How to Correctly Install Windows 8.1 Preview

The official documentation that reached the web recently reveal that Windows 8 users should basically make the switch to Windows 8.1 Preview via the Windows Store, as this is the safest, easiest, and fastest way to do it.

Separate ISOs will also be offered for those who wish to set up a dual-boot configuration and install Windows 8.1 Preview on a different partition. Here’s what Microsoft says about it.

How to Correctly Install Windows 8.1 Preview


See also: http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/27188-windows-8-1-preview-download-install.html

 

[johnpombrio]

Just a warning. The Win8.1 Preview acts just like a Win8 refresh, i.e. all your present files and programs on your boot drive are loaded into a folder called windows.old. This is NOT a Service Pack or simple patch but a complete reload of Win8. Two issues. One is that any program that has info in the registry will have to be reinstalled. The other is that if you have an SSD that is filled up, you will need to back it up somewhere, do a clean install and move the files and programs back onto the drive.
Is this correct? I stopped my Technet install once I saw that it would do a refresh rather than just upgrade Win8. I want to do a clone of my SSD before I touch this puppy!

 

[alphanumeric]

ISO's are available on TechNet and MSDN, if you have a subscription. I've already downloaded the 64 bit ISO. Language packs are there too.

 

[alphanumeric]

Just a warning. The Win8.1 Preview acts just like a Win8 refresh, i.e. all your present files and programs on your boot drive are loaded into a folder called .old. This is NOT a Service Pack or simple patch but a complete reload of Win8. Two issues. One is that any program that has info in the registry will have to be reinstalled. The other is that if you have an SSD that is filled up, you will need to back it up somewhere, do a clean install and move the files and programs back onto the drive.
Is this correct? I stopped my Technet install once I saw that it would do a refresh rather than just upgrade Win8. I want to do a clone of my SSD before I touch this puppy!

Now that you mention it I see a Windows .old folder on my OS drive, its only a little over 4 gig in size though. Disk cleanup got ride of it. Other than having to log back into a couple of web sites non of my programs or apps have lost any of their settings. Not that I've noticed but I haven't been using 8.1 for very long.

 

[Nemix]

Yeah I heard bummer I don't have a TechNet or MSDN subscription so I'll just have to wait for the Microsoft consumer preview download to be made available later today.

I'm treating the preview the same way I treated the leaks as a beta, so I'm planing on installing the OS as a fresh install onto my secondary SSD for my testing pleasure.

 

[johnpombrio]

Just a warning. The Win8.1 Preview acts just like a Win8 refresh, i.e. all your present files and programs on your boot drive are loaded into a folder called .old. This is NOT a Service Pack or simple patch but a complete reload of Win8. Two issues. One is that any program that has info in the registry will have to be reinstalled. The other is that if you have an SSD that is filled up, you will need to back it up somewhere, do a clean install and move the files and programs back onto the drive.
Is this correct? I stopped my Technet install once I saw that it would do a refresh rather than just upgrade Win8. I want to do a clone of my SSD before I touch this puppy!

Now that you mention it I see a Windows .old folder on my OS drive, its only a little over 4 gig in size though. Disk cleanup got ride of it. Other than having to log back into a couple of web sites non of my programs or apps have lost any of their settings. Not that I've noticed but I haven't been using 8.1 for very long.

These are the choices that are given on the Technet version of Win8.1 Preview .iso setup file. Nothing is said about programs, only about apps (programs?) and stuff in your user folder. It definitely does say that some apps/programs will have to be reinstalled. Sure sounds like a refresh to me.

 

[alphanumeric]

Just a warning. The Win8.1 Preview acts just like a Win8 refresh, i.e. all your present files and programs on your boot drive are loaded into a folder called .old. This is NOT a Service Pack or simple patch but a complete reload of Win8. Two issues. One is that any program that has info in the registry will have to be reinstalled. The other is that if you have an SSD that is filled up, you will need to back it up somewhere, do a clean install and move the files and programs back onto the drive.
Is this correct? I stopped my Technet install once I saw that it would do a refresh rather than just upgrade Win8. I want to do a clone of my SSD before I touch this puppy!

Now that you mention it I see a Windows .old folder on my OS drive, its only a little over 4 gig in size though. Disk cleanup got ride of it. Other than having to log back into a couple of web sites non of my programs or apps have lost any of their settings. Not that I've noticed but I haven't been using 8.1 for very long.

View attachment 23672

These are the choices that are given on the Technet version of Win8.1 Preview .iso setup file. Nothing is said about programs, only about apps (programs?) and stuff in your user folder. It definitely does say that some apps/programs will have to be reinstalled. Sure sounds like a refresh to me.

I updated though the Store not via ISO image so that changes things. The windows kernel changes from 6.2 to 6.3, this is more than a service pack.

 

[andyparks]

Windows 8.1 preview hits download snag in UK | IT PRO

 

[Teerex]

Mine failed the first time I updated from the store, I got a 0x8020002e error. I eventually rebooted and tried again and it worked. The system screen now reads Windows 8.1 Pro Preview with Media Center. Anybody else noticed that there is no WEI score now?

Interesting. All traces of WEI have been removed in My Windows 8.1 Pro Preview as well. Maybe it'll be added back in the final since this is just a preview.

Not all of it. The Windows\Performance folder is still there, and in it Winsat.exe and the Datastore folder. With no apparent way to make it run. And it doesn't do so automatically.

 

[CountMike]

Avoid the torrents.

Get from TechNet/MSDN. If you don't have a subscription wait for the public availability later today.

My sentiments exactly but Alpha and Beta versions I did download from a torrent but from about fifth or sixth time. Was not aware that MS office in Belgrade was giving the to whom ever asked. Afterwards I got consumer preview from them. When RTM came out they they gave it to me without even asking and when full version came out got it for $19.95. So I think I got a good bargoon there, otherwise I don't think I could afford it for full retail price.

 

[Brink]

Mine failed the first time I updated from the store, I got a 0x8020002e error. I eventually rebooted and tried again and it worked. The system screen now reads Windows 8.1 Pro Preview with Media Center. Anybody else noticed that there is no WEI score now?

Interesting. All traces of WEI have been removed in My Windows 8.1 Pro Preview as well. Maybe it'll be added back in the final since this is just a preview.

Not all of it. The Windows\Performance folder is still there, and in it Winsat.exe and the Datastore folder. With no apparent way to make it run. And it doesn't do so automatically.

Interesting. Perhaps WEI will be added back in Windows 8.1 Final.

 

[retiredat44]

So it looks like no 8.1 until it gets released

same here,, not going to mess up my Win8 computers with a preview,, it would really suck if that went bad and/or I had to jump through hoops when the final comes out

 

[B Gates]

Hello I can't get 8.1 to install no matter what I try. ISO or app store no dice it keeps bsod it gave me an err that said "system thread exception not handled iastorav.sys" when trying to install from iso. When trying to install from app store it downloads runs and when it restarts the fish pops up then it bsod's and reverts back to win 8 saying could not update with a error code of 0xc1900101-0x200c

 

[CountMike]

Maybe it would be good idea to install 8.1 on "virgin" windows, without any third party software, specially AV, there's no vay in this short time everybody could synchronize everything. That's what I'll do when I get ISO of it. Btw. is ISO available yet, oficialy ?

 

[B Gates]

well I can install it on a separate drive just not on my triple boot raid volume which is odd because i can do it with another win 8 install and triple boot

 

[Brink]

Maybe it would be good idea to install 8.1 on "virgin" windows, without any third party software, specially AV, there's no vay in this short time everybody could synchronize everything. That's what I'll do when I get ISO of it. Btw. is ISO available yet, oficialy ?

Hello Mike,

Sure is. See OPTION TWO below.


http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/27188-windows-8-1-preview-download-install.html

 

[andyparks]

So it looks like no 8.1 until it gets released

same here,, not going to mess up my Win8 computers with a preview,, it would really suck if that went bad and/or I had to jump through hoops when the final comes out

I want to install the preview but cant because microsoft forgot English(uk)

 

[theog]

So it looks like no 8.1 until it gets released

same here,, not going to mess up my Win8 computers with a preview,, it would really suck if that went bad and/or I had to jump through hoops when the final comes out

I want to install the preview but cant because microsoft forgot English(uk)

You can download the ISO.
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/27188-windows-8-1-preview-download-install.html

 

[brummyfan]

So it looks like no 8.1 until it gets released

same here,, not going to mess up my Win8 computers with a preview,, it would really suck if that went bad and/or I had to jump through hoops when the final comes out

I want to install the preview but cant because microsoft forgot English(uk)

You can download .iso image and follow the instructions from the link in Shawn's post above.

 

[andyparks]

and lose apps and programs

 

[Brink]

and lose apps and programs

Please see the replies at the link below for the same thing you posted already. You have choices, but you just need to pick one.

http://www.eightforums.com/windows-...n-microsoft-get-its-mojo-back.html#post248900