Is there a way to prevent Windows 8 upgrade from erasing the bootloader?

Is there a way to tell the Windows 8 installer not to erase the grub bootloader? For example, changing something in the OEM folder or some kind of slipstream technique similar to how it is possible to automatically activate Windows?

In my case I have Windows 7 on one partition, and due to the similarities between Windows 7 and Windows 8 I would expect that there would be no need to erase the bootloader.

Mikhail

Posted 2012-11-02T14:28:00.863

Reputation: 3 782

I can't answer for sure if there's some way to fix this, but I can say your expectation is wrong - the Windows 8 bootloader is very different from the Windows 7 one. I'll assume you've not had to actually mess with it during boot yet, because it's very obvious - it's got pretty graphics and mouse support. My guess is that there's no easy way to do this and you'll just have to put grub again afterwards (it should work for Windows 8, but Windows 8 will almost certainly try to overwrite it). – Shinrai – 2012-11-02T14:31:19.637

The bootloader on Windows 8 is not the same as it is on Windows 7 which means that even the Windows 7 bootloader is replaced with the Windows 8 bootloader. You would need to have installed Windows 8 and replace ITS bootloader with Grub. – Ramhound – 2012-11-02T14:32:06.730

I can definitely tell you that imagex (slipstream technique essentially) will still replace the bootloader. http://superuser.com/a/490477/146694

– Tanner Faulkner – 2012-11-02T14:35:01.473

They are not the same but its possible to load Windows 8 with the Windows 7 bootloader. Its a little hackey but it works. The problem is that I have a few computers that I don't want to do crazy things with. So there is a measure of compatibility between the two :-) – Mikhail – 2012-11-02T14:35:06.710

@Misha - So whats the question? The workaround is the hack solution. – Ramhound – 2012-11-02T15:14:52.367

@Ramhound The hack was to get teh Windows 7 bootloader to load Windows 8. This has nothing to do with the seutp erasing my bootloader. I don't want my bootlaoder to be erased! Also thsi is not about Windows bootloaders. This is really about the thing erasing grub. I'm not an expert in Windows deployment (I do Unix) and I want a setting to prevent Windows 8 from messing with the bootloader. – Mikhail – 2012-11-02T15:17:53.703

also using your phone is a bad idea for spelling. – Mikhail – 2012-11-02T16:20:07.197

2Windows 8 will only boot from a secure boot loader. The windows 7 bootloader will cause the boot of windows 8 to fail. So even if you manage to keep the win7 boot, it just won't work. However, if you want to use grub2 - that will keep the win8 bootloader separately - and you'll be able to boot Grub->win8 bootloader->win8 – jdh – 2012-11-02T18:10:20.150

1What @jdh said. You need to keep in mind Windows is very different from Unix - when you say "I want a setting to prevent Windows 8 from messing with the bootloader" I find myself grinning, because being familiar with Windows I know that Microsoft doesn't want you touching it at all and they don't really expose any such options. (The idea of Microsoft officially supporting custom bootloaders is laughable.) You have to install the OS and then do what you want with the bootloader afterwards, your options beforehand are extremely limited. Welcome to the world of closed software. – Shinrai – 2012-11-02T19:48:32.743

Or to perhaps oversimplify, Windows 8 will insist on installing its own bootloader. Fix it afterwards. – Shinrai – 2012-11-02T19:50:48.607

Is there a way to prevent Windows 8 upgrade from erasing the bootloader?

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