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

 

[Lynn]

Thanks caperjack, will be waiting for the final 8.1 to come out. Lynn

 

[caperjack]

Thanks caperjack, will be waiting for the final 8.1 to come out. Lynn

your welcome

 

[TerryE]

There are some differences between Windows 8 Pro and the regular Windows 8. I don't have the info in front of me at the moment but both versions are available as 32-bit or 64-bit operating systems. The Windows 8.1 Pro preview is available as either 32-bit or 64-bit. Beyond that they are functionally the same.

It's not unusual for Microsoft to release a preview in one version only. For example, the Windows Server 2012 R2 preview is only the Datacenter Edition, which is the high-end version of the OS.

 

[TerryE]

Following up to the question I posted here a day or so ago aboput upgrading a Windows 8 VHD installation to 8.1.

Bottom line: I could not find an easy way to do this. You cannot upgrade unless you start setup within the "old" OS (that is, a boot from the Windows 8.1 DVD doesn't allow an upgrade). I tried that first and was met with the obstacle I mentioned: "you can't upgrade a VHD" so I have given up. I'm sure that with some third-party tools I might be able to do something like that but it isn't worth all that effort. It's not that I have much running on Windows 8 anyway.

I wound up creating a new VHD for Windows 8.1 and installed the preview to that. After some initial weirdness and a reboot it seems to be doing pretty well now. It "found" my Windows 8.1 VM and copied my settings from there, and that went rather flawlessly.

"Initial weirdness" I encountered after setup:

- Display resolution was all wrong and I could not set it to the natvie resolution of my monitor (1440 x 900).
- Apps I opened only appeared as minimized icons on the desktop toolbar. I could not open them.
- Reboot hung and I had to hard boot the machine

All those issues were resolved after the reboot.

 

[Kang]

Clean Install on Test Bench

Can I install 8.1 preview on new hard drive without any previous os? My plan is to install it on an open test bench computer so I can test it with different hardware configurations.
fyi, I do not have any windows 8 licenses atm.

 

[SIW2]

Yes.

 

[caperjack]

fyi, I do not have any windows 8 licenses atm.

as alread stated yes, just download the win 8.1 .iso and it will come with a key for you to use

 

[abseh1]

Note:

I believe... Windows 8.1 Preview and Windows RT 8.1 Preview expires on January 15th 2014.


Credits:

Published by Brink​

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