Windows 8 Preview.

chin_grin

Looks a lot like Windows mobile. A tad childish to be honest!

http://lifehacker.com/5839819/windows-8-preview-available-for-download-tonight

Windows 8 Preview Available for Download Tonight
Windows: If you're eager to give Windows 8 a spin, you'll get your chance starting at 8 pm Pacific time tonight, when Microsoft will make the Windows 8 preview available as an ISO download on their developer website. You can opt for a 32-bit or 64-bit x86 build; developer tools will be optional.

PCWorld reports that because this is a prerelease code, not a beta release, a clean install is required.

Here's what Windows 8 looks like so far. Will you be giving it an early try?

Windows Dev Center | via PCWorld

G-Money

For those of you who are feeling adventurous, a buggy and not very stable developer preview of Windows 8 will be released by Microsoft later today. I think its 8pm PST it will be available to download.

http://dev.windows.com

From the reports on the Windows Supersite, it's definitely buggy and far from polished and not as good a quality as Windows 7 beta's and RC's publicly released, but I guess some people will want to try it out anyway.

yoyo

I can see "Classic Mode" being the most popular option :P I wonder is the Metro style GUI optional and you must go into it, surely its not a reflection of the actual OS :S

Nick

aidan_walsh

You have to remember that Windows 8 is their "everything but the phone" OS. So it'll be desktop, laptop, server and tablet. The Metro UI is, to the best of my knowledge, primarily aimed at the tablet side where a multitouch panel would be the way you are working with things.

The everywhere approach is a little worrying, IMO. It hasn't worked for Windows tablets in the past, and it'll be interesting to see if they'll be able to get it working well on the kind of low power hardware with the battery life that tablets demand. That said, they're talking about releasing over a year away so plenty of time for things to change hardware and software side.

Plowman

This post has been deleted.

DjFlin

The WP7 look can be turned off. I'm downloading the preview now. Cant wait to try it out.

AlmightyCushion

aidan_walsh wrote: »

The everywhere approach is a little worrying, IMO. It hasn't worked for Windows tablets in the past, and it'll be interesting to see if they'll be able to get it working well on the kind of low power hardware with the battery life that tablets demand. That said, they're talking about releasing over a year away so plenty of time for things to change hardware and software side.

It was always just a tacked on feature before though. They just lumped an on screen keyboard into the OS and that was pretty much it. They really seem to be focused on it this time though and the review on anandtech is very positive about the touch screen aspect of the preview.

As for the hardware, they did show a video of it running on a few different current gen arm processors before and it seemed to work very well. Saying that, they didn't do very much with it, just opened a few applications and messed about with word or powerpoint but everything ran very smoothly and better than I thought it would especially at such an early point. Also, the tablet that anandtech received was running very well although that's using a ULV core i5 and not an ARM processor. I'm cautiously optimistic about how it will work on tablets but I impressed so far to say the least.

I'm more worried they'll forget about desktop/laptop side of things or at least lose focus on that somewhat. The metro UI at this point is painful to use with a keyboard and mouse according to the anandtech article.

The live/skydrive integration is good and xbox live integration has great potential (hopefully it's not just a rebadged games for windows live). Also, 8 second boot is awesome. I won't expect that for every computer but even getting close is pretty damn sweet.

DjFlin

Been running the Developer build for about half an hour now, and am quite impressed. Running it on an Atom netbook with 1GB RAM, and its much more responsive than Windows 7. The Metro UI is nice and elegant, and the classic windows stuff is still there too, with slight changes, but nothing radically different. Will post in more detail after playing around some more

thelikelylad

Wow the lock screen looks great!



Can't wait to give it a go. Read somewhere about native ISO mounting? Anyone try that out yet?

heebusjeebus

I'm just installing it on Virtual Box now. Not sure if the Metro UI is something I'd ever use (definately not for my main home pc) but it is piquing my interest.

yoyo

heebusjeebus wrote: »

I'm just installing it on Virtual Box now. Not sure if the Metro UI is something I'd ever use (definately not for my main home pc) but it is piquing my interest.

If people want to install the windows 8 Dev Preview in VirtualBox, you will need to use the settings specified here , you can download the developer preview here

Nick

thelikelylad

yoyo wrote: »

If people want to install the windows 8 Dev Preview in VirtualBox, you will need to use the settings specified here , you can download the developer preview here

Nick

Do you need the 32-bit version to run on VirtualBox?

DjFlin

All I can say is. Windows 8 is fast. Like, really fast. Its much faster on my netbook than Windows 7 ever was. And its pretty stable too.

G-Money

Will be installing this tonight, all being well.

Voodu Child

Not going to bother trying it until a beta or RC but it looks promising.

Zascar

http://mashable.com/2011/09/14/windows-8-download/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Mashable+%28Mashable%29&utm_content=Google+International#view_as_one_page-gallery_box2357
http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2011/09/hands-on-with-windows-8-a-tablet-operating-system-for-the-pc-age.ars?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+arstechnica%2Findex+%28Ars+Technica+-+Featured+Content%29&utm_content=Google+International
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/home/

Has anyone given it a try yet? I might try to download it and do an install this weekend. Looks interesting but I'm not convinced on this new flashy thing they have, its like they are trying to port the (awful) Windows phone experience onto a PC. Hopefully I'm wrong but I can't see it being any good. Maybe the normal windows experience will be nice!


Apparently you can only do a clean install on this. However one articles suggests using VirtualBox to do a virtual install. I have never tried this is it difficult? What's the easiest way of doing it?

Villain

Installs on VirtualBox but at first glance Networking doesn't work and Video graphics are just basic.

yoyo

Don't like the Metro UI at all, maybe it will grow on me? I don't know though. It runs really fast and the explorer tweaks are pritty nice, very Office 2010ish. You can see its an OS for tablets alrite from its out of the box expierience, only checked it briefly will look again in more detail later.
The new task manager is very handy, it also shows which apps use the most CPU time which is handy troubleshooting dodgy apps slowing everything down. Is it a new version of IE in it, or still IE9? Looks different but thats the Metro UI.

Do you need the 32-bit version to run on VirtualBox?

I used the 32bit version, don't see why you'd run a virtualised 64bit OS, unless you have gigabytes of RAM, I gave it about 2 gig ram and it seemed zippy enough
BTW: what works in VirtualBox:
* Sound
* Internet Connectivity
- Resolution change
- Guest addtions-will need to be rewritten
- Video - All guest additions must be remade
Also I would not install this and use it as a primary OS, it isn't even at Release Candidate stage, just wait a bit longer...

Nick

yoyo

thelikelylad wrote: »

Do you need the 32-bit version to run on VirtualBox?

Zascar wrote: »

http://mashable.com/2011/09/14/windows-8-download/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Mashable+%28Mashable%29&utm_content=Google+International#view_as_one_page-gallery_box2357
http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2011/09/hands-on-with-windows-8-a-tablet-operating-system-for-the-pc-age.ars?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+arstechnica%2Findex+%28Ars+Technica+-+Featured+Content%29&utm_content=Google+International
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/home/

Has anyone given it a try yet? I might try to download it and do an install this weekend. Looks interesting but I'm not convinced on this new flashy thing they have, its like they are trying to port the (awful) Windows phone experience onto a PC. Hopefully I'm wrong but I can't see it being any good. Maybe the normal windows experience will be nice!


Apparently you can only do a clean install on this. However one articles suggests using VirtualBox to do a virtual install. I have never tried this is it difficult? What's the easiest way of doing it?

Very easy to install it on VirtualBox, but you will need to follow my instructions here, otherwise it will freeze mid setup!

Nick

Zascar

Thanks. Ok I see the info on that thread:

General: OS Type: Other/Unknown

System: Base Memory=1536MB
Chipset=PIIX3
[X] Enable IO APIC
[ ] Enable EFI
[X] Enable absolute pointing device

Processor: 1
[ ] Enable PAE/NX

Acceleration
[X] Enable VT-X/AMD-V
[X] Enable Nested Paging

Display: Options don't matter - leave them as is

Storage: Remove SATA Controller
IDE Controller: Type PIIX2
IDE Primary Master: HDD 20GB
IDE Secondary Master: Windows 8 DVD

Audio: Intel HD Audio

Network: Leave as is

Serial Ports: Leave as is (none required)

USB: Leave as is

I have never used Virtualbox before but I think I can see where these go in the settings so I'll give it a bash
Cheers

Zascar

Ok I have set up the virtualbox ok but when i click start I get a message saying: "FATAL: No Bootable Medium Found! System Halted"

Edit: solved using this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8j1Fo2KRZM

but now I get this error:



Hmmm

EDIT 2: Got it! Not sure how but I got the install screen now, hehe :cool:

yoyo

Zascar wrote: »

Thanks. Ok I see the info on that thread:



I have never used Virtualbox before but I think I can see where these go in the settings so I'll give it a bash
Cheers

right click on the Virtual Machine (left pane) while its off and click settings, the more awkward bit is the IDE controller bit, simply click the sata controller>Remove it button, add a new IDE controller, and point it to the Windows 8 Virtaul Hard disk (It is a *.vdi file somewhere on the hard disk). Then set controller to type: "IDE Controller: Type PIIX3", I didnt have a PII2 option, it could be a typo on that forum; You should see something like this under storage:


Nick

yoyo

Zascar wrote: »

Ok I have set up the virtualbox ok but when i click start I get a message saying: "FATAL: No Bootable Medium Found! System Halted"

Anyone know how I get past this?

Follow my steps above! You need to have the virtual hard disk and Windows 8 ISO under IDE Cntrollers as pictured

Nick

DjFlin

You can install it on a blank partition on your HDD alongside your main OS. I'm running it alongside Windows 7 and Ubuntu, and they're all fine.

Zascar

Thanks!

thelikelylad

DjFlin wrote: »

You can install it on a blank partition on your HDD alongside your main OS. I'm running it alongside Windows 7 and Ubuntu, and they're all fine.

Nice one! I'll be going for that setup too. Has anyone else tried making a USB boot disk with the 64bit ISO? It wouldn't boot for me when I tried Guess I'll just burn a DVD boot disk

DjFlin

thelikelylad wrote: »

Nice one! I'll be going for that setup too. Has anyone else tried making a USB boot disk with the 64bit ISO? It wouldn't boot for me when I tried Guess I'll just burn a DVD boot disk

I installed the 32bit version from a USB stick. Dont see why the 64bit one would be any different. Just make sure you've got a bit enough USB drive

LaVail

Hi Lads, Total virtual PC noob here so hoping you can answer a couple of my questions.
I'm going to download virtual box and windows 8 later on tonight when I can get 4Mbps download speed but I'm not sure how to set it up?

I have a partition made on my PC hard drive and use one for norton ghost backups only> could I install on that partition or does it have to be on the same one as my XP OS?

I only have 1.5GB of RAM total> Even if I allocate 1GB of that to windows 8 will XP crash?

If for any reason it doesnt install or I want to get rid of it> Is it easy to uninstall windows8 and virtual box from my PC without wrecking the system?

Can stuff go wrong doing this sort of thing that could cause BSOD on my PC etc?

Any tips at all are welcome, thanks.

PS> Is it ok to follow this set-up >> How to Install Windows 8 in VirtualBox

Professey Chin

Threw it onto an empty partition.
This metro start menu is pissing me off. Anyway to go back to a regular start menu?

raxor

Zascar wrote: »

Ok I have set up the virtualbox ok but when i click start I get a message saying: "FATAL: No Bootable Medium Found! System Halted"

Edit: solved using this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8j1Fo2KRZM

but now I get this error:



Hmmm

EDIT 2: Got it! Not sure how but I got the install screen now, hehe :cool:

Hey did ya manage to figure out how ya got past this error? I've done absolutely everything you and Yoyo have said but I still always get this error for some reason. Anyone got any suggestions?

Dman001

thelikelylad wrote: »

Nice one! I'll be going for that setup too. Has anyone else tried making a USB boot disk with the 64bit ISO? It wouldn't boot for me when I tried Guess I'll just burn a DVD boot disk

I tried the 64bit version too but got an error. I used the Windows 7 USB Tool from Microsoft's Website as I was told it would work.

Zascar

I think it might have been something to do with how I chose what OS it was. On the General > Basic screen, choose "other" for "operating system, and leave it on "DOS" - at least that's the way it is now and it is working (kinda)

thelikelylad

Dman001 wrote: »

I tried the 64bit version too but got an error. I used the Windows 7 USB Tool from Microsoft's Website as I was told it would work.

I used Unetbootin with an 8gb stick. It's always worked for making Win7 startup disks. Ah well.

Zascar

Ugh, mine was working now I'm back to that error again. If anyone can figure out what causes it please let us know.

Anyway, here are a few videos I found...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXPkto7x6lY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9AdL1aBp8w

unkel

DjFlin wrote: »

All I can say is. Windows 8 is fast. Like, really fast. Its much faster on my netbook than Windows 7 ever was. And its pretty stable too.

Ditto. Have it on a 3 year old Pentium T2080 laptop with just 1GB ram and it is flying. And it is not just a stripped out demo OS, it seems to be fully featured.

Pretty stable although I did have a crash during Avast AV installation - W8 doesn't seem to like it at all. Using the nvidea vista / W7 driver for the onboard graphics as W8 didn't recognise the graphics chip

Windows update works too

Creamy Goodness

Mega Chin wrote: »

Threw it onto an empty partition.
This metro start menu is pissing me off. Anyway to go back to a regular start menu?

set HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer RPEnabled" to 0

unkel

Ta, CG

Dman001

thelikelylad wrote: »

I used Unetbootin with an 8gb stick. It's always worked for making Win7 startup disks. Ah well.

I must give it another go. I stupidly deleted the ISO by mistake so have to re-download it.

DjFlin

unkel wrote: »

Pretty stable although I did have a crash during Avast AV installation - W8 doesn't seem to like it at all. Using the nvidea vista / W7 driver for the onboard graphics as W8 didn't recognise the graphics chip

Windows update works too

I wouldnt bother with antivirus tbh. I have Microsoft Security Essentials installed on my netbook, and run a scan once per week. Aside from that its disabled. Windows isnt as vulnerable as the masses would have you believe anymore. All I use my netbook for is web browsing and college work.

Depending on how well Win8 runs, I may use it as my default on the netbook. My main computer holds all my important data, and Win8 is much faster than 7 on the netbook.

Also, is anyone else enjoying the EPIC boot times? 15 seconds from power button to desktop, dont even have an SSD :eek:

AlmightyCushion

DjFlin wrote: »

I wouldnt bother with antivirus tbh. I have Microsoft Security Essentials installed on my netbook, and run a scan once per week. Aside from that its disabled. Windows isnt as vulnerable as the masses would have you believe anymore. All I use my netbook for is web browsing and college work.

Depending on how well Win8 runs, I may use it as my default on the netbook. My main computer holds all my important data, and Win8 is much faster than 7 on the netbook.

Also, is anyone else enjoying the EPIC boot times? 15 seconds from power button to desktop, dont even have an SSD :eek:

15 seconds? Is that on the netbook? I know they showed a video with an 8 second boot time but that was a high end laptop with a UEFI motherboard and an SSD. 15 seconds on low end hardware, with a standard hard drive and no UEFI is pretty damn impressive.

Downloading this now. I think I might dual boot my laptop just to see what the boot time is and see how fast it really is.

unkel

AlmightyCushion wrote: »

15 seconds? Is that on the netbook?

23s here until you see the nice mountain / road picture on a low spec 3 year old laptop with 1GB of ram

As for the AV -> I've uninstalled. I saw some security features are included in W8 but I didn't see an AV aspect of it and windows update did not suggest ms security essentials as an option. Anyone know more about integrated security in W8?

AlmightyCushion

unkel wrote: »

23s here until you see the nice mountain / road picture on a low spec 3 year old laptop with 1GB of ram

As for the AV -> I've uninstalled. I saw some security features are included in W8 but I didn't see an AV aspect of it and windows update did not suggest ms security essentials as an option. Anyone know more about integrated security in W8?

It has defender built in like windows 7 does but they also integrated security essentials (I actually think they expanded defender to include security essentials) and some other security stuff so you should be just fine without any antivirus.

Nice boot time by the way. It's similar if not quicker than my laptop with a core 2 duo, 4GBs ram and SSD.

G-Money

I installed this but unfortunately it only lasted on my PC about 30 minutes before I went back to Windows 7. The Metro UI is ok but I felt a bit stupid as I couldn't find the option to shut down the PC. Also my video drivers wouldn't work so it picked some generic driver so the UI was a bit glitchy and not very smooth.

unkel

G-Money wrote: »

I installed this but unfortunately it only lasted on my PC about 30 minutes before I went back to Windows 7. The Metro UI is ok but I felt a bit stupid as I couldn't find the option to shut down the PC. Also my video drivers wouldn't work so it picked some generic driver so the UI was a bit glitchy and not very smooth.

Ah come on, you gotta try a bit harder than that!

As shown, it is easy to kill Metro. Did you try vista / w7 drivers for your video? I have it running since this morning and apart from the Avast hiccup, I've had no problems. Seems stable and very fast to me.

unkel

AlmightyCushion wrote: »

Nice boot time by the way.

Just checked again with a cold boot. It took 12s to go through BIOS until the windows developer logo comes up and only another 7s until the picture :eek:

Plowman

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unkel

Plowman wrote: »

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415MB (I've only 3 or 4 programs installed on top of W8 though)

Just saw that if you disable Metro, you also disable the nice new task manager and it reverts back to the old task manager we've all known for donkeys years

G-Money

unkel wrote: »

Ah come on, you gotta try a bit harder than that!

As shown, it is easy to kill Metro. Did you try vista / w7 drivers for your video? I have it running since this morning and apart from the Avast hiccup, I've had no problems. Seems stable and very fast to me.

Yep. The video driver installer didn't work and expanding the files and browsing manually to update that way didnt work either.

Plowman

This post has been deleted.

AlmightyCushion

Plowman wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

If he had more ram, his would probably show a similar amount of usage to yours. Windows vista, 7 and I assume 8 start loading things that you use often into un-used memory so that they will start up quicker. It's a good thing that you have high memory usage not a bad thing.

Plowman

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