Windows 8: Consumer Preview

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Windows 8 Consumer Preview ISO formats

Windows 8 Consumer Preview ISO files (.iso) are provided as an alternative to using Windows 8 Consumer Preview Setup. If you are on a PC running Windows and want to install the consumer preview on another partition, another PC, or a virtual machine, we recommend you download Windows 8 Consumer Preview Setup and use the built-in tools for converting an ISO image into installation media, such as a DVD or USB bootable flash drive. You can find additional information, including a list of supported upgrades, in the FAQ.

Note before you download: Windows 8 Consumer Preview is prerelease software that may be substantially modified before it's commercially released. Microsoft makes no warranties, express or implied, with respect to the information provided here. Some product features and functionality may require additional hardware or software. 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.

System Requirements:

    Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster
    RAM: 1 gigabyte (GB) (32-bit) or 2 GB (64-bit)
    Hard disk space: 16 GB (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit)
    Graphics card: Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device or higher

Additional requirements to use certain features:

•   To use touch, you need a tablet or a monitor that supports multitouch.
  
•   To access the Windows Store and to download and run apps, you need an active Internet connection and a screen resolution of at least 1024 x 768.
  
•   To snap apps, you need a screen resolution of at least 1366 x 768.
  

About Windows 8 Consumer Preview Setup:

1.  Windows 8 Consumer Preview Setup checks your PC to see if it can run the consumer preview, and provides a compatibility report that you can save or print (make sure your devices are connected to your PC and turned on before you run the Setup program). The Setup program then selects the optimized version of the download (up to 25% smaller) that is right for your PC (32-bit or 64-bit).

2.  The built-in download manager lets you start, stop, and resume the download at any time.

3.  Once Windows 8 Consumer Preview is downloaded, you choose how and when to install it. You can install on the current drive or you can make an ISO or bootable flash drive for installing Windows 8 Consumer Preview on another partition, virtual machine, or another PC (requires Windows Vista or Windows 7).

Also see the topics in Windows 8: Developer Preview.

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Check the Windows 8 Consumer Preview Compatibility Center to find out whether your favorite applications and devices are compatible with Windows 8.  Links on the results page will direct to product Updates, Drivers, & Downloads.

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Window by window illustrations:  Installing the Windows 8 Consumer Preview

Old dogs, get ready for new tricks: how to use the Windows 8 Consumer Preview includes the following keyboard shortcuts:

Windows logo key+spacebar:      Switch input language and keyboard layout
Windows logo key+O:     Locks device orientation
Windows logo key+,:     Temporarily peeks at the desktop
Windows logo key+V:     Cycles through toasts
Windows logo key+Shift+V:      Cycles through toasts in reverse order
Windows logo key+Enter:    Launches Narrator
Windows logo key+PgUp:    Moves Start Screen or Metro style application to the monitor on the left
Windows logo key+PgDown:     Moves Start Screen or Metro style application to the monitor on the right
Windows logo key+Shift+.:    Moves the gutter to the left (snaps an application)
Windows logo key+.:     Moves the gutter to the right (snaps an application)
Windows logo key+ C:     Opens Charms bar
Windows logo key+I:     Opens Settings charm
Windows logo key+K:     Opens Connect charm
Windows logo key+H:     Opens Share charm
Windows logo key+Q:     Opens Search pane
Windows logo key+W:     Opens Settings Search app
Windows logo key+F:     Opens File Search app
Windows logo key+Tab:      Cycles through apps
Windows logo key+Shift+Tab:    Cycles through apps in reverse order
Windows logo key+Ctrl+Tab:      Cycles through apps and snaps them as they are cycled
Windows logo key+Z:     Opens App Bar
Windows logo key+/:     Initiates input method editor (IME) reconversion
Windows logo key+J:     Swaps foreground between the snapped and filled apps

Paul Thurrott includes Windows key shortcuts that work in the classic Windows desktop, some of which are new to Windows 8.  See Windows 8 Consumer Preview: Windows Key Keyboard Shortcuts

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Part of the Windows 8 experience is the new "Metro" screen.  However, it is realized that the Metro experience will be enhanced with a touch screen.  If after trying the new Metro start screen, you want to have the desktop at startup, see the instructions at Group Policy Central by Microsoft MVP Alan Burchill, The must have Windows 8 Start Menu Group Policy Setting.

As Alan reports, "The "Do not show the Start Menu when the user logs in" policy allows you to boot the OS into the more familiar desktop and not the Metro start menu."

The setting is located at User Configuration > Policies > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar[/b].

Update #2 / Rant: OMG! In closer look at the help of the setting it says "this group policy only applies to the Windows Server 8 Beta"  meaning that Microsoft are deliberately forcing people to launch the start menu. The fact that this is NOT something that can be controlled is VERY frustrating a reeks of an Apple like attitude of telling us that is not something we want. I get that the default is to launch into the metro start menu and I even think it is a better menu than the traditional start menu. But taking away people's choice to go straight to the desktop is going to anger a lot people like myself especially when we know it is a Server OS option.

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Give Metro a chance before you disable it.  There is an excellent tutorial on navigating Windows 8, whether you use the keyboard, mouse, or touch screen by Derick Campbell, MSFT (Microsoft Research). 

Dude, Where's My Windows 8 Start Menu?

Also available is an online Word Document which includes a comprehensive list of keyboard shortcuts with the corresponding touch and mouse actions.  Consider downloading the file and annotating it with your own notes:  Win8 Shortcuts.

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One dramatic change Microsoft has introduced in Windows 8 is the Metro style user interface, a reimagining user experience of Windows. The new Metro user interface has been carefully designed and built and therefore very intuitive to new and experienced Windows users. However, the change also requires users, myself included, to learn or re-learn new ways of working with applications and the Windows environment in general, from some basic tasks of turning your PC or tablets or slates off to resetting your device to default settings without losing apps and user data and settings.

To help users quickly ramp up their experience of working with Windows 8 and find shortcuts of getting things done, I will start this "Windows 8 Consumer Preview Power User How To Series" or "Win8 HowTo" for short or Twitter hash tag "#Win8HowTo".

A collection by Dr.Z, a senior Microsoft Architect Evangelist, that currently includes the following: 

Windows 8 How-To Posts

Windows 8 How To: 1. Switch Between Metro UI and Desktop Mode
Windows 8 How To: 2. Switch Between Apps or Snap Apps
Windows 8 How To: 3. How to Power Off Your Device
Windows 8 How To: 4. Show and Access the Control Panel
Windows 8 How To: 5. Show and Access Administrative Tools
Windows 8 How To: 6. Show All Apps
Windows 8 How To: 7. Switch Between Windows Accounts and Local Accounts
Windows 8 How To: 8. Set up a Picture Password
Windows 8 How To: 9. Set Up a Printer
Windows 8 How To: 10. Customize Metro UI – App Tiles and Groups
Windows 8 How To: 11. Install Language Packs for Multilingual Support
Windows 8 How To: 12. Show and Use "Run" Command
Windows 8 How To: 13. Show and Use cmd Prompt (DOS Mode)
Windows 8 How To: 14. Show and Use PowerShell
Windows 8 How To: 15. Show and Use Desktop Applications
Windows 8 How To: 16. Install .NET 3.5 and Windows Live Essentials
Windows 8 How To: 17. Add New Tab or New InPrivate Tab in Metro Style IE Browser
Windows 8 How To: 18. Configure WiFi Connection and Airplane Mode
Windows 8 How To: 19. Show Hidden Files, Folders and Drives
Windows 8 How To: 20. How to Start Windows 8 in Safe Mode
Windows 8 How To: 21. Install and Uninstall Metro Style Apps
Windows 8 How To: 22. Enable or Disable Sharing Between PCs Using HomeGroup
Windows 8 How To: 23. Find and Use Windows Help and Support
Windows 8 How To: 24. Show and Configure Free Anti-Virus App (Windows Defender)
Windows 8 How To: 25. Show and Enable Split Touch Keyboard (On-Screen)
Windows 8 How To: 26. Set up Remote Desktop Connection

MSDN Blogs

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Ed Bott provides step-by-step instructions on how to boot Windows 8 from a virtual hard disk.

Note:  This will only work on a PC running Windows 7 Ultimate or Enterprise (preferably 64-bit). The Boot from VHD feature does not work on other versions of Windows 7.  Also, if you're using BitLocker encryption, as Ed said, "stop right now. This will just make you cry."

How to use a VHD to dual-boot Windows 8 on a Windows 7 PC | ZDNet