Windows 8 Developer Preview now available to download

By Tom Warren, on 14th Sep 11 12:28 am with 174 Comments

Windows 8 Start Screen

Microsoft’s Windows 8 Developer Preview is now available to download.

The Windows developer center is now live and Windows 8 available to download in the following flavours:

Windows Developer Preview English, 64-bit (x64)

DOWNLOAD (3.6 GB)

Sha 1 hash – 79DBF235FD49F5C1C8F8C04E24BDE6E1D04DA1E9

Windows Developer Preview English, 32-bit (x86)

DOWNLOAD (2.8 GB)

Sha 1 hash – 4E0698BBABE01ED27582C9FC16AD21C4422913CC

Microsoft also supplied some system requirements for the Windows 8 Developer preview:

  • 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
  • 1 gigabyte (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
  • Taking advantage of touch input requires a screen that supports multi-touch
  • Anonymous

    wohoo I cant wait for this to finish downloading!!!

  • http://twitter.com/arnehelseth Arne Helseth

    Seems they’ve beefed up the MSDN servers as well, getting full thruput on my download which is pretty unusual when it comes to such high profile releases.

    • Anonymous

      They were getting jammed earlier but now I’m getting about 8mbps with 45 minutes to go. On normal days I think they are faster. Not bad still. Looking forward to install it on my 11.6″ i3 ULV laptop. I’m not going to fiddle with VM or dual boots…going to overwrite the existing W7 install.

    • Anonymous

      They were getting jammed earlier but now I’m getting about 8mbps with 45 minutes to go. On normal days I think they are faster. Not bad still. Looking forward to install it on my 11.6″ i3 ULV laptop. I’m not going to fiddle with VM or dual boots…going to overwrite the existing W7 install.

    • Anonymous

      They were getting jammed earlier but now I’m getting about 8mbps with 45 minutes to go. On normal days I think they are faster. Not bad still. Looking forward to install it on my 11.6″ i3 ULV laptop. I’m not going to fiddle with VM or dual boots…going to overwrite the existing W7 install.

  • http://www.gadgeterija.net Denis Jelec

    20minutes left on download “_”

  • Cbs

    Can you run it as dual boot with Win7? Can it be virtualized?

    • Frylockns86

      I have it running In Virtual Box.

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1346763016 Sokheang Thea

      @Frylockns86: How you did it? I can’t get it work on virtual machine. would be pleased if you can give some guides. :D

    • Ninlar

      I used these settings: http://www.sysprobs.com/guide-install-windows-8-virtualbox

  • http://www.searingarrow.com AlienSix

    28 mins left on my download. Thank you IDM :)

  • Jean Baez

    hey I want to know if a can install this W8DPreview in an oldToshiba Windows XP (32 bit) with 704Mb of RAM with an ATI Mobility Radeon 9000 IGP?

    • Frylockns86

      No.

      ”
      1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor1 gigabyte (GB) RAM (32-bit) or 2 GB RAM (64-bit)
      “

    • Xink64

      I believe it can be done, but you’ll experience bad performance

  • Aa

    installed on VirtualBox……and booted up fine; trying to setup GuestAdditions and having some trouble

  • http://w1ngnut.myopenid.com/ w1ngnut

    Torrent, anyone?

    • http://twitter.com/Henryed07 Henry Edwards

      Normal people can download the preview, not just MSDN people

    • http://www.facebook.com/Ukumio Nicholas Webster

      Some people perfer torrents as they can be stopped/started like me with my slow net so i can only download at night when no body uses

    • Anonymous

      You can pause/resume downloads in IE9 :D

    • Anonymous

      You can resume after restart I guess? So kinda pointless what you’re saying here.

    • Anonymous

      You can resume after restart I guess? So kinda pointless what you’re saying here.

    • Brian B

      Firefox supports pause/resume, which usually works but I don’t think they enabled resume on their http server.

    • Aceshigh4502

      I tried to install a “clean” copy on VMWare 7.1.4 and it would not allow it, however, I installed Win 7 on a clean VHD and then logged in and installed it via the virtual Win 7 and it works like a charm.  Side note: you will have to burn it to a disc for it to install correctly.  Hope this helps you all!

    • Aceshigh4502

      I tried to install a “clean” copy on VMWare 7.1.4 and it would not allow it, however, I installed Win 7 on a clean VHD and then logged in and installed it via the virtual Win 7 and it works like a charm.  Side note: you will have to burn it to a disc for it to install correctly.  Hope this helps you all!

    • Guest

      Good Commen by some guy about a crappy article on Windows 8 which doesn’t deserve the ad revenue (or your data):I don’t know why I bother, but to introduce just a little fact to this article, I will point out that Microsoft has always called them Tablet PCs, so maintaining the PC nomenclature is how they’ve been dealing with it from day one, not some, how did you put it “taking their ball and going home?” By the same, factually challenged, token, how exactly do you come to the conclusion that Microsoft has given up trying to sell tablets? The very first display in the Microsoft store down the street, is an entire table full of Windows 7 tablets. They have even better placement than Windows Phone devices. Continuing to add tablet features, integrating it into the core OS over a decade, then giving the devices prime positioning in your flagship retail stores, is sure an odd definition of giving up.But hey, I know the game. Just like we had to create a special arbitrary market designation for standalone audio players that were not PDAs or phones (so that Apple could win at something), now we have to have a special arbitrary market designation for non-connected, oversized PDAs, that aren’t e-readers (so that Apple can win at something). I have to applaud the foresight of separating out the markets now though, to disallow Windows 8 tablets as “true” tablets, before they even launch. If they take off, it would be embarrassing to have to go back and explain how they don’t really count after the fact. This way, if they flop, you can say “I told you so,” and if they don’t flop, then you can say “I told you they were never really tablets.” All the while perpetuating the idea that Microsoft has never really been in the tablet market, so certainly the iPad is a revolutionary device, that everyone is copying, not Apple’s version of a tablet PC. It is a winning rationalization.

    • Guest

      Good Commen by some guy about a crappy article on Windows 8 which doesn’t deserve the ad revenue (or your data):I don’t know why I bother, but to introduce just a little fact to this article, I will point out that Microsoft has always called them Tablet PCs, so maintaining the PC nomenclature is how they’ve been dealing with it from day one, not some, how did you put it “taking their ball and going home?” By the same, factually challenged, token, how exactly do you come to the conclusion that Microsoft has given up trying to sell tablets? The very first display in the Microsoft store down the street, is an entire table full of Windows 7 tablets. They have even better placement than Windows Phone devices. Continuing to add tablet features, integrating it into the core OS over a decade, then giving the devices prime positioning in your flagship retail stores, is sure an odd definition of giving up.But hey, I know the game. Just like we had to create a special arbitrary market designation for standalone audio players that were not PDAs or phones (so that Apple could win at something), now we have to have a special arbitrary market designation for non-connected, oversized PDAs, that aren’t e-readers (so that Apple can win at something). I have to applaud the foresight of separating out the markets now though, to disallow Windows 8 tablets as “true” tablets, before they even launch. If they take off, it would be embarrassing to have to go back and explain how they don’t really count after the fact. This way, if they flop, you can say “I told you so,” and if they don’t flop, then you can say “I told you they were never really tablets.” All the while perpetuating the idea that Microsoft has never really been in the tablet market, so certainly the iPad is a revolutionary device, that everyone is copying, not Apple’s version of a tablet PC. It is a winning rationalization.

    • Guest

      Good Commen by some guy about a crappy article on Windows 8 which doesn’t deserve the ad revenue (or your data):I don’t know why I bother, but to introduce just a little fact to this article, I will point out that Microsoft has always called them Tablet PCs, so maintaining the PC nomenclature is how they’ve been dealing with it from day one, not some, how did you put it “taking their ball and going home?” By the same, factually challenged, token, how exactly do you come to the conclusion that Microsoft has given up trying to sell tablets? The very first display in the Microsoft store down the street, is an entire table full of Windows 7 tablets. They have even better placement than Windows Phone devices. Continuing to add tablet features, integrating it into the core OS over a decade, then giving the devices prime positioning in your flagship retail stores, is sure an odd definition of giving up.But hey, I know the game. Just like we had to create a special arbitrary market designation for standalone audio players that were not PDAs or phones (so that Apple could win at something), now we have to have a special arbitrary market designation for non-connected, oversized PDAs, that aren’t e-readers (so that Apple can win at something). I have to applaud the foresight of separating out the markets now though, to disallow Windows 8 tablets as “true” tablets, before they even launch. If they take off, it would be embarrassing to have to go back and explain how they don’t really count after the fact. This way, if they flop, you can say “I told you so,” and if they don’t flop, then you can say “I told you they were never really tablets.” All the while perpetuating the idea that Microsoft has never really been in the tablet market, so certainly the iPad is a revolutionary device, that everyone is copying, not Apple’s version of a tablet PC. It is a winning rationalization.

    • Wourelia

      U mad bro?

    • blabla

      tldr;

    • http://twitter.com/laserfloyd Lewis McCrary

      Paragraphs are your friend.

    • http://DannyMinick.com Problem, Internet Explorer?

      cool story bro

    • NTFanboy2012

      Whoa I just a wall of text. Now I have to go recuperate.

    • Guest

      Good Commen by some guy about a crappy article on Windows 8 which doesn’t deserve the ad revenue (or your data):I don’t know why I bother, but to introduce just a little fact to this article, I will point out that Microsoft has always called them Tablet PCs, so maintaining the PC nomenclature is how they’ve been dealing with it from day one, not some, how did you put it “taking their ball and going home?” By the same, factually challenged, token, how exactly do you come to the conclusion that Microsoft has given up trying to sell tablets? The very first display in the Microsoft store down the street, is an entire table full of Windows 7 tablets. They have even better placement than Windows Phone devices. Continuing to add tablet features, integrating it into the core OS over a decade, then giving the devices prime positioning in your flagship retail stores, is sure an odd definition of giving up.But hey, I know the game. Just like we had to create a special arbitrary market designation for standalone audio players that were not PDAs or phones (so that Apple could win at something), now we have to have a special arbitrary market designation for non-connected, oversized PDAs, that aren’t e-readers (so that Apple can win at something). I have to applaud the foresight of separating out the markets now though, to disallow Windows 8 tablets as “true” tablets, before they even launch. If they take off, it would be embarrassing to have to go back and explain how they don’t really count after the fact. This way, if they flop, you can say “I told you so,” and if they don’t flop, then you can say “I told you they were never really tablets.” All the while perpetuating the idea that Microsoft has never really been in the tablet market, so certainly the iPad is a revolutionary device, that everyone is copying, not Apple’s version of a tablet PC. It is a winning rationalization.

    • Guest

      Good Commen by some guy about a crappy article on Windows 8 which doesn’t deserve the ad revenue (or your data):I don’t know why I bother, but to introduce just a little fact to this article, I will point out that Microsoft has always called them Tablet PCs, so maintaining the PC nomenclature is how they’ve been dealing with it from day one, not some, how did you put it “taking their ball and going home?” By the same, factually challenged, token, how exactly do you come to the conclusion that Microsoft has given up trying to sell tablets? The very first display in the Microsoft store down the street, is an entire table full of Windows 7 tablets. They have even better placement than Windows Phone devices. Continuing to add tablet features, integrating it into the core OS over a decade, then giving the devices prime positioning in your flagship retail stores, is sure an odd definition of giving up.But hey, I know the game. Just like we had to create a special arbitrary market designation for standalone audio players that were not PDAs or phones (so that Apple could win at something), now we have to have a special arbitrary market designation for non-connected, oversized PDAs, that aren’t e-readers (so that Apple can win at something). I have to applaud the foresight of separating out the markets now though, to disallow Windows 8 tablets as “true” tablets, before they even launch. If they take off, it would be embarrassing to have to go back and explain how they don’t really count after the fact. This way, if they flop, you can say “I told you so,” and if they don’t flop, then you can say “I told you they were never really tablets.” All the while perpetuating the idea that Microsoft has never really been in the tablet market, so certainly the iPad is a revolutionary device, that everyone is copying, not Apple’s version of a tablet PC. It is a winning rationalization.

    • Guest

      Good Commen by some guy about a crappy article on Windows 8 which doesn’t deserve the ad revenue (or your data):I don’t know why I bother, but to introduce just a little fact to this article, I will point out that Microsoft has always called them Tablet PCs, so maintaining the PC nomenclature is how they’ve been dealing with it from day one, not some, how did you put it “taking their ball and going home?” By the same, factually challenged, token, how exactly do you come to the conclusion that Microsoft has given up trying to sell tablets? The very first display in the Microsoft store down the street, is an entire table full of Windows 7 tablets. They have even better placement than Windows Phone devices. Continuing to add tablet features, integrating it into the core OS over a decade, then giving the devices prime positioning in your flagship retail stores, is sure an odd definition of giving up.But hey, I know the game. Just like we had to create a special arbitrary market designation for standalone audio players that were not PDAs or phones (so that Apple could win at something), now we have to have a special arbitrary market designation for non-connected, oversized PDAs, that aren’t e-readers (so that Apple can win at something). I have to applaud the foresight of separating out the markets now though, to disallow Windows 8 tablets as “true” tablets, before they even launch. If they take off, it would be embarrassing to have to go back and explain how they don’t really count after the fact. This way, if they flop, you can say “I told you so,” and if they don’t flop, then you can say “I told you they were never really tablets.” All the while perpetuating the idea that Microsoft has never really been in the tablet market, so certainly the iPad is a revolutionary device, that everyone is copying, not Apple’s version of a tablet PC. It is a winning rationalization.

  • http://adamhaider.com Adam Haider

    Can anyone confirm whether VMware will support this Windows 8 build?

    I want to run it in VM but from my past experience it will just make the experience sluggish and it won’t support drivers and many of the UI changes.

  • http://twitter.com/twimarcelo Marcelo

    OMG, normal ~people~ can download it!

    • Chris

      Thats what I thought too. glad they are making anyone download it. 

    • Seth_p

      Awe, I just loled :)

    • Seth_p

      Awe, I just loled :)

    • Seth_p

      Awe, I just loled :)

  • Dcassidy

    I havn’t played around with partitions in a few years. Anyone care to help me install it on another partition? I have windows 7

    • Penta2100

      Right click computer in the start menu, then hit manage, go to disk management, setup you partitions :) Happy Dual Booting :)

    • Anonymous

      Start, right click computer, manage.
      From there, hit disk management.
      If you only have one partition, likely to be labeled C Windows or something, then you will need to right click it and hit shrink.
      Give yourself at least the minimum required, 64-bit is 20 GB and 32-bit is 16 GB, but I recommend more than that for comfortable wiggle room. (In MB that it asks for, it’s 1024 * number of GB to be the actual size in GB.)
      Right click the unallocated area now and hit new simple partition. You can probably leave it as all the defaults, such as NTFS file system and it will probably want to use all available space left in MB.
      Here you can give it the drive letter you want and a label.

      Stuff the Win8 onto a DVD, which may have to be dual layer DVD if you get the developer 64-bit version, or a flash drive of adequate size. For a flash drive, you can look up the partitioning instructions or give http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msstore/html/pbPage.Help_Win7_usbdvd_dwnTool a go but I haven’t tried it yet on a Win8 .iso. Anyway, that’s it!

    • Jjack0310

      I know how to create a partition, but Windows 8 Developer Installation does not ask for where I want to install the OS. Its only asking if I want to keep my files, which made me think that it was going to over write my Windows 7 which I definitrely cannot afford. Any suggestions as to how to make it ask for partition?
      Thanks

    • Grath

      It looks like if you boot from USB or a burned DVD, it will ask you to select a partition. I didn’t happen to have either on me, so to work around this, I first installed a fresh copy of Windows 7 on my new partition, then booted that up and started the installer from there. Windows 8 handles the dual-boot experience beautifully with a Metro-style, touch-and-mouse-enabled boot selector.

      (Disclaimer: I work for Microsoft. All views expressed here are my own and not those of my employer. I am posting here in my capacity as an independent developer and consumer, and not as a Microsoft employee.)

    • Grath

      It looks like if you boot from USB or a burned DVD, it will ask you to select a partition. I didn’t happen to have either on me, so to work around this, I first installed a fresh copy of Windows 7 on my new partition, then booted that up and started the installer from there. Windows 8 handles the dual-boot experience beautifully with a Metro-style, touch-and-mouse-enabled boot selector.

      (Disclaimer: I work for Microsoft. All views expressed here are my own and not those of my employer. I am posting here in my capacity as an independent developer and consumer, and not as a Microsoft employee.)

    • Anonymous

      To select a partition other than “Upgrade Windows” you have to boot from the media the install is on (i.e. do not run the installer in Windows 7, restart the computer and enter the boot menu or change the bios boot priority). Same for either CD or flash drive, select custom install and then the partition list will be available.

    • Anonymous

      To select a partition other than “Upgrade Windows” you have to boot from the media the install is on (i.e. do not run the installer in Windows 7, restart the computer and enter the boot menu or change the bios boot priority). Same for either CD or flash drive, select custom install and then the partition list will be available.

    • Djlevel9

      Has a ? or 2 about windows 8 developer is this BETA to the full version thats supposto be released ..
      cause there are so many Pireted version’s out there and I don’t wan’t to screwing up a Brand knew computer cause it crashed cause  we ..didn’t have installed something first.  the first time ..
      I have the brand new Lab top computer already set with windows 7 64 bit and all my work software etc.the last time I tryed this the web site we downloaed it didn’t come with Basic instructions to install first and print out as a guide for us…
      just said the Link and download it from here all the privious microsoft beta software did have some to read and print before we installed it ,
      and does this version have an upgrade to it or is just a full install that its gonna whipe out everything we have on our computers now.all this Instuctions should be here bere you redirect us to some other web site there some people who do this cause the softwares fake.

    • Manan Shah

      Wow, need to work on your English buddy and stop your whining!!

    • Djlevel9

      why should I word on my English ? if this is a PIRETED version and not the real thing no one is whinning here its the truth read the top od what TOM wrote what hes has uncovered, do you know how many web sites have come out since the word windows 8 was mentioned. so people are gonna be sceptical about the software now how would like if i hacked into you’r computer corrupted all your data and you didn’t have any back ups cause the fire walled you paid for failed then how would you feel its happen  from the tollrent web sites claimming they had the real thing and it was leaked out, so think before you post something by saying some ones whinning  No I’m just concerned and have explained what i needed to be said.

    • Djlevel9

      now i have both 32 & 64 bit on a dual layed dvd so  and the web site where it came from if hes legit that posted this then he should be the one answering not a every day user to the site.

    • Djlevel9

      I Dowloaded Both in 10 Mins Great FIBE connections I have here.

    • Fardo NL

      This is a pre-beta version. You’re computer will crash. You shouldn’t use this version if you want a stable environment or wabt to use it in production

    • Anonymous

      PIRATED

    • Brandon

      Nope. He is Downloading it directly From Microsoft

    • Jumping Jack 007

      You are a fucking idiot. the links are to the microsoft website. If you had paid little attention to wtf is going on on Microsoft live blog, you would have realized that they released the Developer Preveiw for everyone, not just the developers, then why would this website give you anything other than legit stuff. And trust me you really do need to work on your English, because I really couldnt see anything other than whining,………….. Oh maybe thats all you did !!!

    • Jumping Jack 007

      You are a fucking idiot. the links are to the microsoft website. If you had paid little attention to wtf is going on on Microsoft live blog, you would have realized that they released the Developer Preveiw for everyone, not just the developers, then why would this website give you anything other than legit stuff. And trust me you really do need to work on your English, because I really couldnt see anything other than whining,………….. Oh maybe thats all you did !!!

    • Jumping Jack 007

      You are a fucking idiot. the links are to the microsoft website. If you had paid little attention to wtf is going on on Microsoft live blog, you would have realized that they released the Developer Preveiw for everyone, not just the developers, then why would this website give you anything other than legit stuff. And trust me you really do need to work on your English, because I really couldnt see anything other than whining,………….. Oh maybe thats all you did !!!

    • http://twitter.com/J88NYr Jonny Rose

      its from microsoft… and nobody is forcing you to download it?…

    • Chris

      This one comes from the Microsoft website it is safe but it may crash your system. Insatall only at your own risk or on a spare system you have at your house. 

    • Seth_p

      1) It’s pre-release for developers to get a feel for WinRT, developing apps for Metro and exploring new Expression 5 / Visual Studio ’11 tools.
      2) There’s a lot of ‘known’ and ‘un-known’ issues. Do NOT use this as your main computer, unless you don’t give a poo.
      3) I suggest watching the Build Conference so you understand more about Windows 8. It’s really informative even if you’re not a developer.
      4) It’s not a pirated version, Tom is linking directly from Microsoft’s MSDN. You can go to Dev.Microsoft.com for the rest.

    • SatansHamster

      It’s a pre-beta version. They released it to everyone to try out so they can get more feedback on it. Expect it to be buggy.

      If you don’t know what you are doing don’t use it.

    • Illuminati

      This is right on the Microsoft Windows 8 Developer Preview download page

      “The Windows Developer Preview is a pre-beta version of Windows 8 for developers. These downloads include prerelease software that may change without notice. The software is provided as is, and you bear the risk of using it. It may not be stable, operate correctly or work the way the final version of the software will. It should not be used in a production environment. The features and functionality in the prerelease software may not appear in the final version. Some product features and functionality may require advanced or additional hardware, or installation of other software.”
      I don’t see how you can miss that disclaimer. It’s right at the top! 

    • Anonymous

      Bro… Can you help? I did those things, I created on my secondary HDD a partition ( 150GB ), I gave it the name “F:”

      So far all good… I booted from DVD, I saw all the partitions on secondary HDD but I couldn’t install it anywhere… It said: Cannot install bla bla ’cause the partition is MBR while you need GPT on UEFI-something…

      What’s that? I’ve Intel SSD as main drive and have my boot Win7 there. The only UEFI I know is my BIOS due to P8P67 Asus Motherboard…

      Any thoughts about? I installed Win 8 on my old pc, on a normal HDD driver after a completely clean install ( format everything ).

  • Brandon

    umm im getting an error when trying to install this in VMware!
    Gets to setup is starting and freezes and crashes and says at the bottom
    DPC Watchdog Violation!
    Help? Thanks!

    • Justin

      Had Same issue. after several issues with VMWare gave up put on VirtualBox and has now installed and just goingthrough settings wizard.

  • Nbn Rai

    AnyOne has Torrent link for 32 bit? Please post

  • Jagannath Rao

    Is anyone able to install in virtual box / vmware ?

    • Stian

      Installed fine in VMware workstation 8, but a lot of drivers are missing.
      I cant get sound or network to work properly.

  • Tiago

    how can i install in a new partition?

    • Seth_p

      Use Disk Management in Windows. Same process as you’d do with any Windows OS.

  • Cris Vizcaino

    does it work well with dual booting?

    • Seth_p

      Yup. I have it side-to-side with OSX for my MBP and other machine is Win7 and Win8

    • NTFanboy2012

      I am dual booting it with Windows 7. It works great. Windows 8 has a nice dual boot menu.

    • Verma4u

      How can you did that?

    • http://twitter.com/HBC_Group HBC Group

      Just install it on a different partition – you get a touch screen friendly boot loader!

      I am dualbooting with Server 2008 R2 :P

  • Cris Vizcaino

    does it work well with dual booting?

  • Cris Vizcaino

    does it work well with dual booting?

  • http://profiles.google.com/elmsoftware John Lueders

    You need to link to the ‘Windows Developer Preview with developer tools English, 64-bit (x64)’

  • http://profiles.google.com/elmsoftware John Lueders

    You need to link to the ‘Windows Developer Preview with developer tools English, 64-bit (x64)’

  • http://profiles.google.com/elmsoftware John Lueders

    You need to link to the ‘Windows Developer Preview with developer tools English, 64-bit (x64)’

  • H Mueller

    Installed 64 bit version on virtual box. First test c++ app is running. Seems to be fine :)

  • H Mueller

    Installed 64 bit version on virtual box. First test c++ app is running. Seems to be fine :)

    • Aa

      does it include full screen and so; my installation doesn’t seem to run any metro apps except control panel

    • H Mueller

      At the first try nothing worked on my system but after clicking around for a while everything suddenly began to work haha… Yes full screen is ok, i can start any app.

  • Kalle

    It fails to install on VMware (7.1.4 build-385536), but it runs fine (and surprisingly smooth) on VirtualBox (v4.0.12)

  • http://twitter.com/michaelantj Michael James

    I’m kinda disappointed to be honest, i was really hyped up about this release but it just doesn’t feel right with a mouse and keyboard :(

    The start menu shouldn’t be completely gone, it took me like 20 mins to find the visual basic that was installed, you can’t do that many things without touch (charms etc) there isn’t a metro media player built in, no apps atm, and aero looks horrible

    I’m finding myself clicking on that damn grey abomination they call a start button…   arrrgghhhh soooooo frustrating

    Hope most of the issues get sorted before beta :(

    • Parthp90

      you do realize this is a dev build right?

    • Frylockns86

      I had the same experience. I hope Microsoft fixes that. I love metro, but it sucks on the desktop. It shouldn’t be there.

    • Candid Calum

      I’ve replied to him above. You shouldn’t have the same experience because he is wrong with some of the “issues” he believes exist.

      The Start Screen and Metro experience work excellently with a keyboard and mouse on a desktop; they should be there.

    • Guest

      Right click on the lower left or use Win-C to pull up the charms bar.

    • http://twitter.com/BrandonLive Brandon Paddock

      Hey guys.  If you haven’t figured it out, the way to get to the mouse version of the “charms” is to just throw your mouse to the lower-left corner of the screen.  You don’t even need to click.  Hope that helps :-)

    • Chris

      This is not the final realase . 

    • Anonymous

      I had mixed feelings until I pressed the windows key and started typing, like I do in Windows 7. Then I was a lot happier with it.

    • Candid Calum

      You can get to the Charms when using a keyboard and mouse; when using a keyboard and mouse, charms are located in the bottom left corner when you go down there, just like the old Start Menu was. If it took you 20 minutes to find an app, then you really don’t understand the new Metro experience. You just start typing the app you’re after when on the Start Screen, or you go into the Search Charm (which as I point out is accessible when using a keyboard and mouse) and all apps are displayed to you.

      It’s really not good to complain about issues that don’t actually exist rather than understanding the operating system yourself, or even asking before you assume something isn’t possible.

    • http://twitter.com/HBC_Group HBC Group

      Thank you for you help! I was wondering where Office went! (I joined my dev machine to my 2008 R2 domain – at home – successfully, and my domain assignes Office 2007 to all computers)  Group Policy works perfectly with WDP, but unfortunately standard users cannot open Metro UI apps, or maybe I have something set up wrong on the domain.

    • Anonymous

      ehmm first, this is a dev build (haha for people wondering, IE has spellchecker :P ) like the whole OS

      but anyway… my point is… its a develper PREVIEW build, its like critizing IE10 preview released and how you cant navigate easily.

      second, using the scroll to move through the start menu… is that hard enough for you? it felt really good, at least for me……. of course touch has better features per say, but even the alt tab, makes stuff easier and if you want the new App switch just flick with your mouse like you would with a finder and end. also if you use win + tab, instead of flip, now you go through apps, if you use alt tab… it does what always it has done. and if you use ctrl + win + tab, you will see the snap feature going on, which is amazing for keyboard…..

      but pretty much its a DEV preview, are you developer? if you aren’t then you cant complain, anyway its for developers to make apps, not for being like “omg it doesn’t work the way i want” because its not finished! it wont be released anytime soon.

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1618268197 Timothy Neinheart

      Indeed, I am totally disappointed. I took me an hour to find how to shut down the machine, then I just cmd shutdown.exe /s to shut it down. The whole exprience is totally sluggish as for desktop it is supposed to scroll vertically with a scroll on a mouse, not horizontally like metro.

      If Microsoft sticks out with Metro too much, they would make traditional desktop quite disastrous. Then, I’d only use Windows 8 for slate tablets, I’d not even think about using it on covertible laptops or HP touch smarts. Then Windows 7 will be like Windows XP another day when Vista comes arround the corner.
      Yes, I do aware this is only a developer build, but this clearly they have some false directions here and I look foward to an option where I can whip out the whole Metro exprience to focus on other function that matter to me like Hyper-V. That would return to the Start Menu I have always love, and perhaps never would like to see it changes.

      By the way, do any knows how to change the metro background? Green is not my liking.

    • Sanfelipebob

      I am not having a bit of trouble shutting down. After I have been on for a few minutes I get the dreaded blue screen telling me my pc is having trouble handling something or other…and then tells me it is a whea uncorrectable error. WTF is that about.

  • http://twitter.com/michaelantj Michael James

    I’m kinda disappointed to be honest, i was really hyped up about this release but it just doesn’t feel right with a mouse and keyboard :(

    The start menu shouldn’t be completely gone, it took me like 20 mins to find the visual basic that was installed, you can’t do that many things without touch (charms etc) there isn’t a metro media player built in, no apps atm, and aero looks horrible

    I’m finding myself clicking on that damn grey abomination they call a start button…   arrrgghhhh soooooo frustrating

    Hope most of the issues get sorted before beta :(

  • Luis Re Fraschini

    Somebody try with VMware Workstation 8 beta?

  • Luis Re Fraschini

    Somebody try with VMware Workstation 8 beta?

  • Stevefrenchftw

    Wtf? Upon attempting to install via DVD I get a message “A required cd/DVD drive device driver is missing. If you have a floppy disk, cd, DVD, or USB drive, please insert it now.”

    How can I fix this besides using USB drive?

    • Anon

      Burn it again at 1x speed, 4x won’t work

    • Anonymous

      use “unetbootin” to make your usb flash memory bootable. it’s a portable and free program.
      with “fat” it didn’t work for me, but with “ntfs” it worked.(format usb to ntfs)
      first format your usb drive then select iso and then it will make a bootable usb drive.

      but I haven’t test it for windows 8 yet.

    • Kgulti

      I have the same problem with VirtualBox. Any solution or do someone have a driver for the installation right now?

  • H Mueller

    Flash works only with the desktop ie 10. Metro ie 10 does not run flash. Wth.

    • http://twitter.com/tyw7 Thu Win

      Really? No flash?  Seperate version of flash perhaps?

      How about silverlight?

    • Anonymous

      Flash is a win32 app, it will need to be updated to run with metro

  • Btapiz

    I have a problem with installing 64bit version on VirtualBox(version 4.1.2, windows 7 x64 mode).

    On installing screen, this error occured.

    A required CD/DVD drive device driver is missing. If you have a driver floppy disk, CD, DVD, or USB flash drive, please insert it now.

    Somebody help me plz…

    • Anon

      Burn it again at 1x speed, 4x won’t work

    • Wonk

      I had exact same problem with the 64-bit version, except that I extracted it to a 4gb USB instead of Virtual Box. I downloaded the 32-bit version and it worked fine

  • Anonymous

    I want this on my TouchPad NAO!!!

  • http://twitter.com/PrettiBoiShayne Shayne Carlos

    this shall be very nice!!!

  • Umangkedia

    Can we dual boot it with Windows 7? Has anyone tried dual booting??

    • Anonymous

      It works fine. Just select the fresh install (instead of upgrade) option on a new disk partition.

  • OCDan

    anyone else finding it unusable w/ a keyboard and mouse?  Maybe I don’t know the trick to get back to the start screen once I click on IE or Stock or anything else. Tried the right click.. tried the left edge tried all edges.. nothing takes me back to the start menu.  Thought there would be a metro style back button on everything.

    • Zotzed

      put your mouse in the lower left hand corner to get the start menu.

      To get the settings, use “windows key” + C
      To get to the “App Bar” use “Windows key” + Z
      To get to search use “Windows key” + F

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Jonathan-Marston/542557737 Jonathan Marston

      You can also get to the app bar by right-clicking pretty much anywhere on the screen. Also, when on the start screen you can just start typing to begin a search.

  • OCDan

    anyone else finding it unusable w/ a keyboard and mouse?  Maybe I don’t know the trick to get back to the start screen once I click on IE or Stock or anything else. Tried the right click.. tried the left edge tried all edges.. nothing takes me back to the start menu.  Thought there would be a metro style back button on everything.

  • JimmyFal

    I’m on! About 30 minutes to get onto my laptop. Getting used to it now. I do like Metro but I gotta say Tom I’m not sure about not being able to see the full length of the headlines on your new website here. I don’t really like that too much. Can’t sign in to Twitter either….

  • JimmyFal

    I’m on! About 30 minutes to get onto my laptop. Getting used to it now. I do like Metro but I gotta say Tom I’m not sure about not being able to see the full length of the headlines on your new website here. I don’t really like that too much. Can’t sign in to Twitter either….

  • JimmyFal

    I’m on! About 30 minutes to get onto my laptop. Getting used to it now. I do like Metro but I gotta say Tom I’m not sure about not being able to see the full length of the headlines on your new website here. I don’t really like that too much. Can’t sign in to Twitter either….

  • Anonymous

    Settings to Make Windows 8 work in VirtualBox:

    Check all of the following settings for your Win8 VM:

    -System -> Motherboard -> Enable IO APIC
    -System -> Processor -> Enable PAE/NX
    -System -> Acceleration -> Enable VT-x/AMD-V
    -System -> Acceleration -> Enable Nested Paging
    -Display -> Video -> Enable 3D Acceleration (and set 128MB video memory)

    Make sure you gave it enough RAM and disk space (I did 1.5GB RAM and 32GB virtual HDD).

    I’m still trying to make my network connection work.

  • ryno2fifty

    just installed it.  Posting from it now.  So freakin weird.

  • Aceshigh4502

    I tried to install a “clean” copy on VMWare 7.1.4 and it would not allow it, however, I installed Win 7 on a clean VHD and then logged in and installed it via the virtual Win 7 and it works like a charm.  Side note: you will have to burn it to a disc for it to install correctly.  Hope this helps you all!

  • Aceshigh4502

    I tried to install a “clean” copy on VMWare 7.1.4 and it would not allow it, however, I installed Win 7 on a clean VHD and then logged in and installed it via the virtual Win 7 and it works like a charm.  Side note: you will have to burn it to a disc for it to install correctly.  Hope this helps you all!

  • Chris

    Glad to see more then just 30 year IT techs can download this. After all Microsoft needs feedback on all the new stuff. Not just the “boring” IT stuff 

    Does this have a feedback pannel like the vista and windows 7 betas where you can submit feedback/ screenshots of issues/concerns/suggestions?

  • Leonardo Ulric

    Its posible to install in an ARM Cortex A8 tablet?

    • Anonymous

      No

  • Anonymous

    Can’t wait, shame i’m at work though :-(

  • Cristiano Orlando

    Hi, I am downloading torrent from TPB, because from msdn even with resume stuff, it stopped the download after 10mbs… the site must be very busy (a lot of ppl downloading), so gonna go with torrent

    Bad the torrent version does not have dev stuff

  • newssdguy

    None of the apps work for me. I installed on an old netbook with an atom processor, 2 GB of ram

  • Patrick

    I was having a problem installing on VirtualBox. Changed chipset from PIIX3 to IHC9 and changed from single-core to quad-core. Don’t think the cores were the answer, rather the chipset, but I am a pseud-power user (as in I have no clue what I’m doing, but I did sleep at a Holiday Inn Express last night).

    Windows 8 Dev Preview proceeding as hoped.

  • Patrick

    I was having a problem installing on VirtualBox. Changed chipset from PIIX3 to IHC9 and changed from single-core to quad-core. Don’t think the cores were the answer, rather the chipset, but I am a pseud-power user (as in I have no clue what I’m doing, but I did sleep at a Holiday Inn Express last night).

    Windows 8 Dev Preview proceeding as hoped.

    • Patrick

      “pseudo”: I am my own spelling Nazi.

    • Patrick

      “pseudo”: I am my own spelling Nazi.

  • http://twitter.com/mcmatten mcmatten

    uhm, no metro app works? i installed the 32bit version on my lenovo s10e – but i cannot run any metro app except the control panel und the desktop “tile”.

  • Steve_without_Job

    Can i use Photoshop and other programs with this version?

  • Steve_without_Job

    Can i use Photoshop and other programs with this version?

  • http://twitter.com/ahmed66z ahmed

    Guyz i think we Must Try it on Vmware…

  • Massih

    how to downgrade back to windows 7?!?!

    • ComputerNerd

      Format and reinstall.

  • http://twitter.com/jimmyfal Jimmy Fallon

    I played with it all night last night. First impression was just a bit of frustration that since I only had a mouse I could not easily “discover the top and bottom sections and the charms on the right. I played around for a bit in there stumbling around without passing judgement. Then I decided to stay in the old desktop screen and just start installing all my programs to see if I can start using this as my primary OS. Good news for me! Everything runs, with a few hiccups but I am here to stay. I have all my data on other drives anyway so I’m in balls deep as they say for the duration. Having trouble with the slingbox on IE 10 but I’ll live. Definately having some issues with IE 10 in that I’m not fully comprehending or discovering the of tabs and favorites and location of settings like setting home page etc. I think I’ll just read up a bit on how to do some stuff, so I don’t have to treat this as a Mollywood experiment and start complaining about stuff I can’t find without reading up a bit.

    I am basically living in the old desktop screen for now because all my stuff runs in there, and I try to do all my websurfing on the new interface. I like the bold direction that MS is taking. I’m gonna let it ride, as if this fanboy didn’t already know that anyway. Will check back later. Today I move it from the laptop to my 4 screens on my desktop and the SSD drive. Fun stuff for me!

  • Anonymous

    Is Win8 Kinects compatible? I would love to buy a PC to connect to my TV. 

  • http://twitter.com/PeterKremzar Peter Kremzar

    A question on running Metro applications.

    I successfully installed the 32 bit version in VirtualBox. This is not a problem. I selected the 32 bit version because I’d like to install it on my older 32 bit notebook also. Now the problem is that I’m clicking the tiles (using a mouse) to start the applications but nothing happens. Does anyone else have the same experience? Anyone knows the solution to run an application in Metro?

    Should I select the 64 bit development version for which it is writtent that it includes 28 Metro style apps including the BUILD Conference app? What is the purpose of the Tiles that are not connected to the applications in this case?

    Can a mouse imitate a touch like what we do within the Windows Phone 7 emulator?

  • Xink64

    I am having problems installing from USB on a HP 2710p tablet. It ends at unexpected IO error 0xc00000009 during the loading of install files. Windows 7 install files works fine. 
    I know my Win8 dev pre files are good as well, since it works on another laptop of mine. 
    Do I need some special feature enabled in BIOS that differs from the normal Win7 build?
    (I’m about to update my BIOS to see if that helps).

  • Anonymous

    I didn’t attend BUILD. Does anyone know where I can get my hands on one of those Samsung development PCs?

  • Anonymous

    Been playing with it all day now on my laptop in dual boot and I have to say after about 30 minutes of getting used to everything I am loving it. Few hiccups here and there, but it is a preview. Hint: Windows key + tab goes through your open apps, its great. Also a right click on any screen bar the Start screen gives you all the contextual menus.

  • Xink64

    Looks like I couldn’t wait, so I took Windows 7 and just did a upgrade. As a matter of fact I am still upgrading as I write this. Not that fast upgrade application. Easy to use though..

  • Rob

    The Windows 8 developer preview only works in VMware 8 and VirtuaBox. VMware 7 doesn’t support ACPI 2.0 tables so it won’t work. However, during install in VMware 8, I encountered a DPC_WATCHDOG_VIOLATION error and the install failed. Any idea’s?

    • Wilgreer1948

      Samething here. Any answers?

    • Shootingsignals

      Also the same, Guess I’ll have to try VirtualBox.

  • Anonymous

    Installed it and its great! except i cant get the driver to work for my usb wifi dongle thing, so no internet. anyone else having problems with drivers?
    Besides that its awesome stuff

  • Anonymous

    Installed it and its great! except i cant get the driver to work for my usb wifi dongle thing, so no internet. anyone else having problems with drivers?
    Besides that its awesome stuff

  • Anonymous

    Installed it and its great! except i cant get the driver to work for my usb wifi dongle thing, so no internet. anyone else having problems with drivers?
    Besides that its awesome stuff

    • Wonk

      yeah I cant get my usb dongle to work either. used its installation cd, still no luck. if anyone has any fixes, please post. thanks.

  • http://twitter.com/hchooley Matt Baldwin

    Honestly, Windows 8 felt odd to me.  I’m a Zune HD and WP7 fan and I love Metro, but it felt odd on a desktop.  The Zune software is very metro and feels good, so I know its possible to get this done right.

    I think the oddness comes with the marrying of Metro with traditional Windows and switching between the two.  Its too jarring.  I think this can be minimalized by going Metro with all OS based app:  File Explorer, the image viewer, media player, etc.

    If I could live most of my world in Metro, switching classic only for older apps I install, then we would be getting somewhere.  Or not.  Maybe minimalist is only meant for mobile devices and not desktops!

  • http://twitter.com/laserfloyd Lewis McCrary

    Got it dual booting on an inexpensive Dell Inspiron.  4 gigs of ram.  P6100 Pentium 2.0ghz.

    I just used Win7 to make a partition then told it to boot from DVD.  Selected my new partition and installation took it from there.  Worked like a charm.  I wish this thing had a touch screen!

    Can’t wait to get home to a decent wireless network. :)

    • Wonk

      Can you connect to a wireless network w/ windows 8? I cant get it to. I installed the drivers from the dongle disk and still no luck.

  • Sanfelipebob

    I get this message when I try to install???
    something happened. sorry, were having trouble determining if your pc can run windows developer preview.

  • abdullasalah

    is there way to get back to windows 7?
    it’s not that windows 8 not good but i want my programs back.

  • Ikaufm32

    dpc watchdog violation happens for me only if I enable hardware excelleration in VMWare.  When I disable that, it boots… but I can’t get it to display my laptops screen resolution and it’s a little choppy.

  • http://www.facebook.com/srluxford Spencer Luxford

    Can someone give me some help installing the 32 bit version on to a MacBook using Boot Camp? Any advice would be great! Thanks.

  • Sanfelipebob

    I keep getting a WHEA error while installing…I get as far as setting up the wireless account and then when I try to log on to the internet the error comes up.

  • http://twitter.com/vj_k Vijay Krishnamoorthy

    Windows 8 is all about interface. If there is one thing you can notice, it’s the striking metro UI all over. And the neat organization.

    However tablet interface interferes with non-touch desktop interface. In a way desktop interface is almost harder to use initially atleast. Theres  a quite a bit of learning curve for regular pc user.

    For a tablet user its pretty intuitive.

    I wonder since its a preview, they released both the tablet and desktop interface together as opposed to 2 separate builds

  • http://twitter.com/j_the_geek J

    Is there a way to ‘pin’ programs to the home-screen? Like in WP7, you can pin apps to the homescreen.

  • Delano

    It has spoilt my windows 7 boot…. Windows 7 wont boot anymore…….

  • Thy Daro

    Interesting