How to Install & Configure the Windows 8 Developer Preview
How to Install & Configure the Windows 8 Developer Preview
Posted 11/30/2011 at 2:08pm
| by Tim Ferrill
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With Windows 8, Microsoft is reimagining the most basic premises of personal computers. CEO Steve Ballmer recognizes the drastic changes coming in Windows 8, even calling the platform one of the biggest risks taken by the industry giant. The UI changes and fundamental paradigm shifts that Windows 8 brings to the table are making a lot of power users eager to give the platform a trial run, even in its current state as a Developer Preview.
If you want to take the plunge and give Windows 8 a try, there are some things you should know ahead of time. First, the current build of Windows 8 is intended as a Developer Preview. This is pre-beta software, meaning there will be bugs and even major missing features. We don’t recommend installing Windows 8 as your primary system, but we do encourage you to take it for a spin and spend some time tinkering under the hood. And we recommend that you use good backup practices for any data you put on your Windows 8 system, as stability may be an issue.
Step 1 - Prepare to Install
Whenever you are looking to install new software, especially a new operating system, your first step should be to review the system requirements.
Fortunately, the system requirements for Windows 8 are identical to those for Windows 7. In fact, a baseline Windows 8 installation will consume fewer system resources than a baseline Windows 7 SP1 build. So if you’re already running Windows 7, you’re in good shape. Note, however, that there are special requirements for touch input.
Microsoft has provided both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of the Windows 8 Developer Preview installation media, both freely available from MSDN. For best results, you should verify that your media downloaded correctly using the hash provided by Microsoft. The .iso files provided can be easily burned to a DVD using native tools in Windows 7 or your preferred DVD software.
Step 2 - Install
There are a couple of different decisions that must be made before you begin any OS install. The first is whether you want the OS to coexist with another in a dual-boot scenario or if you are simply going to overwrite any existing OS installs. Dual-booting provides you with some flexibility to fall back to an existing platform, but also adds complexity in terms of drive partitioning. The other decision is the method of installation. The typical method for installing an operating system is using a bootable disc, which gives you the ability to install the Windows 8 OS to a second hard drive or partition. The Windows 8 Developer Preview will also allow you to install from within a previous Windows version, providing you the option to retain accounts, files, and settings (if installing from Vista or Windows 7). We’ll walk you through both options.
The most common method for installing a new operating system on your computer is to boot from a setup disc, in this case a DVD. After inserting the disc and choosing to boot from your optical drive, the Windows 8 setup wizard will look very similar to the Windows 7 install. The first screen prompts you to enter your location information in order to configure your keyboard and other locale-specific settings (image above), and the second contains the button to actually begin the installation.
As with most Windows installations, Windows 8 displays Upgrade or Custom (advanced) options. One of the key differences in using the boot-disc installation is that the Upgrade choice is actually a dead-end. To upgrade from a previous install of Windows, you’ll need to use the Windows-based setup utility.The next step in this exercise is choosing the drive or partition for your Windows 8 install (image above). As with Windows 7, you have the option to use empty drive space, reformat an existing partition, or install over an existing Windows instance. If you choose the latter option, system and user files will be placed in the Windows.old directory to be accessed later. Choose your option and hit next—the installer will take over from there.
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mseyf
December 06, 2011 at 5:46pm
All the complaining sounds similar to the complaints when Office 2007 changed from the menu bar to the ribbon interface. After everybody has a chance to whine and moan about the new interface, the new interface will get gradual acceptance, and most everyone will move on to more productive whining.
Vano
December 01, 2011 at 6:15pm
Oh my...I'm a Windows fanboy, but after trying this nonsense I'd rather switch to Mac (which I can't stand) then use this crap!
BLEW!
maxeeemum
December 01, 2011 at 6:08pm
Yes I agree with most of you. I installed this on a old hard drive in a desktop PC and what a shock. What a POS OS! I couldn't figure out how to use it for about an hour and I have used Windows, Mac and Linux. I had to use another PC to Google all types of ways to hack it to work. The Metro GUI just sucks on a desktop PC.
I hear it works good on a tablet. But I don't want or need one. If MS puts this out as a one size fits all OS it will fail big time.
onlyhtml
December 01, 2011 at 2:40pm
Saw this article just as I was sticking the Windows 8 cd into the cd drive.
ferds7
December 01, 2011 at 9:59am
I agree that this article seemed lacking content for the more experienced readers. I understand having the simple stuff is good for the new or inexperienced readers, so I'm glad you put it in. How about add some pages though of advanced content for those of us who didn't need a tutorial to figure this out.
Also, VirtualBox is a much better way to go than dual booting imho.
wrldqueeek
December 01, 2011 at 9:03am
It took some work, but I was able to install it in a VM on Sun Virtualbox.
Why wasn't this listed as an option?
lien_meat
December 01, 2011 at 7:55am
If you actually need this tutorial/guide, stay the heck away from anything but stable releases or OEM installs of OS's.
Seriously Maxpc...how bout you put out a decent article about win8, or ANY OS besides just reporting the obvious details you glean from the manufactuer website, or some other site. Dig deep and do a real review of the really interesting changes for once, for yourselves.
Like hey...how about filesystem support. Any big changes there, or is everyone still stuck with NTFS? How has filesystem performance changed so far if any? How about you do a review of the App store we all keep hearing that exists, but get no details on. Any big changes to windows internals (not the gui...everyone is sick of hearing about metro by now)? How about how specific requirements of hardware? For instance, any word if UEFI is required for volumes bigger than 2tb using GPT still? If so, why? Linux can support > 2tb volumes without UEFI on a 32 bit system, why won't MS (they didn't with 7...maybe they do now)?
You guys have the power and connections to find out the details of the OS that I want to know about...so why aren't you? It's frusterating to visit supposedly "tech" websites to find out nothing really interesting about upcoming OS's...despite a grandios title like Maximum PC.
moko
November 30, 2011 at 4:34pm
i feel a "dumbing down" coming from microsoft......microsoft has always had the best desktop OS.....don't go trying to be like the other OSes,like apple......apple mobile OS is nice(well after jail breaking especially).....this ie8 is ok for a mobile OS.....not a desktop....come on already
moko
November 30, 2011 at 4:40pm
oh yea.....and i dont want peoples dirty fingers with germs,all over my screen......touch screens are for phones and tablets.....what the hell are youll trying to make a desktop OS,like a mobile or tablet pc.....stupid....get your head out of your ass : )
blazewardog
November 30, 2011 at 3:14pm
If you need a guide to install it, you obviously shouldn't be using what is called a developer preview.
ntokozo
November 30, 2011 at 9:50pm
I'll qoute from the first coment, "come on already." I'm not even a developer, but even I feel like this a dumbing down of Windows. And to add misery to insult, it appears as if this is a dumbing down of IT juornalism/creativity on the part of Maximum PC.
Engelsstaub
November 30, 2011 at 3:02pm
Yes, it can. I had it running very well in VirtualBox...until I got sick of it :P
gmvolk
December 01, 2011 at 9:02am
Pretty sure the Metro UI is just gonna be horrible, but like a car wreck you can't help but look to see how horrible it truly is!
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