DOWNLOAD: Windows 8 Release Preview

I think it deserves a new thread.


DOWNLOAD _________________________________________________________________

Download site.

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At MSDN, this download is called "Windows 8 Release Preview with Apps".


INSTALL ____________________________________________________________________

VMWare Player 4.0.3 works.

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For any temporary Windows 7 or 8 installation I can recommend using VHD (Virtual Hard Disk), if your main OS supports it. The Virtual Hard Drive is a file that works like a partition/volume.
This means that you don't have to make a separate partition for say Windows 8 beta, and when you want to delete it you just delete it like any other file, and restore the BCD to remove the entry there (or delete W8 in MSConfig).
You can set the VHD to be flexible. It will keep a minimum size, and expand when needed up to the maximum size set by you.
The VHD OS is started from the boot menu, just like on a regular dual boot machine.

It basically doesn't have the two most common issues partitions have:
1 - How to add or remove partitions.
2 - Partition may get full.

Since it's a single file, it's also easy to copy or move.

Guide to Installing and Booting Windows 8 Developer Preview off a VHD (Virtual Hard Disk) - Scott Hanselman
Remember to backup your BCD. Part 2 and 4 are the needed extra steps for VHD.
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LoL; "Note before you download: Windows 8 Release Preview is prerelease software that may be substantially modified before it’s commercially released. Microsoft makes no warranties, express or implied, with respect to the information provided here. Some product features and functionality may require additional hardware or software."

 

Swedish is available? That's funny, with only 10 million native speakers it's tiny compared to the other languages available.

 

Seems like a perfectly reasonable warranty disclaimer to me for a pre-retail-release download. What's lol-worthy about it?

EDIT: didn't see that that was in response to the virtual hard drive suggestion, which voids all sorts of warranties on your machine if you use pre-retail Win 8 on it. So yeah, if you care about warranties, don't go the VHD route.

 

Not just that but essentiaally they are saying that the OS could be entirely different from the preview and the change could be done without any warrning. So you are essentialy previewing what they MIGHT DO not what they WILL DO. I just need to be sure I get a new system before this is forced down my throat.

Now since the desktop (old explorer.exe) is removed from the base OS boot up maybe some others like Apple, KDE, Object Desktop, etc. can put out full blown GUI's. It may even be possible for software companies to develop other user interfaces of their own without the old GUI's hinderance. Maybe then Windows 8 will get interesting.................

 

I don't understand what you mean, where do they mention VHD, and why should it be worse than dual boot for instance?

 

For those who wants power buttons, you make them just like in earlier Windows versions, and then right click and add them to Start. Alt F4 works as usual.
(I put Bliss there, just for you )

Use Classic Shell to add a Start menu, it still works in Release Preview.

You can set the Windows keys to trigger the Menu instead of Metro, add a start button. Lots of settings.

 

Sure you can use it now but they've already said they're going to remove all the shell code to bring back the classic start menu before the commercial release.

 

do you need a msdn subscription to download this?

 

This just makes me so frustrated. I hope they pull their heads out of their butts soon.

 

That's a later issue. (But yes, it will be an issue for some.)

I assume you didn't try the link? No subscriptions needed, just download!