To XP or not to XP . . . ?

[ucrdem]

30. How to disable Secure Boot in Windows 8/8.1:

If you want to boot your PC from a DVD without starting Windows 8, you will need to disable the "secure boot" feature that manufacturers are required to include in machines preloaded with Win 8. This is related to UEFI firmware and GPT partitioning, but is a different can of worms. The basic technique is to :

1. Restart your PC from "advanced startup" (Settings > Change PC Settings > General > Advanced Startup > Restart PC),
2. Open the "Troubleshooting" menu,
3. Click "Advanced Options: UEFI Firmware Settings,"
4. Open your BIOS settings,
5. Disable Secure Boot,
6. Enable boot-from-DVD option,
7. Save your BIOS settings, and
8. Exit and reboot.

Presto. Now when your PC starts, you should get a menu allowing you to choose your boot medium from a list which should include your DVD drive. If it doesn't, rinse and repeat, as different computers have different BIOS set-ups, and there might be additional hoops somewhere.
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p.s. here are the official instructions from Microsoft and detailed instructions from HP, in case you have an HP or Compaq machine:

1. MS, "Disabling Secure Boot": http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn481258.aspx

2. HP, "Disabling Secure Boot": http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c03653226&cc=us&dlc=en&lc=en
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p.p.s. I'm going to add one recommendation which is to make as few changes as possible to your BIOS as some changes will "break" your windows 8 installation, i.e. render it unbootable and unable to repair itself. If this rather scary situation happens you need to go back into BIOS and undo your last change. One more thing: Win8 BIOS menus will kick up a scary red warning when you disable Secure Boot but that you can safely ignore!