Solved What hardware is really required?

pensionada

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My system uses an Intel Pentium 4 CPU (3.00GHZ 2.99 GHz) with 3GB RAM
I have been using Windows 7 Ultimate for a couple of years.
On a seperate partition I had installed Windows 8 Consumer Preview which ran OK.
Now I would like to replace this with a later (prerelease) version of W8 but I get a message saying:

This PC can't run Windows 8 - Your PC's CPU isn't compatible with Windows 8.

So, what hardware should one really have for Windows 8 ??
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 ultimate
You need a CPU with the NX (no execute) capability. It goes by different names on different CPUs but generally "NX" or "NX bit" works when doing goggle searches about it. Such as "Does the Pentium 4 support the NX bit?"
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7/8
Thank you, but I do not really understand your response.

But, I tried again, this time by booting from a DVD (rather than starting from within windows) and now the message did not come up and Windows8 installed OK.

So, whatever, NX is, I either have it or the check was bypassed by booting.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 ultimate
You need to find out the exact model of CPU you have, download something like CPU-Z and it should tell you. CPU-Z should also tell you if it supports the NX bit.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    CPU
    Intel i7 3770K
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Z77X-UD4 TH
    Memory
    16GB DDR3 1600
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVidia GTX 650
    Sound Card
    Onboard Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Auria 27" IPS + 2x Samsung 23"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440 + 2x 2048x1152
    Hard Drives
    Corsair m4 256GB, 2 WD 2TB drives
    Case
    Antec SOLO II
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000
    Mouse
    Logitech MX
If it's a 5xx Pentium 4 "Prescott" LGA775 or older (and not a 5xxJ), it does not have NX or "XD", what Intel called it way back when. Some of the really late-to-the-game 5xx series P4s released in 2005/2006 had XD and were 64bit capable, but these weren't really all that common and most OEMs and retailers had started selling and using 6xx P4s at the time as they were cheaper, for the most part, especially in bulk.

In reality, all we need to know is the model number, and whether or not it's a 64bit-capable CPU (all "Intel64"-capable CPUs can do XD or NX, even P4s).
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel Core i7 4790K @ 4.5GHz
    Motherboard
    Asus Maximus Hero VII
    Memory
    32GB DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GeForce GTX970
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio
    Hard Drives
    1x Samsung 250GB SSD
    4x WD RE 2TB (RAIDZ)
    PSU
    Corsair AX760i
    Case
    Fractal Design Define R4
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-D15
Also, some systems have the NX bit disabled in the BIOS. Check your bios and make sure this is not the case.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    CPU
    Intel i7 3770K
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Z77X-UD4 TH
    Memory
    16GB DDR3 1600
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVidia GTX 650
    Sound Card
    Onboard Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Auria 27" IPS + 2x Samsung 23"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440 + 2x 2048x1152
    Hard Drives
    Corsair m4 256GB, 2 WD 2TB drives
    Case
    Antec SOLO II
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000
    Mouse
    Logitech MX
cpu.PNG

This is my CPU, but as mentioned before, Windows 8 has been installed succesfully (I am actually using it right now), so I presume NX is installed and active.

Thank you all for your good advices.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 ultimate
Yes, your CPU does have the NX bit. It sounds like something you had installed had disabled NX, which is why the upgrade did not work.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    CPU
    Intel i7 3770K
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Z77X-UD4 TH
    Memory
    16GB DDR3 1600
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVidia GTX 650
    Sound Card
    Onboard Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Auria 27" IPS + 2x Samsung 23"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440 + 2x 2048x1152
    Hard Drives
    Corsair m4 256GB, 2 WD 2TB drives
    Case
    Antec SOLO II
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000
    Mouse
    Logitech MX
View attachment 9224

This is my CPU, but as mentioned before, Windows 8 has been installed succesfully (I am actually using it right now), so I presume NX is installed and active.

Thank you all for your good advices.

Sorry about the commentary, but are you dual-booting? Windows RP will expire. :huh:
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro, iOS 7.1, Elementary OS
    Computer type
    Tablet
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Apple
    Memory
    1 GB
    Screen Resolution
    2048x1536
    Other Info
    iPad Air
Any computer that could run Windows 7 smoothly without breaks, kinks can run Windows 8. Windows 8 Memory management is much better than Windows 7!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 RTM
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP
    CPU
    G860
    Motherboard
    H61
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    G310
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