Windows 8
Windows 8 is the next version of Microsoft Windows, a family of operating systems produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops,laptops, netbooks, tablet PCs, servers, and media center PCs. It adds support for ARM microprocessors in addition to the traditional x86 microprocessors from Intel and AMD. Its user interface has been changed to make it better suited for touchscreen input in addition to the traditional mouse, keyboard, and pen input.
Microsoft has not yet announced a ship date for Windows 8.
Microsoft has not yet announced a ship date for Windows 8.
- At the Microsoft Developer Forum in Tokyo on May 23, 2011, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer announced that the next version of Windows will be released the following year (in 2012).
"And yet, as we look forward to the next generation of Windows systems,
which will come out next year, there's a whole lot more coming.
As we progress through the year, you ought to expect to hear a lot about Windows 8.
Windows 8 slates, tablets, PCs, a variety of different form factors."
which will come out next year, there's a whole lot more coming.
As we progress through the year, you ought to expect to hear a lot about Windows 8.
Windows 8 slates, tablets, PCs, a variety of different form factors."
However, the company quickly corrected Ballmer's words in a company statement issued that afternoon.
"It appears there was a misstatement.
We are eagerly awaiting the next generation of Windows 7 hardware that will be available in the coming fiscal year.
To date, we have yet to formally announce any timing or naming for the next version of Windows."
We are eagerly awaiting the next generation of Windows 7 hardware that will be available in the coming fiscal year.
To date, we have yet to formally announce any timing or naming for the next version of Windows."
- On June 1, 2011, Microsoft officially unveiled Windows 8 and some of its new features at the Taipei Computex 2011 in Taipei (Taiwan) by Mike Angiulo and at the D9 conference in California (United States) by Julie Larson-Green and Microsoft's Windows President Steven Sinofsky. The main feature that was shown was the new user interface.
- On August 15, 2011, Microsoft opened a new blog called "Building Windows 8" for users and developers.
Windows 8 will contain a new user interface based on Microsoft's design language named Metro. With the new change, the Start Menu was replaced in favor for the new Start Screen, where there are tiles that contain shortcuts to applications, Metro style applications, and updating tiles, similar to Windows Phone.
Windows Explorer now uses a ribbon interface, similar to those used in Microsoft Office applications.
A new authentication method allows users to sketch in three different places over the picture to login, instead of typing a password.
Another feature expected to be introduced in Windows 8 is USB 3.0 support.
Windows 8 will come with Windows Store, an online marketplace for buying, selling, and advertising applications.
Windows 8 can be run from a USB-connected drive, such as a flash drive. This feature is called Windows To Go.
Windows 8 will support multiple monitors with the new ability to natively display different background images on each display and customized taskbar(s) on each of the connected displays.
A new authentication method allows users to sketch in three different places over the picture to login, instead of typing a password.
Another feature expected to be introduced in Windows 8 is USB 3.0 support.
Windows 8 will come with Windows Store, an online marketplace for buying, selling, and advertising applications.
Windows 8 can be run from a USB-connected drive, such as a flash drive. This feature is called Windows To Go.
Windows 8 will support multiple monitors with the new ability to natively display different background images on each display and customized taskbar(s) on each of the connected displays.
There is also a stripped down "Immersive" version of Internet Explorer, using the similar Metro-based user interface of the mobile version of Internet Explorer 9 The Immersive Version of Internet Explorer 10 does not support ActiveX plugins, in order to be an HTML5-only browser. The Desktop version of IE10 does support ActiveX plugins.
The Developer Preview comes with two new recovery functions. Refresh and Reset, which both make a complete restore easier than a re-installation. The former keeps all the settings and files of the user intact and only reverses all changes to Windows files to its original state while removing all installed programs and apps. The latter deletes all files and effectively re-installs Windows, but without any additional user input such as agreeing to license agreements or selecting a hard disk required. After a reset completes, the user will be asked for the product key and will then proceed to account creation.
One big change is that user accounts do not have to be local-only anymore but can be linked up to one's Windows Live ID. This has the advantage that users will not lose their settings and files as they move from their home computer to their work laptop or to any other computer also using Windows 8.
Other new features include a new Welcome screen, a new packaged application model called AppX that is based on Silverlight, and Open Packaging Conventions, as well as a setting to automatically adjust window color to fit the wallpaper.
A new "Hybrid Boot" option that uses "advanced hibernation functionality" on shutdown to allow faster startup times.
The Developer Preview comes with two new recovery functions. Refresh and Reset, which both make a complete restore easier than a re-installation. The former keeps all the settings and files of the user intact and only reverses all changes to Windows files to its original state while removing all installed programs and apps. The latter deletes all files and effectively re-installs Windows, but without any additional user input such as agreeing to license agreements or selecting a hard disk required. After a reset completes, the user will be asked for the product key and will then proceed to account creation.
One big change is that user accounts do not have to be local-only anymore but can be linked up to one's Windows Live ID. This has the advantage that users will not lose their settings and files as they move from their home computer to their work laptop or to any other computer also using Windows 8.
Other new features include a new Welcome screen, a new packaged application model called AppX that is based on Silverlight, and Open Packaging Conventions, as well as a setting to automatically adjust window color to fit the wallpaper.
A new "Hybrid Boot" option that uses "advanced hibernation functionality" on shutdown to allow faster startup times.
The system requirements for the Windows Developer Preview (a pre-release version of Windows 8) are similar to those of Windows 7.
Minimum hardware requirements for Windows Developer Preview :
Minimum hardware requirements for Windows Developer Preview :
- Architecture : 32bit and 64bit systems
- Processor : With 1Ghz Clock Speed
- Memory (RAM) : 1 GB for 32bit ; 2 GB for 64bit
- Graphics Card : DirectX 9 graphics processor with WDDM 1.0 (Not absolutely necessary; only required for Aero hardware acceleration)
- HDD Free Space : 16 GB for 32bit ; 20 GB for 64bit
Download Windows 8 Release Preview for free :
(2.5 GB) (3.3 GB) |
* All of the following come on a disk image file (.iso). See below for installation instructions.
Products Key: TK8TP-9JN6P-7X7WW-RFFTV-B7QPF
Products Key: TK8TP-9JN6P-7X7WW-RFFTV-B7QPF
How to install Windows 8 from an .iso image
A clean install is supported on all builds, but you can upgrade if you are installing a download without the developer tools. You will receive the full set of migration options when setup is launched in Windows. To dual-boot, you must first boot from media and choose an alternative partition.
The Windows 8 Release Preview is delivered as an .iso image that must be converted into installation media stored on a DVD or a USB flash drive.
The Windows 8 Release Preview is delivered as an .iso image that must be converted into installation media stored on a DVD or a USB flash drive.
Install using DVD Drive :
You can install Windows 8 by burning the .iso image on a disc. Most of the DVD-RW drives supply Nero Burner with them. You can download Nero Burner from here. Or you can use any Disc Burner you wish. If you use Nero just simply open the .iso image with nero, insert a blank writable disc and click burn. Then boot from the disc to install Windows 8 Developer Preview.
Note: The .iso file that contains the developer tools requires a large capacity DVD called a DVD-9, as well as a DVD burner that can handle dual-layer (DL) DVDs. Most modern burners should be able to handle this format.
Note: The .iso file that contains the developer tools requires a large capacity DVD called a DVD-9, as well as a DVD burner that can handle dual-layer (DL) DVDs. Most modern burners should be able to handle this format.
Install using Flash Drive :
You can also intall Windows 8 using a flash drive. But you have to make the flash drive bootable. We would prefer you to use WinToFlash.
It is a Third party program for converting a flash drive into a bootable intallation disc. But dont worry you can make it normal again by formatting it.
Now follow the instructions below :
1. Extract the .iso file into a folder. (Using Winrar)
2. Open WinToFlash and click on the box (tickmark).
3. Now click next and specify the folder where you extracted the Windows 8 files.
4. Select your Flash Drive on the USB Drive bar and click next.
5. Wait for 5-10 minutes and when its done click next and exit.
6. Now you can boot from your flash drive and install Windows 8.
Note: It is required that the flash drive must be atleast 4GB of space.
It is a Third party program for converting a flash drive into a bootable intallation disc. But dont worry you can make it normal again by formatting it.
Now follow the instructions below :
1. Extract the .iso file into a folder. (Using Winrar)
2. Open WinToFlash and click on the box (tickmark).
3. Now click next and specify the folder where you extracted the Windows 8 files.
4. Select your Flash Drive on the USB Drive bar and click next.
5. Wait for 5-10 minutes and when its done click next and exit.
6. Now you can boot from your flash drive and install Windows 8.
Note: It is required that the flash drive must be atleast 4GB of space.