How To Install Windows 8 On A Windows Xp Computer

If you accept a auto running XP Pro Service Pack 3, here's the complete step by footstep guide to upgrade install to Windows 8.

Previously we reported nigh Microsoft'south declaration regarding the upgrade path to Windows viii from previous versions of Windows. If yous have a machine running XP Pro Service Pack 3, hither'due south how to do an upgrade install to Windows 8.

Note: Merely your data files volition exist kept when upgrading XP Pro to Windows eight; some of your programs and drivers will need to be reinstalled and/or upgraded.

Prepare XP for Windows 8 Upgrade

Before upgrading from XP to Windows 8, make sure your arrangement has the hardware to upgrade. According to Microsoft, you'll demand the following:

Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster
RAM: i gigabyte (GB) (32-flake) or 2 GB (64-chip)
Hard disk space: 16 GB (32-fleck) or 20 GB (64-bit)
Graphics card: Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM driver
To admission Windows Store, you need a screen resolution of at least 1024×768. To utilise the Snap feature for Metro apps, you'll need a screen with a 1366×768 resolution or higher.

Power on your XP organisation and brand certain information technology's running Service Pack 3.

Please brand sure all of your important data on your XP system is backed upwardly either locally or online with a service like Backblaze. In case something goes wrong with the install, you'll take all of your information even so available. Only your files will be kept; some of your programs will demand to be reinstalled.

Then head to the download page for Windows eight Upgrade Assistant.

First Windows eight Upgrade Assistant

After it's done downloading, double click to launch the executable file.

When upgrading XP to Windows eight, the Windows 8 Upgrade Banana starts and checks your arrangement to meet what'south compatible with Windows eight on your electric current system.

And then you're given a full general list of what is uniform and not. For more info, click Run across Compatibility Details.

Review the list of what is compatible with Windows eight and what isn't. The get-go role of the list volition display what isn't uniform. This is an important list to review and impress out or save, as yous'll exist required to install unlike drivers and apps.

Go along scrolling down the list to come across what is compatible with Windows 8.

Continue the Windows eight Upgrade Assistant sorcerer, and it'll get a production key automatically – for the Release Preview version.

Next, Windows 8 will be downloaded to your computer. You lot tin proceed to use it if you need to while the download takes place.

You'll notice a series of messages while the magician verifies the download and gets everything fix for the upgrade.

Install Windows 8

Once those steps are complete, select Install Now and click Next.

Adjacent, bank check I Take the License Terms and click Accept.

You get the option to keep personal files or nothing. Unlike upgrading Vista or Windows 7, you can only keep the personal files you've created – documents, pictures, music, etc.

Now Windows is gear up to install. If you demand to change any settings, now's the time by clicking Change Option. If everything looks good, click Adjacent.

Wait while Windows 8 is installed on your XP organisation. Your calculator will restart a few times. It takes several minutes – in some cases over an hour. Go along your eye on information technology though, during 1 XP upgrade I did, I had to restart the figurer manually.

Later Windows 8 is done installing, go through the setup wizard and put in your Personalization settings, Windows ID email, and password. After that, you can showtime using Windows 8.

The procedure is substantially the same equally installing Vista or Windows 7 over the web. The biggest difference is you're simply able to bring your personal files with y'all. Depending on the age of your computer, you'll more than probable need to update device drivers too.

I've upgraded 3 XP systems to Windows 8, and all personal information files were brought over. Y'all'll need to reinstall most of your apps – I recommend ninite.com for installing popular freeware in one shot.

If you're used to playing DVDs on your XP organization, you'll need to install DVD playback software. Or install Windows Media Centre, which is available as a separate download.

Microsoft announced that upgrading to Windows eight from previous versions would cost $39.99 or $14.99 if yous purchase a qualifying PC.

If y'all've been a die-hard XP user, and are leaping Windows viii, be ready for a steep learning bend. Don't worry, though; we take you covered with hundreds of Windows eight How To articles.