Windows 8 Installation for Dummies

Okay, spared you all; no blah blah blah this time!  Let's just go straight to the point. Following is the recommended procedure to get the new Windows goodness on your PC:-

• Firstly, my advice is to install a fresh version of Windows than upgrading your current windows. I do not want to elaborate what happened to my Lenovo G450 last time (Windows 8 Developers build) but trust me it's better to install Windows 8 on a separate partition which you can access and manipulate from your current windows. Also, the consumer preview expires in March 2013.

• Download the Windows Consumer Preview relevant to your PC capabilities, 32 or 64 bit. The 64-bit version is recommended for 4GB RAM or more.

• If you already have unallocated space, great! Just create a partition by performing a quick format in FAT 32 only. This can be done  using Control Panel>Administrative Tools>Computer Management and by choosing Disk Management under Storage.

• If there is no unallocated space on you hard drive, make sure you have at least 20GB free space (25GB or 30GB is recommended) on any of the partitions (even combined free space from all partitions will do).

• After you have made sure you have enough free space, shrink the volume(s) using the same Disk Management tool to create a cumulative unallocated space of 20GB or more. Now, create a new partition in FAT 32 from this unallocated space.

• Once the empty partition is created, you are all set to install Windows 8. The downloaded ISO can be burnt into a disc or can also be used virtually using Daemon Tools or Virtual CloneDrive. It can also be installed from a bootable USB disk or hard drive using the Windows USB/DVD Download Tool.

• The easiest and the least cumbersome way is to use a Virtual DVD drive and mount the ISO. Skip the AutoRun because this will only upgrade the current OS and will not give options to install on a separate partition.

• Explore the contents of the ISO. Go to the Sources folder and run the Setup.exe file. This will launch the installer which can't be more self-explanatory.

• You can change the default OS and the timer settings in the new Boot Screen. It's probably better to keep the non-Windows 8 OS as the default.

Touch-Screen devices: The primary appeal of Windows 8 is touch. It's a beautiful amalgam of the Metro Style UI of Windows Phone 7 yet keeping the Windows 7 design sense intact. A mouse and keyboard works but does not do complete justice to the UI. So the best way to test Windows 8 on a touch-screen. The best touch-screen device we know obviously is the iPad 2.  Use Windows 8 Consumer Preview on the iPad as follows:-

• Install Splashtop HD on your iPad
• Install Splashtop Streamer on your PC
• Splashtop HD automatically detects your PC if connected to the same wireless network

To say the experience is seamless, is a valid exaggeration. The resolution settings and touch-responsiveness is almost perfect. So far this is the best way to get Windows on your iPad, OnLive Desktop is a strong contender of course.

Note: Instructions for installation of Windows 8 on a Mac shouldn't be much different than the regular Boot Camp / Dual-boot procedure.

Enjoy your Windows 8!!

PS: "Only a dummy knows what a dummy wants". Please comment below if you actually used this tutorial of all the ones on the interwebs.