Are you desperate to try out the Windows 8 Release Preview? Before you jump straight in you need to consider whether it’s an OS you’re ready to commit to using. It’ll try to install itself over Windows 7, or replace Vista or XP completely by default. Not exactly desirable considering there will still be compatibility issues, bugs that need working out, and it’s not actually the final version. Plus this release isn’t going to
preview alongside your current Windows OS. That way you can decided which installation you want to use, as both will work simultaneously, plus you can test run the Windows 8 preview without making a commitment to it, and without losing any files. Here’s our easy how to guide.
Download the files
1. The first thing you’ll need to do is download the Windows 8 installer preview from the Microsoft website.2. After you’ve clicked “Get it now” select the option to download the preview. This will then download the files to your machine.
3. Select the “Run” option both times it pops up, and allow any changes when prompted by the download.
Get ready to install the software
The installation will then scan your machine to make sure that it’s capable of running Windows 8, and to find out whether you will require the 32 bit or 64 bit version. It will then download the files respectively, whilst this part of the installation is running you may need to make a few alterations to your computer. For example clearing space or defragging your hard drive.Create your bootable Flash Drive or DVD
1. On the next screen it’ll ask whether you’re ready to install. Select the option to ‘Install on another partition’, continue through the options (clicking ‘Next’ when required).2. We will assume you would rather make a bootable flash drive for the purposes of this article.
Click ‘USB flash drive’ then select ‘Next’ again and select your USB from the list.
3. Select ‘Next’ and your computer will get to making your disk. Bear in mind this bit can be a bit of a lengthy process.
Make a partition
You’ll now to create that all important partition, so that you have somewhere to install windows 8 on your computer alongside your existing version. Don’t forget to back everything up just in case, since you’re reducing the amount of space your computer has available it makes good sense to ensure you’ve got everything saved out.1. Once you’ve done this, open the Start menu and and right click ‘Computer’, click ‘Manage’ and then choose ‘Disk Management’.
2. Right click your hard drive and then choose ‘Shrink Volume’.
3. Windows 8 requires a minimum of 20GB available, so put 20,000 when prompted with ‘Enter the amount of space to shrink in MB’. Then select ‘Shrink’.
4. You’ll then see an unallocated section with 20GB available. This is going to be where you install the Windows 8 release preview.
5. Right click it, the choose ‘New Simple Volume’. Go through the options, clicking ‘Next’ until you reach ‘Volume Label’, in here type ‘Windows 8′.
6. Continue through the options, then select ‘Finish’.
This only works if you have Windows seven. In Windows vista and Windows xp there are different ways to shrink a partition on a hard drive.
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