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Download and Install the Windows 8 Consumer Preview

Feb. 29, 2012 Paul Thurrott | Paul Thurrott's Supersite for Windows

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OK, I know you're all excited to get your hands on the Windows 8 Consumer Preview. By the end of this week, I'll post installation guides for Windows 8 that cover clean install, upgrading from Windows 7, Push Button Reset, and, best of all, the new web-based installer.

But there's no reason to wait. Here are some download links for the Windows 8 Consumer Preview.

Download Windows 8 Consumer Preview

This is the web-based installer. It will check to see if your PC can run Windows 8 Consumer Preview and select the right download. I was told that this installer utilizes a specially created compression scheme that is tailored to the unique format of the WIM (Windows Imagining) file that makes up the bulk of the Windows 8 download, so this is actually the fastest way to install the bits. You can, however, use this method to trigger a download as well, so that you can copy the build to a USB memory stick or DVD and install it manually that way.

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Windows 8 Consumer Preview ISO images

Looking to go the manual route? From this site, you can download ISO images that you can use to install Windows 8 to a virtual machine or burn the image to disc or copy to USB memory stick and install that way. There are 32-bit (2.5 GB) and 64-bit (3.3 GB) versions of the Consumer Preview available.

Enjoy!


Discuss this Article 12

lazysquirrell
on Feb 29, 2012
I am actually really excited about this. This is the first time ive been excited about a pre release. Hopefully all will be good.
lazysquirrell
on Feb 29, 2012
I am actually really excited about this. This is the first time ive been excited about a pre release. Hopefully all will be good.
lazysquirrell
on Feb 29, 2012
I am actually really excited about this. This is the first time ive been excited about a pre release. Hopefully all will be good.
yoshipod (not verified)
on Feb 29, 2012
I just installed it on a 2010 iMac running VMware. Pretty easy install. I look forward to checking it out in more detail over the next few weeks.
whiplash55
on Feb 29, 2012
So far, so good. The installation went well using the direct install exe. I was upgrading the Developer Preview so that's to be expected. It seems more responsive than the Developer Preview, on my old Dell Latitude XT convertible, but it has no touchscreen function. Unfortunitly the hardware on this machine isn't supported so it's essentially an old version of a Ultrabook.The apps I've tried are great, it took me a few minutes to get use to using the start button for everything but it works great.
scolescole
on Feb 29, 2012
Just downloaded/installed. Not feeling the love...not sure this is an upgrade at all unless you have committed 100% to a MS ecosystem. This is a super-risky roll of the dice for MS's future. From my perspective, don't really get the Metro UI AT ALL!
scolescole
on Feb 29, 2012
Additionally, several Store installs failed, some "existing" apps would not run, and my overall impression is a 0.5 on the scale of 10 at this point.
jamearl
on Feb 29, 2012
Has anyone installed on the Samsung Series 7 Slate yet? I plan to install later tonight. Any advice?
JimmyFal
on Feb 29, 2012
I just want ONE big fat youtube video that runs through how to do stuff in Metro that used to be pretty discoverable in 7. Am I seriously 6 hours into this day and still cannot figure out how to print from the photos app? Am I really that stupid? Does that right mouse button not have the same ability to do just about EVERYTHING I would ever want to do to an object? I am so willing to give this a chance but can't do a START and search for Outlook items, not sure about favorites, are they really not going to even give me a HINT on how to make a home page on IE? Or how to print from IE 10 metro? Shouldn't I see a big fat finger friendly print button on ONE of those four corners? I'm going to go search for some answers now and I'll probably find them, but please help me look stupid and tell me how to print from PHOTOS app or MAIL app? Or even IE 10, help me look as dumb as I feel right now.
Waethorn
on Mar 1, 2012
I'm not exactly overjoyed that Xbox Live and Music (for my Zune Pass) doesn't work in Canada. This will make it a non-starter for me to use on a day-to-day basis until the RTM. Also, you can remove Mail, People, Messaging, and Calendar. But only as a group. They are also available in the Store - but only as a group. This is the replacement for WL Essentials. SkyDrive is also removeable, and is available in the Store, which is kind of good considering that some businesses may want to use a curated SharePoint workspace for data storage instead. I've been able to uninstall every Metro app listed except for IE, Remote Desktop and the Store. Windows Defender and the Desktop are listed as "Apps", but they aren't really.
redbreva
on Mar 2, 2012
Oh that is just stupid!! I have just started to install on my spare computer - a 18 month old netbook - only to be told that the store will not work on it as the screen resolution is not high enough! Surely this is just the sort of machine (relatively underpowered) that would benefit from Windows 8... I can imagaine tablets haveing smaller and just as low resolution screens too. Not a great start, I have a downer on the OS before it is even installed!
jamearl
on Mar 2, 2012
Tried 3 times this morning to install Windows 8 on Samsung Series 7 slate. Each time, fail to install for unknown reasons. I know others have installed. Any suggestions?

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