- Topics Mentioned
- Operating System(s):
- Windows 8
I recently got a chance to install Windows 8 Developer Preview in my Hyper-V virtual machine and I recorded the installation process to show you all of the steps. Whether you’re installing Windows 8 in your virtual machine, as a dual boot, or as the main OS on your system, the steps are all the same. At this time, there is no upgrade path for this version of Windows 8 so you’ll need to do a clean install.
After the initial install, I will walk you through all of the settings and options, as these are a bit different from Windows 7. You’ll get a chance to see the Metro UI and how to access your settings, which should get you off to a good start with your brand new Windows 8 system.
Download Windows 8 Developer Preview
Now before you begin your installation, you’ll have to download the .iso image that’s appropriate for your system; it comes in 32-bit (x86) and 64-bit (x64), as well as a 64-bit with developer tools. You can download the ISO here: download Windows 8 Developer Preview.
What’s the difference between the 64-bit and 32-bit versions?
Well, the 64-bit version is capable of handling large amounts of RAM (random access memory) more efficiently than a 32-bit system. If you’re planning on using Windows 8 on a system with more than 3GB of RAM, I would recommend that you install the 64-bit version. Most programs designed for 32-bit systems will work just as well on a 64-bit version. Naturally, you will need a 64-bit capable CPU to utilize the 64bit version.
After you download, you’ll need to burn your ISO image onto a DVD. If you’re not sure how to do that, here’s a guide that will walk you through the process: How can I write (burn) ISO files to CD or DVD?.
Windows 8 System Requirements
You will also need to make sure that your system meets the minimum hardware requirements before you move on with your install. The rule of thumb here is that the same hardware that powers Windows Vista and Windows 7 will work with Windows 8:
- 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
- 1 gigabyte (GB) RAM (32-bit) or 2 GB RAM (64-bit)
- 16 GB available hard disk space (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit)
- DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver
- If you want to take advantage of the touch input, you’ll need a screen that supports multi-touch
- To run Metro style Apps, you need a screen resolution of at least 1024 X 768
Before Installing Windows 8
A couple of things to keep in mind before you begin the installation process.
The Windows 8 Developer Preview is in pre-beta phase, which means that it may not be stable or operate the way the final version of Windows 8 will. It’s probably not a good idea to use it in a production environment as there’s no support for it and you’re bearing the risk in case something breaks. You also can’t uninstall the Developer Preview version of Windows 8, so if you need to go back to your previous OS you’ll have to reinstall it from your installation media or your last restore.
I recommend you install Windows 8 a virtual environment for now; it works fine in Hyper-V, VirtualBox and probably any other VM.
If you’re looking for the step by step instructions from this video, check out my post on Installing Windows 8 Developer Preview that was published on Petri IT Knowledgebase.
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