Peppermint OS Four: How to install in a pre-installed Windows 8 Laptop without losing your Windows 8

Peppermint OS 4 is the OS I going to install on my Windows 8 laptop but I do not want to lose my Windows which is pre-installed with my Laptop.
Microsoft enabled UEFI bootup for Windows 8 and this has caused problems for most Linux user who want to dual boot their Linux with Windows . After several months, the Linux community has found the solution to this. Most of the major distros especially Ubuntu has enabled their installation to support UEFI but additional step to do boot-repair may still be needed depending on the hardware.

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/UEFI

As for me, I tried installing Peppermint OS 4 in UEFI mode and did boot-repair but did not get the dual boot I wanted. After trial and error, I managed to go to the BIOS and switch the boot mode to Legacy, install my peppermint OS 4 and able to bootup in Peppermint OS 4. After installing Peppermint OS 4, I went back to BIOS and switch the boot mode back to UFI, I will be booting up in my Windows 8. So although I am unable to get dual boot working for Windows 8 and Peppermint OS 4, I am able switch between my Windows 8 and Peppermint OS 4 by switching the boot mode in my BIOS.

Here is what I did to install my Peppermint OS 4:
1. Get Peppermint OS Four from http://peppermintos.com/
2. Create a LiveUSB of the Peppermint OS 4. I did my using a 1GB USB thumbdrive. Refer http://peppermintos.com/guide/downloading/  (using UNetbootin) or to http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop/create-a-usb-stick-on-windows (using PenDriveLinux)
3. Go to BIOS and switch the boot mode to Legacy.
4. Go to BIOS and make sure "boot from USB" is the first priority in the boot sequence.
5. Reboot using your LiveUSB and load into Peppermint OS 4 by selecting  “Try Peppermint OS Live”
6. You will get into the Peppermint OS 4 desktop. Double clicking the “Install Peppermint” icon on the desktop.

The rest of the installation can be found at this very good review of Peppermint OS 4: http://mylinuxexplore.blogspot.sg/2013/06/peppermint-os-four-review-linux-mint-of.html

After I got my Peppermint OS 4 installed, the first thing I did is to go to system tools> software updates to get my software updated.

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I do encounter issues and they are as follows:
1) No Sound output - There is no sound output from laptop in-built speaker. The solution is here:
    http://peppermintos.net/viewtopic.php?p=31476#p31476
 
    Create a new file called .asoundrc and add the following in the file:

   pcm.!default {
   type hw
   card 1
   }
   ctl.!default {
   type hw   card 1
   }


2) No display output to TV thru HDMI - After plugging in HDMI, there is no output to HDMI. Display output need to be control under Preferences> Monitor

3) No Sound output to TV thru HDMI - HDMI audio output for Radeon is disabled by default for Linux Kernel 3.8. Read http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=MTM1MTM.
   To enable it, do the followings:
   a)  sudo edit etc/default/grub

   b) Then change the line:
           GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX=""
       to
           GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX="radeon.audio=1"

     c) sudo update-grub

   d) Reboot
    e) Use Pulse Audio Control to control the sound output

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I went ahead to install other softwares;
1) Pulse Audio - Install pulseaudio for better sound control (especially for HDMI sound output to work):   http://peppermintos.net/viewtopic.php?p=36921#p36921

   sudo apt-get install pulseaudio   
   sudo apt-get install pulseaudio-utils pavucontrol



2) VIM - simple but powerful text file writer (Software manager)
3) Cairo-dock - Desktop dock customization (Software manager)
4) Conky -  lightweight system monitor (Software manager).
 
     Setup:
    Create a new file called .conkyrc in your home directory and add the codes in this link           http://blog.lxde.org/?p=684.
    Add "@conky" to  /etc/xdg/lxsession/Peppermint/autostart

    The above is for default basic conky setup.
    To install more cool themes, skip the setup steps above and use conky manager:
    http://teejeetech.blogspot.sg/p/conky-manager.html
 
    sudo apt-add-repository -y ppa:teejee2008/ppa
  sudo apt-get update 
  sudo apt-get install conky-manager 

    Install more cool themes with the deluxe theme pack:
    http://teejeetech.blogspot.sg/2013/07/deluxe-conky-theme-pack.html

5) Gimp - Photoshop alternative (Software manager)
6) VLC - Powerful Media player (Software manager)
7) libreOffice - Office Suite (Software manager)
    Added OOo2gd extension which allows import/export from google doc account:
    http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/smb-technologist/connect-libreoffice-with-your-google-docs-account-by-using-ooo2gd/

8) XnviewMP - Powerful multimedia player and organizer. Download the Debian Package for easier installation:  http://www.xnview.com/en/xnviewmp/#downloads

9) Cheeze - Photo taking software with your webcam. Can be used to test whether your webcam is working.

10) Cryptkeeper - To create encryted folder to protect my important documents with a password (Need Lxpanel)

11) ntpfs & mtp-tools - For connection to android phone

My current desktop: