Different Ways Of Installing Windows 8

By Author: Sally Vaughan
Total Articles: 8
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It’s interesting to learn that you have three different ways to install Windows 8 on your machine. You can either run it as a virtual machine on your current operating system, dual-boot it alongside your current operating system, or perform a full install and overwrite the OS you're currently using.

Let’s take a look at how these work.

Windows 8 in a Virtual Machine
One of the simplest ways to use Windows 8 without bothering your current operating-system setup is to install it in a virtual machine.

A virtual machine software allows you to install and run a virtualized operating system within your existing operating system.

This is most optimal because of its flexibility and the fact that you can carry out your business, which includes the maintenance of files and settings without any hindrance and when done, just switch over to your normal operating system’s desktop.

Some find it to be a bit of a hassle, however, because the VM software would require you to have a processor that supports hardware virtualization to run Windows 8, and you'll have to make sure that virtualization ...
... is enabled within your system’s BIOS. You will then need to make that your PC's core components are up to the task of virtualization. The hardware you have must be able to handle two concurrently active operating systems, which ideally means at least 3GB of RAM to each OS. Get Windows 8 Support if you found these steps difficult.

Dual-boot Windows 8
Dual-booting Windows 8 is an easier process. It gives you the option to boot into your chosen OS. If you don’t pick an option, the system will default to Windows 8.

This is a much better option since you are not limited to one OS. Neither of the two are impacted by the other’s performance because of the separate partition on your hard drive.

It would also, however, mean that you will have to give up room on your hard drive to run two completely independent operating systems. With that being said, it’s but obvious that whatever is installed on Windows 7 won’t run on Windows 8.

Fully installing Windows 8
The last and the biggest option as well as decision of your computer’s life would be whether you’re ready to take the plunge and wave goodbye to your legacy operating system forever. Windows 8 will be the sole conqueror of your desktop.

Installing Windows 8 is extremely quick and easy. When you do a clean install, make sure that you have backed up all important files from your existing OS before you wipe it off.

It is a decision that you will have to take whether you are upgrading from your current OS or whether you will do a full clean installation. An upgrade installation will do its best to preserve your files and settings from one operating system to the next, but how much of your existing OS experience is preserved depends on what you’re running. When upgrading from Windows 7, Windows 8 will attempt to preserve all your personal files as well as your applications. But if you're upgrading from Vista or XP, Windows 8 will preserve only the files, and you'll have to reinstall your apps afterwards.

With a clean installation, your existing OS is completely wiped out and all the files on your hard drive partition, then follows up with a fresh, brand-new installation of Windows 8.

A clean install, we see as a great way to give your PC a "do-over" to clean out the clutter that accumulates over the years.