Windows 8 Dev release

[Boastree]

Remember all the talk of the PC being dead...if we are forced to use an os like this we may as well have a tablet...Just a thought.

 

[Win7User512]

I used a similar method. This is the simplest I've seen to not use a virtual machine app or installing directly to your machine (as primary OS).

Mister Goodcat | Installing Windows 8 Developer Preview as bootable VHD

I think it should be able to be outside of your smaller partition. At first, I thought this was too simple to work as easy as it does.

Thanks Win7User512.

The article seems to use a different partition.

I'll image my operating systems and then give it a try on the weekend.

I'd Rep you, but there doesn't seem to be a button on this thread.

Yes, he does seem to use a different partition altogether. Basically all it is doing is creating a VHD file, copying the install files to it, and then setting the boot entry.

Be warned that I found booting VERY slow, especially the first few boots when it "prepares the desktop" and such. But this is probably because it is a virtualization of the OS and not the OS directly sitting on the hardware, like your primary OS does.

Also during the first few boots, it will seem unresponsive for a while. This is probably normal, considering it is a pre-beta software.


Lastly, I appreciate your attempt to rep! However, you can't rep in the News section (only the help sections)

 

[Risco]

Can I install to an external USB drive? As in to be able to boot and run it from it?

I am a little unsure if you mean to Install windows 8 from a USB drive or actually run the OS from a pen drive?

If you do mean install from USB drive then this guide should do the trick:
Create Bootable USB or DVD - Windows 8 Developer Preview ISO

Sorry i can't be of more help with actually running Windows 8 from the pen drive

Regards,
JDobbsy1987

I want to run Windows 8 from my external HDD, as I have loads of space available and don't like messing with my system partitions ( I currently have my OS on one partition and apps / docs etc on another )

So I have an external WD USB drive, which I want to partition, install and boot windows 8 from.

 

[sandman]

What a difference running this Windows 8 on my Laptop I even think it runs better than Windows 7 no BSOD so far found all the drivers and is running real fast so far so good the VMware is not a good way to check this new build out properly so have fun and enjoy.

 

[SIW2]

Glad to hear it.

It is very slow for me - even if I get rid of all that Metro junk.

Don't mind it being slow, or buggy for that matter - it is pre release so to be expected.

I really can't stand the metro stuff.

 

[lehnerus2000]

Not impressed so far

I used a similar method. This is the simplest I've seen to not use a virtual machine app or installing directly to your machine (as primary OS).

Mister Goodcat | Installing Windows 8 Developer Preview as bootable VHD

I think it should be able to be outside of your smaller partition. Besides, among the last steps is to set the boot data. At first, I thought this was too simple to work as easy as it does.

I was able to install Windows 8 using that method.
I created a vhd in another partition with no problems.

It didn't preserve my old boot menu entries though.
I no longer get the option to boot XP.

Initial impressions:

• It does seem to run reasonably quickly (even though it's on a vhd).
• As I suspected, the new "user friendly" GUI requires even more mouse clicking to get anything done.
• I couldn't figure out how to change the font face and size (that option doesn't exist).
• I have no idea how to run any programs (in desktop mode) short of navigating to them using Explorer.

I guess that I'm going to have to use a giant Taskbar and pin EVERYTHING (50+ programs) to it.

 

[apollodominion]

im studying the start settings right now ill post info and guides when i can!

First you can have each start bar on each screen act independently from main start bar and it own icons!

some new features i have seen:
Wallpaper for each screen
Mini control panel right side pops out near Clock
Quicklinks in task manager
mini start menu (alittle bugged right now i have noticed)
Device hardware official driver update VIA Windows update
Fully customizable BOOT menu options (Duel+ Boot)
windows can be repaired wile using it via CD + Control pane via customize in start
Much faster File copy system seems defrag files when moved!

I will add more from my observations and info i find in windows 8 DEV M3

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there
just installing as a vm - downloaded the 64 bit developer edition.

I'm surprised that there is a 32 bit preview edition as I thought the system would be phased out with W7 being the last MS OS to support 32 bit systems.

I just hope though from other people's previews that I don't have to have the desktop looking like an Iphone cluttered with zillions those horrible square "Apps" icons.

I prefer a minimal desktop with as little cluttering as possible -- however I'm looking forward to installing the preview and seeing if I can get any apps like MS office to work on it.


Cheers
jimbo

 

[Paul1360]

Thank you all for your advice but alas I'm a dimwit and have decided to forget about windows 8. I think my skilled badge should be changed to "thick as a plank of wood". Just couldn't get it to work as it kept telling me I needed a 64bit OS to run win8 and as my laptop is 64bit, I just gave up. lol
Just looked at Windows Virtual PC is that easy to use? will it run win8 Dev Pre????
iechyd da

 

[xxxdannyxxx]

Well I've had 2/3 days on 8 now and I for one love it. I've got it set up the way I want and once you get used to where things are it becomes second nature again.The initially obtrusive Metro view actually I find useful once you get rid of the useless stuff and get it organised the way you want.
Took me 4 hours today to edit all the icon files to the way I like them, but its good to know many of the tutorials people here spent a lot of time producing are relevant to 8. Up to now I've had no problems installing any programs or using any of the registry tweeks from here, with the exception of the "icon cache rebuild" bat file which doesn't seem to run right as the system stalls on restarting so had to do it manually. and the fact I too can't find a way to change font face and size, at least not smaller anyway.

All in all I like it.

Danny

 

[Schroff87]

They're trying too much to make something like MacOS/iOS ... not liking their implementation so far but this is an alpha product to be fair ...

 

[sandman]

Symantec End point would not install on Windows 8 at this time compatibility issue

 

[lehnerus2000]

How did you do any of that?

im studying the start settings right now ill post info and guides when i can!

First you can have each start bar on each screen act independently from main start bar and it own icons!

some new features i have seen:
Wallpaper for each screen
Mini control panel right side pops out near Clock
Quicklinks in task manager
mini start menu (alittle bugged right now i have noticed)
Device hardware official driver update VIA Windows update
Fully customizable BOOT menu options (Duel+ Boot)
windows can be repaired wile using it via CD + Control pane via customize in start
Much faster File copy system seems defrag files when moved!

How did you do any of that (at all, consistently and/or repeatedly)?

I've been clicking on things (at random) and I can't see any consistent pattern of behaviour.
The options that appear seem to be unrelated to the action or object I've clicked on.
I "created" a full-screen weather report, but I can't figure out how to kill it.
The choose a picture (to hide your login) just appears at random in my list.

What are the chances of successfully transferring Windows Explorer 8 to a W7 install?
I wouldn't mind playing with it in a setting that isn't distracting me with bizarre behaviour, or preventing me from accessing the OS functions that I normally use.

Additional
Regarding the vhd install method (post 98 & 100), is there an easy way to restore the original boot entries, or will I have to re-image my PC?

 

[Win7User512]

im studying the start settings right now ill post info and guides when i can!

First you can have each start bar on each screen act independently from main start bar and it own icons!

some new features i have seen:
Wallpaper for each screen
Mini control panel right side pops out near Clock
Quicklinks in task manager
mini start menu (alittle bugged right now i have noticed)
Device hardware official driver update VIA Windows update
Fully customizable BOOT menu options (Duel+ Boot)
windows can be repaired wile using it via CD + Control pane via customize in start
Much faster File copy system seems defrag files when moved!

How did you do any of that (at all, consistently and/or repeatedly)?

I've been clicking on things (at random) and I can't see any consistent pattern of behaviour.
The options that appear seem to be unrelated to the action or object I've clicked on.
I "created" a full-screen weather report, but I can't figure out how to kill it.
The choose a picture (to hide your login) just appears at random in my list.

What are the chances of successfully transferring Windows Explorer 8 to a W7 install?
I wouldn't mind playing with it in a setting that isn't distracting me with bizarre behaviour, or preventing me from accessing the OS functions that I normally use.

Additional
Regarding the vhd install method (post 98 & 100), is there an easy way to restore the original boot entries, or will I have to re-image my PC?

Did you look at the boot tab in msconfig.exe? There is a delete button to delete boot entries. But I would google that first.

 

[lehnerus2000]

Thanks Win7User512

Did you look at the boot tab in msconfig.exe? There is a delete button to delete boot entries. But I would google that first.

Thanks for that tip Win7User512.

Do you think that I could add XP into the options by simply executing the command in that setup procedure (obviously changing the partition to the XP one)?

 

[Win7User512]

Did you look at the boot tab in msconfig.exe? There is a delete button to delete boot entries. But I would google that first.

Thanks for that tip Win7User512.

Do you think that I could add XP into the options by simply executing the command in that setup procedure (obviously changing the partition to the XP one)?

As long as it is installed somewhere and has a drive letter, it would probably work.

 

[sandman]

Hows the boot speeds the old HP9720us boots in less then 20 seconds before it took at least 90 seconds or more will have to see when i swap drives back plus it even likes the new 8 better for hardware except cannot get the coprocessor to install the right drivers to fix that non issue. Enjoy all

 

[fillup]

I've been playing with it all day. I think it SUCKS! I can't stand Metro. Who the hell thought this was a good idea for the desktop!? I know you can use the registry hack to disable Metro, but then it is basically Windows 7. I see no point in upgrading. For the first time I'm considering skipping a new release. I've never done that before.

 

[Paarkhi]

I know you can use the registry hack to disable Metro, but then it is basically Windows 7.

and if you disable the metro then some features like multiple copy dialog box may not work

 

[davehc]

Take out Metro and you are left with a very close Windows 7 hybrid - minus several Windows 7 features.
I cannot see any real use for the Metro menu, if you do not have a touchpad. Far more clicks need than my organised Windows 7 start menu folders.

My results on performance , for some reason, don't come up to a few I read here. Microseconds do not intest me, only visual impression and having a look at my wristwatch.

Windows 8. Windows 7

Startup 40secs 50secs
Shut down 5Secs 12Secs
(Neither of the above are of great interest to me in terms of performance)
IE10 opening to Google Both about 1Sec or less.

Ditto opening to this site. 8Secs 10Secs.

On the installation. (second time around, after I had learned a few tricks)
27Mins 21Minutes-

Corel Paint took longer to install and, the opening takes 3 seconds longer in Windows 8.

This is on a VERY average computer, I keep for purposes such as this. Apart from repetitive posts regardg Metro/Start Menu problems, there does not appear to be a great deal to comment on with its useage, which has not already been discussed in Windows7.

This is an early release, possibly to get future users accustemd to looking at the icons on the desktop, but, for the moment, on my computer it is wasting space and I am dumping it to wait for the BEta.