Windows 8 Consumer Preview

jcgriff2 · Mar 23, 2012

Windows 8 Consumer Preview Setup will check to see if your PC can run Windows 8 Consumer Preview and select the right download. Setup also features a compatibility report and upgrade assistance. Built-in tools for creating an ISO or bootable flash drive are available for some previous versions of Windows (excluding Windows XP and earlier). You can find system requirements and additional information in the FAQ and in the links on this page.

Note before you download: Windows 8 Consumer Preview is prerelease software that may be substantially modified before it’s commercially released. Microsoft makes no warranties, express or implied, with respect to the information provided here. Some product features and functionality may require additional hardware or software.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/download

Corrine · Mar 23, 2012

System Requirements:

Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster
RAM: 1 gigabyte (GB) (32-bit) or 2 GB (64-bit)
Hard disk space: 16 GB (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit)
Graphics card: Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device or higher

Additional requirements to use certain features:

To use touch, you need a tablet or a monitor that supports multitouch.
To access the Windows Store and to download and run apps, you need an active Internet connection and a screen resolution of at least 1024 x 768.
To snap apps, you need a screen resolution of at least 1366 x 768.

About Windows 8 Consumer Preview Setup:

1. Windows 8 Consumer Preview Setup checks your PC to see if it can run the consumer preview, and provides a compatibility report that you can save or print (make sure your devices are connected to your PC and turned on before you run the Setup program). The Setup program then selects the optimized version of the download (up to 25% smaller) that is right for your PC (32-bit or 64-bit).

2. The built-in download manager lets you start, stop, and resume the download at any time.

3. Once Windows 8 Consumer Preview is downloaded, you choose how and when to install it. You can install on the current drive or you can make an ISO or bootable flash drive for installing Windows 8 Consumer Preview on another partition, virtual machine, or another PC (requires Windows Vista or Windows 7).

Korvan · Mar 30, 2012

Has anyone here actually installed 8 yet? If so lets here a little information on your experience lol.

niemiro · Mar 30, 2012

Korvan said:
Has anyone here actually installed 8 yet? If so lets here a little information on your experience lol.

I have. The new interface does take a little while to get used to, however, I did get used to it eventually, and I now quite like it. I can see a lot of people on the internet getting all stressed about the new interface because they can't be bothered to stick with it for a few hours, and are just deciding that they hate it. I wasn't that keen initially, but it is growing on me.

Things have to change. People are moaning because it isn't what they are used to. How old is the Start Menu? Many, many years old, that is for sure. A relic from the past. Microsoft are experimenting, to see if they can improve upon it.

My advice is to stick with it for a little while, allow Microsoft to experiment to create a better interface in the long run, be constructive, expect bugs, and get stuck in!

Korvan · Mar 30, 2012

That is very good advice just curious but is it possible to get a SS of what the desktop and interface looks like. I might break a partition later and try it myself at work right now . If not it is fine but if so I think it will be beneficial and helpful to those curious minds.

Corrine · Mar 30, 2012

From Ed Bott's article, The Metro hater's guide to customizing Windows 8 Consumer Preview | ZDNet:

Corrine · Mar 30, 2012

I published some references that you may find helpful here: Windows 8 Consumer Preview: Getting Started.

There is also a series of 30 How-to articles posted by MSFT, Dr.Z. at Windows 8 Consumer Preview Power User How To Series.

Jonathan_King · Mar 30, 2012

I have it in a VM, and I can't stand it. There's no volume control in the Music app? The app itself is focused more on what they they get you to buy than what you already have. I searched for 5 minutes how to change basic Messenger settings such as how long before I show as idle, and came up blank. Either they hid it well or omitted it. As for turning off the Messenger notification sounds, I resorted to muting the VM from Windows 7.

If I have so much trouble with it, as an enthusiast techie-type, I can't imagine what will happen when people I know start using it. My phone would be ringing 30 times a day, and each time I'd have to spend 5 minutes trying to figure it out for myself.

AceInfinity · Mar 31, 2012

I'm with you on that one, I can't stand it either. No start orb, that tile view, an even more cluttered explorer view for all the things you could get in your control panel last time I seen. It's like minimalistic confusion and chaos. To me something like that on a desktop computer would only slow me down as a developer, and probably even as a general computer user.

Jonathan_King · Mar 31, 2012

I found it! You have to first Uninstall the Music app, and then you can use Windows Media Player. Maybe there's a way to use WMP without uninstalling Music, but I have a feeling people will be calling me before they figure it out!

Michael_Larsen · Mar 31, 2012

I know the interface (GUI) of Windows is old but I kind of like the old adage of, "If it works, don't fix it." The interface is fine. Yes, it has quirks but if the interface remained the same and they just worked on stability and reliability, people would be fine with that. Change for the sake of change ISN'T always a good thing. You can keep the meat and throw away the bones and then work on finding better ways to do what already works pretty darn good. I speak with people constantly who complain about even the changes in W7 over Vista. This new W8 GUI looks horrendous and I agree whole-heartedly with Jonathan that people will be calling me constantly for help. I'm already busy 16 hours each day with what is currently out there on people's computers. More changes means more problems. Refining is a better idea in my humble opinion. Sadly, today's business mantra isn't "if it works, don't fix it"; its "if it ain't broke, fix it until it is." Oy vey.

Dave76 · Apr 8, 2012

Change is inevitable, which is a good thing or we would all be living in caves and walking everywhere. Worse yet we could still be using DOS commands.
The best thing is we all still have the great gift of choice. Stay with what's comfortable, if you want, or try new things, if you want.
Is change always better?
Depends on your point of view and preference.

New or not, someone is going to ask you to fix it.

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Windows 8 Consumer Preview

jcgriff2

Co-Founder / Admin
BSOD Instructor/Expert
Microsoft MVP (Ret.)

Corrine

Administrator,
Microsoft MVP,
Security Analyst

Korvan

Member

niemiro

Senior Administrator, Windows Update Expert

Korvan

Member

Corrine

Administrator,
Microsoft MVP,
Security Analyst

Corrine

Administrator,
Microsoft MVP,
Security Analyst

Jonathan_King

BSOD Kernel Dump Senior Analyst

AceInfinity

Emeritus, Contributor

Jonathan_King

BSOD Kernel Dump Senior Analyst

Michael_Larsen

IT Specialist, Contributor

Dave76

Visiting Expert, BSOD Kernel Dump Senior Analyst

Windows 8 Consumer Preview

Co-Founder / AdminBSOD Instructor/ExpertMicrosoft MVP (Ret.)

Administrator, Microsoft MVP, Security Analyst

Member

Senior Administrator, Windows Update Expert

Member

Administrator, Microsoft MVP, Security Analyst

Administrator, Microsoft MVP, Security Analyst

BSOD Kernel Dump Senior Analyst

Emeritus, Contributor

BSOD Kernel Dump Senior Analyst

IT Specialist, Contributor

Visiting Expert, BSOD Kernel Dump Senior Analyst

Co-Founder / Admin
BSOD Instructor/Expert
Microsoft MVP (Ret.)

Administrator,
Microsoft MVP,
Security Analyst

Administrator,
Microsoft MVP,
Security Analyst

Administrator,
Microsoft MVP,
Security Analyst