DOWNLOAD
Product Key: - TK8TP-9JN6P-7X7WW-RFFTV-B7QPF
Windows 8 is an operating system produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, tablets, and home theater PCs.
Development of this operating system started before the release of its predecessor in 2009. Its existence was first announced in January 2011 at Consumer Electronics Show. During its development and test phases, Microsoft released three pre-release versions: Developer Preview(September 13, 2011), Consumer Preview (February 29, 2012), and Release Preview (May 31, 2012). On August 1, 2012, Windows 8 graduated from the development stage and was released to manufacturing. Windows 8 is slated for general availability on October 26, 2012.
Windows 8 introduces significant changes to the operating system’s graphical user interface and platform; such as a new interface design incorporating a new design language used by other Microsoft products, a new Start screen to replace the Start menu used by previous versions of Windows, a new online store that can be used to obtain new applications, along with a new platform for apps that can provide what developers described as a “fast and fluid” experience with emphasis on touchscreen input.[2] Additional security features were also added to the operating system, such as a built-in antivirus program and a secure boot feature on systems with UEFIfirmware. Secure boot requires the operating system to be digitally signed to protect malware from infecting the boot process. The implementation of this feature has sparked controversy among supporters of free software. Windows 8 also introduces an edition of the operating system designed to run on devices that utilize the ARM architecture, known as Windows RT.
Development history
Early announcements
Windows 8 development started before Windows 7 had shipped[3] in 2009. In January 2011, at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), that Microsoft announced that Windows 8 would be adding support for ARM microprocessors in addition to the x86 microprocessors from Intel, AMDand VIA.[4][5] On June 1, 2011, Microsoft officially unveiled Windows 8′s new user interface as well as additional features at the Taipei Computex 2011 in Taipei (Taiwan) by Mike Angiulo and at the D9 conference in California (United States) by Julie Larson-Green and Microsoft’s Windows President Steven Sinofsky.[6][7] A month before the BUILD conference was held, Microsoft opened a new blog called “Building Windows 8″ for users and developers on August 15, 2011.[8]
Developer Preview
Microsoft unveiled new Windows 8 features and improvements on the first day of the BUILD conference on September 13, 2011.[9] Microsoft also released the Windows Developer Preview (build 8102) of Windows 8 the same day, which included SDKs and developer tools (such as Visual Studio Express and Expression Blend) for developing applications for Windows 8′s new interface.[10] According to Microsoft, there were more than 500,000 downloads of the developer preview within the first 12 hours of its release.[11] The Developer Preview also introduced the Start screen. The Start button in the desktop opened the Start screen instead of the Start menu.
On 16 February 2012, Microsoft postponed the expiration date of the developer preview. Originally set to expire on 11 March 2012, this release is now set to expire on 15 January 2013.[12]
Consumer Preview
On 29 February 2012, Microsoft released Windows 8 Consumer Preview, the beta version of Windows 8, build 8250. For the first time since Windows 95, the Start button is no longer present on the taskbar, though the Start screen is still triggered by clicking the bottom-left corner of the screen and by clicking Start on the Charm bar.[13] Windows president Steven Sinofsky said more than 100,000 changes had been made since the developer version went public.[13] The day after its release, Windows 8 Consumer Preview had been downloaded over one million times.[14] Like the Developer Preview, the Consumer Preview is set to expire on January 15, 2013.
Release Preview
At Japan’s Developers Day conference, Steven Sinofsky announced that the Windows 8 Release Preview (build 8400) would be released during the first week of June.[15] On May 28, 2012, the Windows 8 Release Preview (Standard Simplified Chinese x64 edition, not China-specific version, build 8400) was leaked online on various Chinese and BitTorrent websites.[16] On May 31, 2012, the Windows 8 Release Preview was released to the public by Microsoft.[17]
Major items in the Release Preview included the addition of Sports, Travel, and News apps, along with an integrated version of Flash Player in Internet Explorer.[18] Unlike the Developer Preview and the Consumer Preview, the release preview is set to expire on January 16, 2013.
Final version
On August 1, 2012, Windows 8 (build 9200[19]) was released to manufacturing.[20] Microsoft plans to release Windows 8 for general availabilityon October 26, 2012.[21] However, only a day after its release to manufacturing, a copy of the final version of Windows 8 Enterprise N (produced for European markets) leaked to the web and several days later there were Professional and Enterprise leaks both x86 and x64.[22][23] On August 15, 2012, Windows 8 was made available to download for MSDN and TechNet subscribers.[24] Windows 8 was made available to Software Assurance customers on August 16, 2012.[25] Windows 8 was made available for student downloads (with a DreamSpark Premium subscription) on August 22, 2012, earlier than advertised.[26]
Relatively few changes were made from the Release Preview to the final version. A tutorial explaining how to use the new Metro interface was included and the look and feel of the desktop was subtly changed to be more in line with the Metro interface. Some included apps were also changed slightly.[27]
New features
Windows 8 is expected to include several new features, including native USB 3.0 support, Microsoft Account Integration, the Windows Store, the ability to run from USB Flash drives with Windows To Go, and easier system restore options, among others.
Development platform
Language and standards support
Windows 8 allows the use of a new platform, the Windows Runtime (WinRT), to create a new type of application that runs in a secure sandbox, and facilitate easier sharing of data between them, or snap to the side of a widescreen display for multi-tasking. WinRT, being a COM-based API, allows for the use of various programming languages to code apps, including C#, VB.net, or HTML5 andJavaScript.[1][2]
The new platform is primarily designed for 16:9 screen resolutions, with 1360×768 and larger screens able to display two applications side-by-side by “snapping”. 1024×768 screens can display one application in full-screen, and 1024×600 screens can only use the traditional desktop applications.[3]
Previously referred to as “Metro-style apps”, connecting it to Windows 8′s use of a interface following the Metro design language as its primary desktop, reports surfaced that Microsoft employees were told to stop using the term due to potential trademark issues with the German company Metro AG. A Microsoft spokesperson however, denied these reports and stated that “Metro-style” was merely acodename for the new application platform.[4]
Windows 8 also introduces APIs to support near field communication (NFC) on Windows 8 devices, allowing functionality like launching URLs/applications and sharing of information between devices via NFC.[5]
Windows Store
Main article: Windows Store
The Windows Store is a digital distribution platform built into Windows 8, which in a manner similar to Apple‘s App Store and Google Play, allows for the distribution and purchase of apps designed for Windows 8. Developers will still be able to advertise desktop software through the Windows Store as well. To ensure that they are secure and of a high quality, the Windows Store will be the only means of distributing WinRT-based apps for consumer-oriented versions of Windows 8.[6]
Shell and user interface
Windows 8 features an extensively redesigned user interface incorporating adesign language codenamed “Metro“, optimized for touchscreens as well as mice and keyboards. A new “Start screen”, similar to the one in Windows Phone, includes live application tiles. The start screen replaces the Start menu, being triggered by the Windows key, clicking a hot corner in bottom left (replacing the Start button), and is also the first screen shown on startup. The user can go to the regular desktop via a tile on the Start screen, or by launching a desktop application.
The interface also incorporates a new menu bar on the right side of the screen known as the “Charms bar”, which can be accessed from any app or the desktop by sliding from the right edge of a touchscreen or compatible trackpad, pointing in one of the right corners of the screen, or pressing ⊞ Win+C. The Charms bar includes functionality for search, sharing, accessing the Start screen, managing devices, and settings; all of which can be directly integrated with apps.
New apps for Windows 8 run in a full-screen layout by default. On displays with a widescreen resolution, apps can be snapped to the side of the screen, allowing multi-tasking to an extent.
User login
Windows 8 features a new lock screen, which includes a date and time display, along with the ability to display notifications from apps. Two new login methods optimized for touch screens are also available, including a four-digit PIN, or a “picture password”; which users allow the use of certain gestures performed on a selected picture to login. These gestures will take into account the shape, the start and end points, as well as the directionality. However, the shapes and gestures are limited to tapping and tracing a line or circle. Microsoft found that limiting the gestures improved the speed of sign-ins by three times compared to allowing freeform methods. Wrong gestures will always deny a login, and it will lock out the PC after five unsuccessful attempts, until a text password is provided.[7][8]
Microsoft account integration
User accounts can be linked to a Microsoft account to provide additional functionality, such as the synchronization of user data, and integration with other Microsoft services such as Xbox Live (for gaming and multimedia) and SkyDrive online storage.[9][10]
Multi-monitor support
Windows 8 also includes improved support for multi-monitor configurations; the taskbar can now be shown on multiple displays, and each display can also show its own dedicated taskbar. Wallpapers can also be spanned across multiple displays, or each display can have its own separate wallpaper.
File Explorer
Similar to Microsoft Office and Windows Essentials, the re-designed File Explorer (formerly Windows Explorer) uses the ribbon interface to enhance discoverability of commands and bring relevant commands to users depending on their file selection. For example, selecting photos in a folder brings up tools to rotate the photos and to start a slide show. The interface was selected to bring forward the most commonly used commands for easy access. The “Up” button (which advances the user back a level in the folder hierarchy) that was removed from Explorer afterWindows XP has also been restored.[11] Additionally, File Explorer features a redesigned preview pane that takes advantage of widescreen layouts.[11]
File Explorer will feature a new user interface for copying and moving files, offering both a simplified interface and an advanced interface for users to monitor the speed of the operations. Users now view all simultaneous file operations in one consolidated window, and can pause file operations in progress.[12] A new interface has also been introduced for managing file name collisions in a file operation, allowing users to easily control which conflicting files are copied.[13]
File Explorer can now mount ISO, IMG, and VHD files as virtual drives through simple right-clicks or the Explorer toolbar[14] as compared to Windows 7 where VHDs could be mounted in a less-discoverable way, via the Disk Management section in the Computer Management MMC, or by using diskpart from the command line.[15]
Task Manager
Windows 8 includes an overhauled version of Windows Task Manager where the following changes were made:[16]
The tabs are hidden by default. This view only shows applications
Resource utilization in the Processes tab is shown using a heat map, with darker shades of yellow representing heavier use.
The Performance tab is split into CPU, memory, disk, Ethernet, and wireless network (if applicable) sections. There are overall graphs for each, and clicking on one reaches details for that particular resourceA new Startup tab has been added that lists startup applications and their impact on boot time
The CPU tab no longer displays individual graphs for every logical processor on the system by default. It now can show data for eachNUMA node
The CPU tab now displays simple percentages on heat-mapping tiles to display utilization for systems with many (64 or more, up to 640) logical processors.[17] The color used for these heat maps is blue, with darker color again indicating heavier utilization
Hovering the cursor over any logical processor’s data now shows the NUMA node of that processor and its ID
The Processes tab now lists application names, application status, and overall usage data for CPU, memory, hard disk, and network resources for each process
The new task manager recognizes when a WinRT application is in “Suspended” status
The normal process information found in the older Task Manager can be found in the new Details tab
Family Safety
Family Safety will allow Administrators to monitor and restrict user activity via web filtering, application restriction, and computer usage time limits.[18][19][20]
Infrastructure
ARM architecture
A special version of Windows 8 known as Windows RT will run on devices that utilize ARM processors—such as tablets. Aside from the desktop programs bundled with Windows RT devices (which will also include a special version of Microsoft Office 2013), Windows RT will only be able to run WinRT apps obtained from the Windows Store.[21]
Boot security
Windows 8 will support the UEFI secure boot feature. This will enable a new foundation for an architecturally neutral approach to platform and firmware security. It is based on a public key infrastructure (PKI) process to validate firmware images for security purposes before they are allowed to execute, preventing the possibility of malware attacks during the boot process.[22]
[edit]File History
File History, a function similar to Mac OS X‘s Time Machine, replaces the “Previous Versions” and Backup and Restore features on Windows 8. File History automatically creates incremental backups of files stored in Libraries and user-specified folders to an external storage device (such as a secondary hard drive, Storage Space, or network share). Users can then track and restore specific revisions of files using the “History” functions in File Explorer. Unlike Shadow Copy, which performs block level tracking of files, File History only utilizes the USN Journal to track changes, and simply copies previous versions of files to the backup location.[23]
[edit]Startup
Windows 8 defaults to a “hybrid boot” mode; when the operating system is shut down, it hibernates only the kernel, allowing for a faster boot on the subsequent startup.[24] This is further compounded with support for multiple cores during bootup.[25] On systems with UEFI firmware, a manufacturer’s splash screen can now be maintained on-screen during Windows startup following the Power-on self-test, allowing for a seamless transition between control from the firmware to Windows.[26]
The Advanced Startup menu has also been redesigned to use a graphical interface with mouse and touch support rather than text mode. It can now also interface with UEFI firmware to provide options to launch a system’s internal setup utility or for choosing an alternate boot device. The Advanced Startup menu can now also be launched from within Windows via the PC settings app, holding down Shift when selecting to Restart, or using the new “-o” switch on shutdown.exe. These changes were implemented to provide a more consistent means of accessing startup options, and because the faster startup of (especially on UEFI systems) made it difficult to trigger the Advanced Startup menu or firmware setup utilities using keyboard shortcuts.[26] [27]
[edit]Repair and recovery
Windows 8 can now detect when a system is experiencing issues that have been preventing the operating system from functioning correctly or starting up, and can automatically send the user to the Advanced Startup menu to access diagnostic and repair functions.[27]
Windows 8 also adds two new system recovery modes. The Refresh and Reset options allow a user to re-install Windows from within the operating system; both of these options reboot the system into the Windows Recovery Environment to perform the requested operation. Refresh preserves user profiles, settings, and apps, while Reset reformats the system partition and re-installs the operating system entirely. The reset function may also perform specialized disk wiping functions for added security. Both operations will remove all installed desktop applications from the system.[28][29]
[edit]USB 3.0
Windows 8 has built-in support of USB 3.0 for better power management and longer battery life.[30][31]
[edit]Video subsystem
Windows 8 includes WDDM 1.2 and DirectX Graphics Infrastructure (DXGI) 1.2. The Desktop Window Manager now runs at all times (even on systems with unsupported graphics cards; where DWM now also supports software rendering), and now also includes support for stereoscopic 3Dcontent.[32]
Other major features include preemptive multitasking with finer granularity (DMA buffer, primitive, triangle, pixel, or instruction-level), reduced memory footprint, improved resource sharing, and faster timeout detection and recovery. 16-bit color surface formats (565, 5551, 4444) are mandatory in Windows 8, and Direct3D 11 Video supports YUV 4:4:4/4:2:2/4:2:0/4:1:1 video formats with 8, 10, and 16-bit precision, as well as 4 and 8-bit paletted formats.[citation needed]
Windows To Go
Bootable Windows To Go USB flash drive
Main article: Windows To Go
Windows To Go is a Windows 8 Enterprise feature that allows users to create a bootable USB Flash drive (usually called a Live USB) with Windows 8 in it, including the user’s programs, settings, and files.
Virtualization
[edit]Hyper-V
Previously only offered in Windows Server; Hyper-V, a native hypervisor for hardware virtualization, will now be included in Windows 8 Pro; the first time it has been included in a client version of Windows.[37][38]
[edit]Virtual hard disk format
Windows 8 offers a new VHD format, called .vhdx, which supports up to 16 terabytes of storage. It reportedly has built-in resiliency as well as protection from corruption that can happen during power failures. It also helps prevent performance degradation on some large-sector physical disks.
[edit]Storage Spaces
Storage Spaces is a storage virtualization technology which succeeds Logical Disk Manager and allows the organization of physical disks into logical volumes similar to Logical Volume Manager (Linux), RAID1 or RAID5, but on a higher level.[39]
A storage space will behave like a physical disk to the user, with thin provisioning of available disk space. The spaces are organized within a storage pool, i.e. a collection of physical disks, which can span multiple disks of different sizes and different interfaces (USB, SATA, SAS). The process of adding new disks or replacing failed or older disks is fully automatic, but can be controlled with PowerShell commands. The same storage pool can host multiple storage spaces. Storage Spaces have built-in resiliency from disk failures, which is achieved by either mirroring or striping with parity across the physical disks. Each storage pool on the ReFS filesystem is limited to 4 PB (4096 TB), but there are no limits on the total number of storage pools or the number of storage spaces within a pool.
List of features removed in Windows 8
Windows 8 is the successor to Windows 7 in Microsoft’s Windows line of operating systems. Several features which were present in Windows 7 are no longer present in Windows 8.
Shell
The Start button has been removed, although it is still accessible as a hotspot in the lower left corner of the screen, via the Windows key, and on the charms menu.[1]
Aero 3D Flip has been removed and “replaced” with a Modern UI app switcher, accessible by sliding/moving mouse up from the bottom-left corner or sliding/moving mouse down from the upper-left corner. This cannot be used for desktop apps. However, it can be used to switch to the desktop.
The Start menu has been removed in favor of a full screen interface called the Start screen.[2]The Aero Glass theme, which has been featured in Windows Vista and Windows 7 has been removed from Windows 8 in favor of a Metro-style theme.[5]
Start screen lacks the global “Recent Documents” menu.[3]
Start screen lacks the automatically filling by usage tracking “Most Frequently Used” (MFU) programs list, each with its “Recent Documents” menu.[3][4]
Microsoft Gadgets which has been featured in Windows Vista and Windows 7 has been removed from Windows 8. [6]
[edit]File Explorer
The command bar is no longer present, and has been replaced by a new Ribbon UI.[7]
[edit]Media features
Windows Media Center will no longer be included by default in any version of Windows 8, but will be available as an add-on.[8]
Windows Media Player will no longer provide DVD playback functionality, although DVDs will still be playable in Windows Media Center if it is purchased separately.[8]
[edit]Standards compliance
The POSIX subsystem, SUA, has been dropped.[9]
[edit]Other
Previous Versions has been replaced by a somewhat similar feature called File History
The Blue Screen of Death no longer shows as much technical information about the error that caused the computer to stop.[11]
Windows CardSpace has been removed in favour of the new feature U-Prove. The Parental Controls feature present in earlier versions of Windows has been removed and replaced by the Family Safety feature
Internet Explorer 10 is included as both desktop program and as a touch-optimized app. The latter does not support plugins or ActiveX components, but includes a version of Adobe Flash Player that is optimized for touch and low power usage and works only on sites included on a whitelist.[40]
It is now possible to log into Windows using a Microsoft account (formerly known as a Windows Live ID). This allows the user’s profile and settings to be synchronized over the Internet and accessible from other computers running Windows 8, as well as integration withSkyDrive.[41]
Two new authentication methods have been added: picture password, which allows users to log in by drawing three gestures in different places on a picture,[42][43] and PIN log in, which allows users to authenticate using a four digit pin.[44]
File Explorer includes a ribbon toolbar, and has its file operation progress dialog updated to provide more detailed statistics, the ability to pause file transfers, and improvements in the ability to manage conflicts when copying files.[45]
Hybrid Boot uses hibernation technology to allow faster startup times by saving the Windows core’s memory to the hard disk and reloading it upon boot.[46][47][48]
Windows To Go allows Windows 8 Enterprise to boot and run from a bootable USB device (such as a flash drive).[49][50]
Two new recovery functions are included, Refresh and Reset. Refresh restores all Windows files to their original state while keeping settings, files, and apps, while reset takes the computer back to factory default condition.[51]
USB 3.0 is now supported natively.[52]
A new lock screen displays a clock and notifications while the computer is locked.[53]
Task Manager has been redesigned.[further explanation needed][54]
Xbox Live integration (including Xbox Live Arcade, Xbox SmartGlass, Xbox Music, and Xbox Video)[55]
Storage Spaces allows users to combine different sized hard disks into virtual drives and specify mirroring, parity, or no redundancy on a folder-by-folder basis.[56]
Family Safety is intended to allow parents to protect their children on the Internet, as well as monitor and control their PC and Internet activities and usage.[57][58][59]
Windows Defender now has anti-virus capabilities, similar to those of Microsoft Security Essentials. It is intended to replace the Security Essentials package and functions as the default anti-virus program
Hardware requirements
PCs
The minimum system requirements for Windows 8 Enterprise edition are slightly higher than those of Windows 7.[61]
Minimum hardware requirements for Windows 8 Enterprise edition
Architecture
IA-32 (32-bit)
x86-64 (64-bit)
Processor
1 GHz (with PAE, NX and SSE2 support)[62]
Memory (RAM)
1 GB
2 GB
Graphics Card
DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver
Storage
20 GB
To run Windows Store apps, a screen resolution of 1024×768 or higher is required. A minimum resolution of 1366×768 is required to run their snapping feature.[63] To receive logo certification, Microsoft requires that an Intel-compatible system resume from standby in 2 seconds or less.[64]
Windows 8 Consumer Preview may be run on Hyper-V, VMware Workstation 8.0.2 for Windows, VirtualBox 4.1.8 for Windows, Parallels Workstation 6 for Windows, Parallels Desktop 4 for Windows, and XenDesktop 5.5. It cannot be run on Microsoft Virtual PC, Windows Virtual PC,Microsoft Virtual Server and VMware Workstation v7.x or earlier.[65]
Tablets and convertibles
Microsoft released minimum hardware requirements for new tablet and convertible devices designed for Windows 8, and defined a convertible form factor as a standalone device that combines the PC, display and rechargeable power source with a mechanically attached keyboard and pointing device in a single chassis. A convertible can be transformed into a tablet where the attached input devices are hidden or removed leaving the display as the only input mechanism.[66][67]
Hardware certification requirements for Windows tablets[68]
Graphics Card
DirectX 10 graphics device with WDDM 1.2 or higher driver
Storage
10GB free space, after the out-of-box experience completes
Standard buttons
‘Power’, ‘Rotation lock’, ‘Windows Key’, ‘Volume-up’, ‘Volume-down’
Screen
Touch screen supporting a minimum of 5-point digitizers and resolution of at least 1366×768. The physical dimensions of the display panel must match the aspect ratio of the native resolution. The native resolution of the panel can be greater than 1366 (horizontally) and 768 (vertically). Minimum native color depth is 32-bits.
Camera
Minimum 720p
Ambient light sensor
1–30k lux capable with dynamic range of 5–60K
Accelerometer
3 axes with data rates at or above 50 Hz
USB 2.0
At least one controller and exposed port.
Connect
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0 + LE (low energy)
Other
Speaker, microphone, magnetometer and gyroscope.
If a mobile broadband device is integrated into a tablet or convertible system, then an assisted GPS radio is required. Devices supporting near field communication need to have visual marks to help users locate and use the proximity technology. The new button combination for Ctrl + Alt + Del is Windows Key + Power.
Secure boot
See also: Unified Extensible Firmware Interface#Secure boot and Hardware restrictions#Windows 8
Secure boot is a feature of UEFI that can verify the integrity of operating system files using public-key cryptography, preventing unauthorized programs from running at boot time.[69] Support for this feature in Windows 8, however, has proven controversial.[70][71][72][73]
Hardware makers who choose the optional Microsoft Certification are required to implement UEFI secure boot. Microsoft also requires that manufacturers offer the ability to turn off the secure boot feature on x86 hardware,[74] but they must not offer such an option on ARM hardware. No mandate is made regarding the installation of third-party certificates that would enable running alternative software.[75][76][77]
In September 2011, Matthew Garrett, an employee of competitor Red Hat, raised the possible risk of Microsoft locking out alternative systems,[78]leading to media coverage.[79][80][81][82] Microsoft addressed the issue in a blog post,[83] stating that “At the end of the day, the customer is in control of their PC. Microsoft’s philosophy is to provide customers with the best experience first, and allow them to make decisions themselves”,[84] with the promise that disabling SecureBoot on Windows 8 devices would be possible.[83][85] In January 2012, Microsoft released certification requirements for Windows 8 specifying that non-ARM devices must have “the ability to disable Secure Boot”, whereas for ARM-based devices, disabling Secure Boot “must not be possible.”[72][74][86][87][88] By prohibiting Windows 8 from running on ARM systems that allow the user to disable Secure Boot, Microsoft raised concerns,[89][90][91] particularly in the Linux community, who are concerned that this marks an attempt by Microsoft to exclude competing operating systems from computers built to be compatible with Windows 8.[92][93][94]
Fedora Linux has resolved this issue by purchasing a security key from VeriSign for US$99.[95][96] The Free Software Foundation has commented on the issue,[97][98] covering the use of GRUB and both Ubuntu and Fedora’s approaches.[99]
Software compatibility
BSOD in Windows 8
Windows 8 for IA-32 and x64 processors runs most software compatible with previous versions of Windows, with the same restrictions as Windows 7: 64-bit Windows 8 runs 64-bit and 32-bit software while 32-bit Windows 8 will be able to run 32-bit and 16-bit software (although some 16-bit software may require compatibility settings to be applied, or not work at all).
Windows RT, a version of Windows 8 for systems with ARM processors, only supports applications included with the system (such as a special version of Office 2013), supplied through Windows Update, or Windows Store apps. Windows RT does not support running existing IA-32 or x64 desktop applications to ensure the quality of apps available on ARM.[100] Windows Store apps can either be cross-compatible between Windows 8 and Windows RT, or compiled to support a specific architecture.[101]
Upgrade offers
On July 2, 2012, Microsoft announced that once Windows 8 will be released on October 26,[21] from then till January 31, 2013, there will be two (one costing $69.99, and one costing $39.99) ways to upgrade to Windows 8 Pro from earlier Windows versions.[102] These two methods come on the heels of Microsoft’s confirming, in late May 2012,[103][104] that it would offer a $14.99 Windows 8 Pro upgrade to purchasers of new PCs with Windows 7 pre-installed on them.
In none of Microsoft’s announcements or confirmations of these promotional prices did it specify what are the long-term, permanent upgrade pricing for Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro.
Though Microsoft had earlier announced that Windows Media Center is not be included in Windows 8, this promotion allows users to install Windows Media Center for free once they’ve completed the upgrade.[105]
The Windows 8 upgrade for Windows 7 users is easiest and most seamless of the upgrade paths because all user settings, personal files, and applications will remain intact. For those upgrading from Windows Vista, only user settings and personal files are preserved, but not applications; and for those upgrading from Windows XP, only personal files (but not user settings or applications) survive. Applications which are removed as part of the process may be re-installed following the installation.[105]
Those who purchase qualifying Windows 7 PCs between June 2, 2012 and January 31, 2013 will be eligible to register and download an upgrade to Windows 8 Pro, via the Windows Upgrade Offer website, for $14.99, through February 28, 2013.[102] A qualified PC is a new PC purchased during the aforementioned June 2 through January 31 promotional period with a valid Windows 7 OEM Certificate of Authenticity and product key for, and preinstalled with, the following editions:[106]
Windows 7 Home Basic
Windows 7 Home Premium
Windows 7 Professional
Windows 7 Ultimate
The Windows 7 Starter and Enterprise editions are ineligible for the US $14.99 upgrade. The upgrade must be performed via registration on the Microsoft Windows Upgrade Offer website. After registration on the site (which must be done from the eligible PC so that its copy of Windows 7 may be validated), registrants receive a confirmation email. Then, after Windows 8′s general release, said customers receive another email with a promotion code and instructions for purchasing and downloading the Windows 8 Pro upgrade; which promotion code is redeemed during the upgrade ordering process to receive the promotional $14.99 price.[106]
An optional installation DVD will also be available for an additional fee. Those who download the Windows 8 Pro upgrade are be able to create their own bootable installation media on DVD or USB flash drive from the downloaded Windows 8 Pro upgrade.[106]
The Windows 8 Pro upgrades obtained via these promotional prices includes 90-days of no-charge support from Microsoft which begins at the moment the Windows 8 is installed and activation is completed.[106]
Logo
On February 18, 2012, Microsoft confirmed that in Windows 8 the Windows logo will be significantly updated to reflect the new Metro design language. The logo was designed by Pentagram partner Paula Scher. The formerly flag-shaped logo has been transformed into four window panes, perspective was added, and the entire logo will be rendered in a single solid color, which will depend on the user’s personalization changes.[107]
On April 16, 2012, Microsoft announced that Windows 8 will be available in four main editions. Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro will be available for retail sale to consumers in most countries.[108] The other editions are not available in retail. The new Windows RT edition will only be available preinstalled by OEMs on ARM-based devices while the Enterprise edition will only be available through volume licensing.
Important: If you decide to go back to your previous operating system, you’ll need to reinstall it from the
recovery or installation media that came with your PC, which is typically DVD media. If you don’t have
recovery media, you might be able to create it from a recovery partition on your PC using software provided
by your PC manufacturer. Check the support section of your PC manufacturer’s website for more information.
After you install Windows 8, you won’t be able to use the recovery partition on your PC to go back to your
previous version of Windows.
