Windows 8 Release Preview Released, ISO Images is Available to Download

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image thumb49 - Windows 8 Release Preview Released, ISO Images is Available to Download

Windows 8 Release Preview, aka Release Candidate, is officially released the last day in May with ISO images in 13 languages available to download to the public. Since it’s the last version before the next version of Windows is heading over to RTM, what you will see in this version will be pretty much what you will get in the final release. All surprises will be revealed by now so if you have been waiting you should give it a try now.

According to Microsoft, the final phrase of the RTM process will kick start in about 2 months.

System Requirements

  • 1G or faster Processor
  • 1G (32-bit) or 2G (64-bit) of RAM
  • 16GB (32-bit) or 20GB (64-bit) of free hard drive space
  • Microsoft DirectX 9 graphic device with WDDM driver

To experience the most out of Windows 8, a touch equipped device that supports multi-touch like Tablet is recommended.

Additionally, to access Windows Store and to download and run apps, you will need a screen that has the resolution at least 1024 x 768.

To snap apps, you need a screen resolution of at least 1366 x 768.

Download link

The direct download link for English version of ISO images:

Windows 8 Release Preview 64-bit (English) – 3.3GB

SHA1 hash – 0xD76AD96773615E8C504F63564AF749469CFCCD57

Windows 8 Release Preview 32-bit (English) – 2.5GB

SHA1 hash – 0x8BED436F0959E7120A44BF7C29FF0AA962BDEFC9

More downloads for different languages can be found here.

The product key for this Release Preview is also made available to the public:

TK8TP-9JN6P-7X7WW-RFFTV-B7QPF

Upgrading Options

Unfortunately, no direct upgrade path from any previous Preview versions. Your files will be saved in the Windows.old folder, if you choose to install from these versions.

Upgrade is fully supported for Windows 7, but is partially supported for Vista and XP.

Windows 8 Release Preview upgrade options thumb - Windows 8 Release Preview Released, ISO Images is Available to Download

It’s worth nothing that in order to keep your files in any of previous Windows, you will need to install Windows 8 Release Preview by starting the installation from within Windows. Starting from the installation media won’t keep your files, programs, and settings.

4 better ways to try out

There are numbers of ways to try out this version of Windows, but here are ways

1. Native VHD dual boot windows 8 release preview with Windows 7

2. Put Windows 8 Release Preview on USB device with Windows To Go

3. Try it out as a Virtual Machine

4. Find and use an ancient old machine to try out

4 COMMENTS

  1. folks, there is an unwritten requirement that the cpu supports data execution prevention feature. this has roadblocked many who were testing the last release of win8 and want to move forward.

  2. Is this version too old now? What would be the best way to purchase and install Win8 on a new MacBook Pro Retina? Or better to just wait? I read that prices are soon going up in Feb 2013.

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