Windows 10 Tech Preview Tips

Not install W10. The best way to do this is to install W10 on a spare drive that way you have a way to go back to what you have now is just install the drive back.

Shrink your Windows 8 or Windows 7 partition in Disk Mgmt, boot the Win10 media to do a https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/1...n-install.html.

Be sure to choose the Unallocated Space you shrank to install upon. Then click Next.

This should configure a Dual Boot, but if not install EasyBCD to add the missing OS to a Dual Boot menu. EasyBCD (click Download - no Name or Email required)

gregrocker said:

Shrink your Windows 8 or Windows 7 partition in Disk Mgmt, boot the Win10 media to do a https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/1...n-install.html.

Be sure to choose the Unallocated Space you shrank to install upon. Then click Next.

This should configure a Dual Boot, but if not install EasyBCD to add the missing OS to a Dual Boot menu. EasyBCD (click Download - no Name or Email required)

Both OS's will be usable but I'm thinking it still might break the factory reset function.

One way to do it is to buy a second hard drive and swap it for the one that's currently in use. That keeps the current install safe and gives you a blank drive to install 10 too. Just put the drive you take out in the antistatic bag the new one came in. If you don't like 10 then you just swap the drives back again. Then buy an external drive enclosure for your extra drive and use it for external storage and backup.

alphanumeric said:

Both OS's will be usable but I'm thinking it still might break the factory reset function.

If you want to preserve Factory Recovery be sure make your Factory Recovery disks first. Use Acer eRecovery application to restore your system or create recovery media

But remember that Recovery is to the inferior Factory Install. So I'd strongly consider a Clean Reinstall instead.

gregrocker said:

If you want to preserve Factory Recovery be sure make your Factory Recovery disks first. Use Acer eRecovery application to restore your system or create recovery media

But remember that Recovery is to the inferior Factory Install. So I'd strongly consider a Clean Reinstall instead.

I agree, but you and I have easy access to clean official install media. Some are not so lucky, unfortunately. I nuked the factory OEM installs on both of my laptops, shortly after getting them, for clean installs.

Media here:

Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 ISO - Download or Create to
Clean Install - Windows 8

Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 - Windows 7 Help Forums
Windows 7 Direct Download Links

gregrocker said:

Media here:

Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 ISO - Download or Create to
Clean Install - Windows 8

Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 - Windows 7 Help Forums
Windows 7 Direct Download Links

That first link will not accept OEM keys by the way. So it won't work for anybody with a factory OEM install, even if they know their product code. Don't get me wrong, those links may help someone out, I just want to save someone the hassle of figuring out what their product code is only to find out it doesn't work for that download.