Windows 8 Developer Preview release

DOWNLOADS AVAILABLE NOW!!

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/home/

If you’ve been following this blog, then you know today is a big day for the Windows team. At the BUILD conference we are about to preview Windows 8. There’s a ton to see in the product and so we’d really encourage everyone to check out the available streams on http://buildwindows.com, where we will webcast the keynote. The BUILD conference this week is focused on developers and hardware partners, and there are over 100 sessions (all of which will be available from the link above within about a day of the scheduled presentation time). In that sense it is good to keep in mind that today is the launch of the developer opportunity for Windows, not the launch of a product (and certainly not the launch of new devices).

Windows 8 represents a reimagining of Windows from the chipset to the experience. Since this is a week focused on developers, we also detailed the bold underpinnings of the re-imagination of the Windows platform, tools, and APIs. We will show off the opportunity to build applications for all of the customers of Windows 8, no matter what type of PC they have—from tablets to laptops to convertibles to desktops. We will show the brand new tools that allow you to code Metro style applications in HTML5/JavaScript, C/C++, and/or C#/XAML. The investments you have made as developers in all of these languages carry forward for Windows 8, which lets you choose how to best make use of the Windows 8 system services. We talked about Windows 8 being a no-compromise OS for end-users, and it is also a no-compromise platform for developers.

Many are interested in Windows 8 for ARM processors. Everything we showcased today at BUILD also runs on the ARM-based Windows PCs being created by ARM partners and PC manufacturers. Windows 8 running on ARM will ultimately be available with ARM-based hardware that you can purchase. ARM requires a deeper level of integrated engineering between hardware and software, as each ARM device is unique, and Windows allows this uniqueness to shine through. The new development tools enable you to start today to build Metro style applications that will seamlessly run on x86 (32 and 64 bit) or ARM architectures. Even if you use native C/C++ code, these tools will enable Metro style apps to target specific hardware if you choose. As new PCs become available for testing, PC manufacturers will develop seed programs for developers.

You probably want to try out the preview release—and you can. Starting at 8PM today, Seattle time, you can download all of the code that attendees at BUILD received. This includes 32 or 64 bit x86 builds, with or without development tools. The releases also include a suite of sample/SDK applications and the SDK (please note these are merely illustrations of potential apps, not apps that we intend to ship with Windows 8). The ISOs are linked to from http://dev.windows.com. You download with a Windows Live ID (which you might want to use to test out some of the new roaming features).

Upgrade from Windows 7 installation is not supported for pre-release code; only clean installs are supported. Reminder: this is a developer preview release and is not meant for production. It is not a beta release. We will be updating the release with various quality updates and drivers over the coming weeks/months just to exercise our overall update and telemetry mechanisms.

We’ve got a lot more blogging to do. So stay tuned. This blog continues to be a big part of the development process. Now we have a lot more shared context, and so we expect folks commenting on posts to be running the Preview so we share in the context of the release. Let’s keep comments focused on the topic at hand and we’ll pay attention for potential new topics. We know there will be a lot—that comes from reimagining a product used by a billion people!
--Steven

More...


See also:

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorial...-usb-dvd-windows-8-developer-preview-iso.html

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorial...dows-upgrade-windows-8-developer-preview.html

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2241-virtualbox-install-windows-8-developer-preview.html

 

[kado897]

My install is in VMPlayer but I just allowed the installer to default. It was the same when I originally installed in VBox.

 

[xxxdannyxxx]

It just keeps you boot files off you windows drive. Heres some reading for you -
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/119151-system-reserved-create-using-disk-management.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/installa...c-pros-cons-system-reserved-partition-me.html

 

[xxxdannyxxx]

It seems like a few people are getting 350mb for their system reserved partition Keith. Interesting that you say its using 206Mb. Mine is only 200Mb and contains sevens boot file too.

 

[mikedl]

It just keeps you boot files off you windows drive. Heres some reading for you -
System Reserved : Create Using Disk Management - Windows 7 Forums
Specific pros and cons of system reserved partition for me - Windows 7 Forums

With all due respect, I've never found it necessary.

 

[Bill2]

Mike, sysres is essential only if you need to use bootlocker.

Danny, 100 mb is the default size created by the installer but it can be expanded by the user. Many OEM machines come with peculiar sysres sizes say 101 mb, 200 mb and so on. FYI, the 100 mb partition is too small to contain the actual recovery files, those are actually placed on the windows drive. Some OEM machines even come with sysres bigger than a gig and the recovery files placed on sysres.

 

[xxxdannyxxx]

It isn't a necessity, I suppose it boils down to personal preference.

 

[xxxdannyxxx]

Bill2 Do you have any information on Windows 8 creating the system reserved partition at 350Mb and how this may effect a dual boot with an already created smaller partition.

Danny

 

[brummyfan]

I can see the system reserved but I couldn't find how much is used.

Its in the written information at the top of the disk management page.

Thanks Danny.

 

[Bill2]

Bill2 Do you have any information on Windows 8 creating the system reserved partition at 350Mb and how this may effect a dual boot with an already created smaller partition.

Danny

Danny I'm yet to dual boot 7 and 8 cos am using 8 full fledged. But what I saw while helping paarkhi yesterday (you can search that thread) was that sometimes the sysres may not be big enough if you're dual booting. Paarkhi increased its size to 650 mb (though that large may not be required) and only after that was he able to install 8.

 

[mikedl]

I'm dual booting and all I did was create a new partition and install the DP8102.
No sysres at all. Simple. Easy peasy. Dual boot is fine. I've already been through a refresh.

 

[rowal5555]

"System Reserved Partition?"
Where are you guys seeing that?

I hate to sound like a noob (I'm not) but I've never had to worry about "System Reserved Partition" or ever been confronted with sizing whatever it is.

My DM screenshot:

View attachment 2024

You probably have to have to "View Hidden System Files" in Folder options, or it is in the new ribbon on an appropriate page.

 

[xxxdannyxxx]

Thanks Bill that's very interesting something to bear in mind.

Danny

 

[vrosa]

I'm dual booting and all I did was create a new partition and install the DP8102.

Simple like here.

In my laptop there's an OEM partition (not sysres) with some recovery tools, but Win8 didnt create anything new.

In my other rig there's a 100 MB partition (Win7 sysres)... but no need to increase its size to install WDP like some reported here.

 

[kado897]

This is mine in VMPlayer with an install onto an empty virtual disk.

 

[xxxdannyxxx]

I'm dual booting and all I did was create a new partition and install the DP8102.

Simple like here.

In my laptop there's an OEM partition (not sysres) with some recovery tools, but Win8 didnt create anything new.

In my other rig there's a 100 MB partition (Win7 sysres)... but no need to increase its size to install WDP like some reported here.

My System Reserved is 200Mb and I dual booted with no issues.May be something to bear in mind for the future though.

 

[mikedl]

"System Reserved Partition?"
Where are you guys seeing that?

I hate to sound like a noob (I'm not) but I've never had to worry about "System Reserved Partition" or ever been confronted with sizing whatever it is.

My DM screenshot:

View attachment 2024

You probably have to have to "View Hidden System Files" in Folder options, or it is in the new ribbon on an appropriate page.

One of the first things I did (enable system and hidden files).

Seriously, if it's not showing up on my disk management, I have no sysres partition. I never have.

I still cannot find a really good reason to have one except for maybe a new computer with a branded sysres.
Kinda like when I bought this laptop with Vista installed and rolled back to XP. I eliminated the system partition. When I upgraded to Win7 I never looked back and never had a sysres. When I installed Win8 7989, I never had a sysres. When I deleted that partition and installed win8 8102, I never had a sysres.

 

[Bill2]

Lol, you don't need to unhide hidden files to see sysres. Since sysres doesn't have a drive letter, it wont show up in windows explorer. To see it, go to the disk management window.

 

[mikedl]

Lol, you don't need to unhide hidden files to see sysres. Since sysres doesn't have a drive letter, it wont show up in windows explorer. To see it, go to the disk management window.

Yeah, I know.

Before I get flamed, however, I have to admit, I misspoke about "never having a sysres." I did have one on my laptop when I bought it with Vista installed, as I recollect a bit more clearly, but I quickly removed it when I downgraded (upgraded, in my eyes) to XP.

That was then, this is now, and I'm lovin' Win7 as well as pre-beta Win8 (no sysres).

 

[xxxdannyxxx]

In my opinion It can be an advantage in a dual boot. In your case Mike if im not mistaken if you deleted your Windows 7 partition for a clean install Windows 8 wouldn't boot as 7 is the active partition and you would be removing the boot files for 8. You would have to run a start-up repair on 8 to mark it as active to get it to boot.Its totally personal choices.

 

[mikedl]

In my opinion It can be an advantage in a dual boot. In your case Mike if you deleted you Windows 7 partition for a clean install Windows 8 wouldn't boot as 7 is the active partition and you would be removing the boot files for 8. You would have to run a start-up repair on 8 to mark it as active to get it to boot.Its totally personal choices.

Hi, Danny!

Thing is, when I installed Win8 7989, all I did was create a partition and install it. When I went to Win8 8102, I deleted the Win8 7989 partition and just installed it there. I never deleted my Win7 partition, just re-sized it to fit the initial Win8 7989 leak.

Dual boot worked both times.
I liked the new Win8 8102 OS selection screen but changed the boot order in "Options" at the selection screen pushing me back to the standard Win7 OS selection screen. I did a refresh of Win8 8102 and now I have the Win8 8102 OS selection screen again.