How to install Windows 8 Release Preview to VHD

Download Windows 8 Release Preview .iso file from http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/iso
Use Windows 7 USB/DVD Download tool to burn the .iso file to DVD or USB.
Create a fixed or dynamic VHD file of size 16 GB for 32-bit (or 20 GB for 64-bit) version of Win 8 RP. (steps 3+4 detailed below)
Attach created VHD, create a single partition and format as NTFS.
Reboot from Windows 8 RP DVD or USB.
Select your language and keyboard layout and proceed to Repair your computer > Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Command prompt.
Run diskpart. Execute command "list volume" (without quotes) to see mapping of partitions and note drive letter where VHD file is stored.
Now execute following commands to select and attach VHD:

>select vdisk file="drive_and_full_path_to_vhd_file" (e.g. "c:\vdisks\win8rp.vhd" )

>attach vdisk

>exit
After exiting diskpart run setup.exe to start installation.
Select language and keyboard layout when prompted.
Type in Release Preview product key TK8TP-9JN6P-7X7WW-RFFTV-B7QPF and accept license terms.
Select custom installation. Select VHD drive as destination and after confirming you will see "Installing Windows"...
After first iteration of installation is finished. Remove DVD or USB to reboot and continue installation.
Wait for operations "Getting devices ready" and "Getting system ready" and restart to Windows 8 RP.

How to create and prepare VHD for Installation

VHD preparation steps can be executed also after booting from installation DVD/USB just before running setup.

Example file created is win8rp.vhd in folder \vdisks on drive c: with size 16 GB.

Run diskpart.exe and execute these commands:

>create vdisk file="c:\vdisks\win8rp.vhd" maximum=16000 type=fixed
>select vdisk file="c:\vdisks\win8rp.vhd"
>attach vdisk
>create partition primary
>assign letter=v
>format fs=ntfs label="Win8rp" quick

>exit