Windows 8 dual boot with another copy

roytom

thanks again for the advice - it all helps.

The GPT stumbling block is, in my case, totally impossible to solve easily as you correctly say the whole hard disk needs to be converted and it isn't worth the risk.

Just for an alternative I'll try to install Ubuntu onto the spare partition which my tests (without installing it) suggest is possible. Therefore I wonder why Win 7,8 or 10 cannot install on a GPT drive seeing as Windows 8.1 is already on it!

Moving on, G-Parted is amazing (suggested above, many thanks) it comes complete with its own Linux distro.

There's some outstanding issues that are niggling me. My hard disk has about 4 hidden recovery or other useless partitions. I suspect that when Win 10 became unusable (it upgraded to 10CE and then got into an endless loop) and I used the Rescue USB of Win 8 it created yet another rescue partition. I need to tackle these at some point, but probably not now.

Lastly I cannot get straight into the BIOS or boot from a USB device without going through Windows 8 Recovery etc. Its an ASUS X555LA and its stated that F2 triggers the BIOS mode - not true. I've tried changing the settings in the BIOS (to allow access) but this makes no difference. Any suggestions?

thanks

Neil_Jones

From Windows 8 and later its a feature called Fast Startup that effectively disables access to the BIOS from the POST screen. To get into the BIOS now you're supposed to do an advanced restart and select the "enter setup utility" option.

Or just take the hard drive out and the machine will have no option but to enter BIOS

roytom

Thanks, it works! I can now access the Firmware.