Windows 8 deleted my disc - Solved

[Ken Blake]

How does one get a beta copy of windows 8 to test?

A beta version doesn't exist. There hasn't even been an alpha version
yet. All there is is a preview (pre-alpha) version.

And running any of these (preview, alpha, or beta) is a dangerous
thing to do unless you have a spare machine to run it on.

 

[Ken Blake]

After I posted that I wondered if I should have spelled it out, so
thanks for doing it for me.

You're welcome. I thought you must have known that, but wanted to
clarify it for anyone who read and took literally what you posted.

 

[RnR]

I solved the problem with two simple steps;
1. Run Testdisk to rebuild the partition tables;
http://download.cnet.com/TestDisk-and-PhotoRec/3000-2248_4-10511775.html
2. Boot from a Win7 installation disk and use Repair. If you haven't got
one borrow a friend's or download here;
http://techpp.com/2009/11/11/download-windows-7-iso-official-direct-download-links/

Ed

FWIW, I just saw a newsletter headline saying that Windows 8 PCs may
not allow other OSs to be installed.

 

[Chris S.]

FWIW, I just saw a newsletter headline saying that Windows 8 PCs may
not allow other OSs to be installed.

Not my Win 8 Preview. I quad boot XP, Vista, 2 Win7 Ultimate (one on a SSD
Drive) and Win 8 Preview on its own drive.

Regards,
Chris

 

[Student]

And running any of these (preview, alpha, or beta) is a dangerous
thing to do unless you have a spare machine to run it on.

I have installed it twice on a dedicated eSATA hard disk with no problem

FD

 

[Ken Blake]

I have installed it twice on a dedicated eSATA hard disk with no problem

Two points:

1. Having it on a dedicated hard drive certainly reduces the risk
substantially, but it does not eliminate it completely.

2. Saying that you have done X (whatever X is) twice with no problem
is like saying you have driven twice without wearing a seatbelt and
have had no problem. I certainly didn't say that if you run a test
version of software you will have a problem. What I said is that it's
dangerous--in other words, it carries with it the *risk* of having a
problem (just as driving without a seatbelt carries with it the *risk*
of having a problem).

 

[Peter Foldes]

Two points:

1. Having it on a dedicated hard drive certainly reduces the risk
substantially, but it does not eliminate it completely.

2. Saying that you have done X (whatever X is) twice with no problem
is like saying you have driven twice without wearing a seatbelt and
have had no problem. I certainly didn't say that if you run a test
version of software you will have a problem. What I said is that it's
dangerous--in other words, it carries with it the *risk* of having a
problem (just as driving without a seatbelt carries with it the *risk*
of having a problem).

IAWTP completely Ken. What gets me is that people do not know what a Preview is and
they think it is a working version of Win 8 and you cannot convince them otherwise
until they find out the hard way

--
Peter
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[Dominique]

Product keys have to match with respect to version, edition, Retail
vs. OEM, and Full vs. Upgrade.

I've read somewhere that "Retail" keys (ie: Full and Upgrade) were
compatible, I don't remember if it was for XP, Vista or Seven.

I've never tried it though.

 

[Ken Blake]

I've read somewhere that "Retail" keys (ie: Full and Upgrade) were
compatible, I don't remember if it was for XP, Vista or Seven.

I've never tried it though.

They have always been incompatible. I suppose it's possible that it
has changed in Windows 7, but not as far as I know.

 

[G. Morgan]

1. Having it on a dedicated hard drive certainly reduces the risk
substantially, but it does not eliminate it completely.

It does if you unplug it; or disable it in BIOS first.

 

[James]

I solved the problem with two simple steps;
1. Run Testdisk to rebuild the partition tables;
http://download.cnet.com/TestDisk-and-PhotoRec/3000-2248_4-10511775.html
2. Boot from a Win7 installation disk and use Repair. If you haven't got
one borrow a friend's or download here;
http://techpp.com/2009/11/11/download-windows-7-iso-official-direct-download-links/

Ed

All the links for techpp.com report as 404 Not Found. Are there other
links?

 

[Ed Cryer]

All the links for techpp.com report as 404 Not Found. Are there other
links?

Ah, I've just tried the link again from here, and it works fine. I'm in
the UK. Where are you?

Ed

 

[James]

Ah, I've just tried the link again from here, and it works fine. I'm in
the UK. Where are you?

Ed

In the US. Some of the links are now working, but the Amazon links
don't work. Got what I needed though.