Install win 8 first time

If i want to keep my win 7 intact , can i install a full copy of win 8 in diff partition and still maintain win 7 and all the apps that run in win 7 ? I assume if i can do then in win 8 environment i have to install all the apps . I am trying to keep my solid environment in win 7 and test everything in win 8 . Thanks for any advice

 

You can do a clean installation of Windows 8 and yes you will need to install all you apps.
To do a clean install please follow the instructions from the kb:http://kb.parallels.com/4729

Or you can copy the .pvm file (the file of your virtual machine, default location are /Documents/Parallels of Shared/Parallels folders), then rename it (say to 'Test Windows 8'), double click to start and upgrade this windows 7 to Windows 8.
So you will have Windows 7 and Windows 7 upgraded to Windows 8.
Please refer the "Windows 8 upgrade: step by step instructions and tips for Parallels Desktop users" article:
http://kb.parallels.com/114985

Hope this helps.

 

The OP said he wanted to keep his Windows 7 VM installation intact.

So he would need to buy the Systembuilder version of Windows 8, as I understand it.

The versions of Windows 8 available in stores all seem to be upgrade, so presumably would not allow the existing Windows 7 to remain activated after the new Windows 8 install had been activated.

Unlike Windows 7 and Vista, the full version (non-upgrade) are not widely available.