Preview boots up
Shutdown –r –t 0
STEP FOUR: Installing and configuring Windows 8 Preview
For this STEP please check my previously written article on HOW TO INSTALL WINDOWS 8 PREVIES step by step
At the end you should have your Windows 7 together with your Windows 8 Preview as a VHD
PS: If don’t see the O/S list after your done with the installation, just reboot the Windows 8 Preview PC and press F8 and in the beginning, this should display the O/S selection menu as below.
Select “Use another operating system”
and
Enjoy your Windows 8 Preview VHD together with Windows 7
Erdal