How to install Windows 8.1 Preview

How to install Windows 8.1 Preview

What is windows 8.1

Windows 8.1 is the new update or can say new version of Windows 8 with some enhancement in the previous windows 8. A preview version was released on June 26, 2013, for Windows 8 and Windows RT. This is not a service pack or patch to windows 8.

Windows 8.1 preview is a developer version of windows 8.1. Final version will be released at this year end. See what is new in windows 8.1 in next post.

Windows 8.1 Preview

You can download and install windows 8.1 preview freely on your windows 8 machine. But remember when the final version will be released you are not able to upgrade your laptop. You have to totally uninstall than install final version of 8.1.

Windows 8.1 can be installed on windows 8 machine through App store but as you cannot upgrade with the final version, it is safer to download iso image than made dual boot from DVD or USB disk as that was done at the time of Windows 8 Developer Preview were released last year.

Before going to test you must make a system image and also take backup of all your files in the external hard disk so that you can easily come back on windows 8 using backup.

Using Windows App store you can upgrade if you are on Windows 8 Pro or RT. If you have windows 8 enterprise version you have to download first iso image.

How to install Windows 8.1 Preview-

Any device that can run Windows 8 should be able to run the Windows 8.1 Preview. The Windows RT 8.1 Preview requires that Windows RT already be installed and that you have at least 10 GB of free storage space. The update is available in 14 supported lanugages: English (U.S.), English (U.K.), Arabic, Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), French, German, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, and Turkish. Language Packs are available after installation for other supported languages, via PC Settings.

To install via store open this link Windows 8.1 Download

On this page click over “ Get The Update” after an executable file will be downloaded, install this file and follow the instructions.

Windows 8 enterprise users can download the iso image according to their bit version from the same page or click on this link . Product key for iso image installation is  – Product Key: NTTX3-RV7VB-T7X7F-WQYYY-9Y92F

On this iso image you can create a bootable USB disk or you have to burn it using windows image burner to DVD disk from that you can install windows 8.1.

If you are running on windows  8 just insert the dvd and double click on setup.exe to upgrade your OS. If you are running on Windows 7 you can keep your personal files in install but if you are running with Vista or XP you have to clean install using booting with DVD/Bootable Usb drive.

See the FAQ from Microsoft before installing. You can also choose option to dual boot as like that was discussed when Windows 8 consumer and developer previews were released see the this post to follow how to install and easily un-install windows-8.1 without affecting your existing installation.

Related Posts-

Everything you would like to know about windows 8.1 – zdnet.com

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