Hmmmm,

A bit more research and it seems that Windows8 will not be multiboot friendly so don't install the beta on a production system I am not sure how it is with VMs.

The certified machines that I guess will ship towards the end of the year will:

1. Secure boot using UEFI
2. Use GPT partitioning
3. Use AHCI SATA access

Apart from my 32bit test machine that no longer works with Win8 because the processor doesn't support it, I have machines that certainly boot from BIOS and use MBR partitioning. They are currently running the release preview OK.

Have Microsoft got some more nasty surprises in store?

I believe that RedHat/Fedora are working on a commercial solution to the multiboot issue, but that is going to cost ($99 I think).

I know that I can convert MBR to GPT but what about UEFI?........will I need a firmware update? or will the final release still support MBR?