Mar 1, 2012 12:05 PM EDT by David Eitelbach
The Windows 8 Consumer Preview is now available for download, making Microsoft’s new operating system available to the public for the first time. For those of you who just can’t wait to get your paws on that tile interface and shiny Metro-style Windows 8 Apps, installing it couldn’t be easier. Read our step-by-step instructions below (complete with screenshots) to find out where to download and how to install the Microsoft Windows 8 Consumer Preview:
First, head to Microsoft’s site to download the Consumer Preview of Windows 8. Click a blue button labeled “Get It Now” to navigate to the download page.
Once you’re in the download page, click the button labeled “Download Windows 8 Consumer Preview.” You’re given the option to subscribe to the latest Windows 8 news and tips by entering your email address and country of residence, but this is optional. After clicking the button, a small bar will appear at the bottom of the page prompting you to either keep or discard the download. Click “Keep.”
After clicking “Keep,” a dialogue will appear asking you if you wish to run the file or cancel. Click “Run,” and the download will begin. Be warned, the download can take quite a while. On our network it took a little more than two hours to download Windows 8.
Once the download is complete, a dialogue will appear informing you that the Windows 8 Consumer Preview is ready to install. You have the option to install Windows 8 on a separate partition, allowing you to use both Windows 8 and your current OS on the same disk, but you have to be careful that you don’t install the Consumer Preview over an existing partition. The Verge gives an excellent explanation for how to install the Windows 8 Consumer Preview on another partition. For many users, however, clicking “Install Now” will suffice.
After clicking “Install Now,” you’re given the option to save your current Windows settings, personal files and applications; just your personal files; or nothing at all. We elected to save as much as possible.
If you choose to save your data, the installer checks to see how much of it is compatible with Windows 8. On our Dell Inspiron 15, most of our data was compatible with Windows 8 and could be successfully transferred.
After clicking “Next,” the Windows 8 Consumer Preview will begin installing on your computer. This process can take quite a long time, depending on your system, so be prepared to wait for a while.
Once you’ve installed the OS, you’ll be asked to personalize Windows 8 by choosing a color for the Start screen, select a wireless network, customize your settings (or use express settings) and then sign in to your PC using your email address (although this last step can be skipped).
Finally, you’ll be presented with the iconic Start screen — you’ve successfully installed the Windows 8 Consumer Preview on your PC and can start playing around to your heart’s content.
- Top 10 Windows 8 Apps
- Windows 8 Consumer Preview: What We Like, What We Don’t
- Tech To Watch 2012: Windows 8 Finally Answers the iPad
March 5th, 2012 at 7:07 pm
What you forgot to mention is that once windows 8 is installed over windows 7 or XP or Vista you cannot revert back to
any of them unless you format and re install them from a Windows CD or recovery CD. Windows 8 is a demo and only good for 12 months from now and will DE activate itself in march 2013. That being said the usual disclaimers apply
as Win. 8 is a demo all of users current applications , hardware + devices may not work with full functionality or at all
for those reasons it should not be on a mission critical box unless it is on a separate drive partiton, a virtual HD or a separate physical HD.
March 8th, 2012 at 1:52 pm
@preferred user, March 5th, 2012 at 7:07 pm:
Many thanks for the warning! (I assume it would’ve been prominently displayed somewhere on the Win8 download page?)
I won’t be installing it.
April 11th, 2012 at 5:17 pm
I will not be installing the new OS now.
If I did it now and after the 12 month priod expires will I pay, if now or pay, later. and how much?
If I wait till it becomes a must to install what is the cost.