Install Windows 8 as a virtual system

If you use Windows 8.1 or an older version of Windows, installing Windows 8 as a virtual system can bring many advantages. We'll show you how it's done.

Step 1: Select the correct Windows version

If you only have one hard drive installed in your computer, you can still install Windows 8 as a virtual system. However, this only works with Winodws 8 Pro or Windows 8 Enterprise.

Step 2: Transfer Windows 8 to the storage medium

If you did not buy Windows 8 on a DVD, you must download the complete operating system and install it on a DVD or a USB stick. If Windows 8 is already on a DVD, you can skip this step.

1. Download the Windows 8 Setup Tool and start it. For Windows 8.1 you will also find a setup tool here.
2. Select the "Create installation media" option and then decide whether you want to transfer the approximately 2.5 GB file to a USB stick or DVD.
3. If you select the option of the USB stick, the ISO file is transferred directly to it. If you select the DVD option, you must then burn the ISO file to the DVD yourself. This is possible with the CDBurnerXP, for example.
4. Then start the process, the installation file will be downloaded from Windows 8 and automatically transferred to the storage medium.

Step 3: start installing Windows 8

1. Insert the Windows 8 DVD or the self-burned medium into your computer and restart the computer.
2. If your computer does not boot from the CD so that the installation starts, you have to change a setting in the BIOS. Instructions can be found here.
3. Confirm the country, language and keyboard settings by clicking on "Next".
4. In the next window, do not click the "Install Now" button, but press the "Shift" and "F10" keys on your keyboard at the same time. Then a black window opens, the command prompt.

Step 4: install Windows 8 as a virtual system

Now you have to create a partition on your hard drive in which Windows 8 is to be installed. The old Windows version remains completely untouched. After entering each command, you may have to wait a few moments for it to execute.

1. Enter the "diskpart" command in the black console and confirm your entry with "Enter".
2. Now enter "create vdisk file =" C: \ win8.vhd "type = expandable maximum = 30000".
3. The main partition of the hard drive is usually "C", but if it has a different letter, replace it if necessary in the command. The maximum value indicates the size of the partition. In this case it is 30, 000 MB, which is about 30 GB. You should at least use this size. If you want to install several programs in the virtual system, you should assign a larger value to the partition.
4. The partition has now been created and can be selected using the "select vdisk file =" C: \ win8.vhd "command, then issue the" attach vdisk "command and close the window.

Step 5: continue installing Windows 8

1. Now you can click on the "Install Now" button.
2. Enter your license key, accept the license terms and click "Next". However, the license key can still be entered later.
3. Select the "Custom installation" option here. You will now see all partitions on your computer. Select the partition you just created, which you can recognize by its size when in doubt.
4. If you click "Next", the message "Windows cannot be installed on this drive" appears. However, you can ignore them. Then the installation of Windows 8 starts.

Step 6: choose between Windows 8 and the old operating system

When you start up your computer, you are now always asked which operating system you want to use. If you start Windows 8 for the first time, you must first set up the system.

This practical tip shows you how you can group individual tiles into groups under Windows 8.