UT] How to Install Windows 8 w/ (Complete Step by Step)
Windows 8
Windows 8 is Microsoft's latest operating system which is completely redesigned. It moves away from the traditional
interface to a completely new interface known as Metro User Interface. The familiar start menu is now gone. Icons
and windows are replaced with live tiles and magazine styled interface. Unlike any previous versions, Windows 8 and
its variation RT works across multiple architectures and has been optimized for touch screen. So it will work on Intel
based PCs or an ARM based tablet.
System requirements
Windows 8.1
If you want to run Windows 8.1 on your PC, here's what it takes:
Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster with support for PAE, NX, and SSE2 (more info)
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 with WDDM driver
Additional requirements to use certain features:
To use touch, you need a tablet or a monitor that supports multitouch (more info)
To access the Windows Store and to download, run, and snap apps, you need an active Internet connection and a
screen resolution of at least 1024 x 768
Microsoft account required for some features
Internet access (ISP fees might apply)
Secure boot requires firmware that supports UEFI v2.3.1 Errata B and has the Microsoft Windows Certification
Authority in the UEFI signature database
Some games and programs might require a graphics card compatible with DirectX 10 or higher for optimal
performance
Watching DVDs requires separate playback software (more info)
Windows Media Center license sold separately (more info)
BitLocker To Go requires a USB flash drive (Windows 8.1 Pro only)
BitLocker requires either Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 1.2 or a USB flash drive (Windows 8.1 Pro only)
Client Hyper-V requires a 64-bit system with second level address translation (SLAT) capabilities and additional 2 GB
of RAM (Windows 8.1 Pro only)
A TV tuner is required to play and record live TV in Windows Media Center (Windows 8.1 Pro Pack and Windows 8.1
Media Center Pack only)
Miracast requires a display adapter which supports Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM) 1.3, and a Wi-Fi adapter
that supports Wi-Fi Direct
Wi-Fi Direct Printing requires a Wi-Fi adapter that supports Wi-Fi Direct and a device that supports Wi-Fi Direct
Printing
Free internet TV content varies by geography, some content might require additional fees (Windows 8.1 Pro Pack and
Windows 8.1 Media Center Pack only)
To install a 64-bit OS on a 64-bit PC, your processor needs to support CMPXCHG16b, PrefetchW, and LAHF/SAHF
InstantGo works only with computers designed for Connected Standby
If your PC is currently running Windows 7 or Windows 8 you can check to see if it meets the requirements by running
the Upgrade Assistant.
Windows 8
If you want to run Windows 8 on your PC, here's what it takes:
Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster with support for PAE, NX, and SSE2 (more info)
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 with WDDM driver
Additional requirements to use certain features:
To use touch, you need a tablet or a monitor that supports multitouch (more info)
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
Internet access (ISP fees might apply)
Secure boot requires firmware that supports UEFI v2.3.1 Errata B and has the Microsoft Windows Certification
Authority in the UEFI signature database
Some games and programs might require a graphics card compatible with DirectX 10 or higher for optimal
performance
Microsoft account required for some features
Watching DVDs requires separate playback software (more info)
Windows Media Center license sold separately (more info)
BitLocker To Go requires a USB flash drive (Windows 8 Pro only)
BitLocker requires either Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 1.2 or a USB flash drive (Windows 8 Pro only)
Client Hyper-V requires a 64-bit system with second level address translation (SLAT) capabilities and additional 2 GB
of RAM (Windows 8 Pro only)
A TV tuner is required to play and record live TV in Windows Media Center ( Windows 8 Pro Pack and Windows 8 Media
Center Pack only)
Free Internet TV content varies by geography, some content might require additional fees (Windows 8 Pro Pack and
Windows 8 Media Center Pack only)
Let's Start
This step-by-step guide demonstrates how to install Microsoft Windows 8 Professional. You can follow this guide if you
have Windows 8 basic edition or any other version as the steps are very similar.
The best way to install Windows 8 is to do a clean install. Before you start the installation process I recommend that
you check Windows 8 System Requirements to ensure that your hardware is supported by Windows 8. If you don't
have Windows 8 drivers for all your hardware, it is a good idea to download all the drivers from the hardware
manufacturers web site and save all the necessary drivers on a CD/DVD or a USB drive before you start the
installation.
Windows 8 Professional DVD is bootable. In order to boot from the DVD you need to set the boot sequence. Look for
the boot sequence under your BIOS setup and make sure that the first boot device is set to CD-ROM/DVD-ROM.
Step 1 - Place Windows 8 DVD in your dvd-rom drive and start your PC. Windows 8 will start to boot up and you will
get the following screen with a rotating progress bar.
Step 2 - The next screen allows you to setup your language, time and currency format, keyboard or input method.
Choose your required settings and click next to continue.
Step 3 - The next screen allows you to install or repair Windows 8. Since we are doing a clean install we will click on
"install now".
Step 4 - The setup process starts as shown.
Step 5 - At this stage you need to type your product key that came with your copy of Windows 8. Click next once you
have entered the product key correctly.
Step 6 - Read the license terms and tick I accept license terms. Then click next to continue.
Step 7 - Choose the type of installation you want. Since you are doing a clean install you need to click on custom.
Step 8 - Choose where you would like to install Windows 8. If you have one hard drive you will get an option similar
to the image below. You can click next to continue then go to step 12.
If you have more than one drive or partition then you need to select the appropriate drive and click next. At this stage
you can go to step 12.
If you want to partition a large drive then do not click next. Go to step 9.
Step 9 - If you want to partition an existing drive then click new. Choose the size of the partition and click apply.
Step 10 - Click OK to create the partition. Windows will create additional system partition which you don't have to
worry about.
Step 11 - You will notice that you have 3 partitions. Partition 1 is system reserved. Leave this partition alone.
Partition 2 is 30GB primary partition that was created in the last step. The third partition is unallocated which means it
is not being used. You can however format it and use it as a second storage drive. This can be done after windows
installation is finished so I will leave it for now.
Choose partition 2 (Primary Partition). This is where I will install Windows 8. Click next to continue.
Step 12 - At this stage Windows starts to copy files to your hard drive and begins the installation. This process might
take a few minutes depending on your computer specification. Now is a good time to grab yourself a coffee.
Step 13 - When all the necessary files are copied Windows 8 will automatically restart as shown.
Step 14 - You will go through various progress bar and information messages as shown on the following images.
Windows might restart automatically second time.
Step 15 - You are now presented with "Let's go through a few basics" screen. It will automatically select personalize
option.
Step 16 - Choose your PC name and personalize the color.
Step 17 - Here you can choose express settings or choose customize. I will choose customize to make further
customization.
Step 18 - Choose Yes, turn on sharing and connect to devices.
Step 19 - Help protect and update your PC. Choose your preferred option and click next.
Step 20 - Send Microsoft info to help make Windows and apps better. Choose your preferred options or leave the
default settings. Click next to continue.
Step 21 - Check online for solutions to problem. Choose your preferred options or leave the default settings. Click
next to continue.
Step 22 - Sign in to your PC. Here you can login to your PC using a Microsoft email account such as your hotmail
account.
If you do not have a Microsoft account you can create one by clicking Sign up for a new email address. Go to Step 23.
If you don't want to create an email account and prefer to create a local user name, click Sign in without a Microsoft
account. Go to step 24.
Step 23 - Sign up for a new email address. If you want to create a new email account you need to complete the form
below.
Step 24 - Click local account
Step 25 - Here you can choose a local user name and password. Choose finish to continue.
Step 26 - At this stage Windows starts to finalize your settings. You will get the following information screen as the
installation moves forward.
Step 27 - As Windows 8 setup progresses you are given a presentation of the new interface. Its shows you how
swiping the edge of the screen brings up the Charm bar. Using the Charm bar you can do a search or change your
settings. It also demonstrates how you can hover your mouse on the bottom or top left corner to access the switch
list. This list shows all open applications and allows you to switch between them.
Step 28 - Soon as the demonstration finishes windows moves into the final stages of the setup.
Step 29 - Finally the setup process is finished and you are presented with a completely new and unfamiliar Metro
user interface. You have your most common application right in front of you. Clicking on any tiles will launch that
application. At this point you can start using your computer. However, it may not be fully configured. You need to
make sure that all the hardware is detected correctly and the necessary device drivers are installed. This can be done
from the device manager.
Step 30 Finish
