Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Windows 8 Consumer Preview is Out: Download, Poke Around & Share Your Thoughts!

Windows 8If you haven’t heard so already, Microsoft has released the Windows 8 Consumer Preview for fans, skeptics and neutral parties to download, play with and [hopefully] enjoy.

Recommended Hardware for Windows 8 Consumer Preview


According to Microsoft, the Windows 8 Consumer Preview should run fine on the very same hardware that Windows 7 functions on, but the following specs are recommended:

  • 1 GHz or faster processor

  • 1 GB RAM (32-bit) or 2 GB RAM (64-bit)

  • 16 GB available hard disk space (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit)

  • DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver

  • 1024 x 768 minimum screen resolution


Where to Download Windows 8 Consumer Preview


You can take one of two paths to download the Windows 8 Consumer Preview:

  • Download Windows 8 Consumer Preview Setup – includes a compatibility report, upgrade assistance & built-in tool for converting an ISO image into installation media (such as a DVD or USB flash drive).

  • Download Windows 8 Consumer Preview ISO images – alternative to the Windows 8 Consumer Preview Setup; you will need to use a third-party program to convert the ISO to a DVD or USB thumb drive. Available in English, Chinese, French, German and Japanese in:

    • 64-bit (x64) ~3.3GB

    • 32-bit (x86) ~2.5GB




Where to Get Help with Windows 8 Consumer Preview


If you do happen to download the Windows 8 Consumer Preview, keep in mind that it is beta software, so hiccups and bugs are to be expected. No official support is available; however, you can get help by visiting the:

Additionally, Microsoft will be publishing a series of posts focused on Windows 8 on the Windows Experience Blog, so you may want to periodically check in there as well.

Have fun exploring the new Windows OS!

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