Windows 8 finally has public test versions available for people to try out at home. For those of you who want to test it, we created this tutorial to guide you through all the important installation steps: where to download the latest test version (consumer preview), how to burn it to a disc, how to install Windows 8 and how to go through the initial configuration screens.

UPDATE: The article now included instructions relevant for the latest test version: Windows 8 Consumer Preview.

What to Expect from Windows 8

If you are not familiar with the novelties that will be introduced by Windows 8, first check out this video which summarizes all the important features.

Download the Latest Test Version

First, you need to download the latest version from Microsoft. Go to Windows 8 Consumer Preview ISO images and download the version you want to use.

If you want to burn the .iso image on a disc, check our tutorial: The Complete Guide to Burning Disk Images (ISO & IMG) In Windows 7.

If you plan to install Windows 8 in Virtual Box, check out this guide for the settings you must turn on, in order for everything to work correctly: You need to have hardware virtualization enabled if you want to run Windows 8 in Virtual Box. In the meantime, Virtual Box has received updates and you should be just fine if you select Windows 8 when being asked about the operating system you want to run in the virtual machine you are about to create.

The Windows 8 Installation Procedure

First, you need to boot your computer using your Windows 8 installation disc. If you are using a virtual machine, boot from the .iso installation image you just downloaded.

Windows 8 takes a while to load the setup files, during which you will see mostly a black screen, similar to the one below.

Once the setup files are copied, the installation starts by asking what language, time, currency and keyboard input settings you want to use. Make the selections you want and click Next.

Click the Install now button to start the installation.

You are asked to enter the product key required to activate your Windows 8 installation. For the Consumer Preview version there is a public key available: NF32V-Q9P3W-7DR7Y-JGWRW-JFCK8. In case it doesn’t work for you, go to this Microsoft page for a newer one: Windows 8 Consumer Preview: Frequently asked questions.

Type the key and click Next.

You are asked to read the license agreement. Check the "I accept the license terms" box and click Next.

You are asked to choose between making an upgrade or a custom installation. Since Windows 8 is in development stages, you should not make an upgrade of a previous Windows version. Simply choose Custom (advanced).

Now you are asked to select where you want to install Windows. Select the partition you desire and click Next. If you are installing Windows 8 in a virtual machine, you need to first create the partition. The same if you are making a fresh install on your computer. Therefore click on Drive Options.

Then create the partition using the New button.

Specify the size of the partition and click Apply.

NOTE: Windows 8 takes around 7.1 to 7.5 GB of space (depending if you include developer tools and other stuff) with the hibernation file being generated. If you want to install other applications, you should make a larger partition for it.

You are asked to confirm if you ware OK with Windows 8 to create an additional partition for its system files that will be used for boot and recovery. Click OK.

Make sure the correct partition is selected and click Next.

The installation finally starts. The setup will take some time to copy all the required files and install the operating system.

Once the installation is done, the Windows 8 setup will automatically reboot your system. Then, you will see the progress of the preparations made for your first login. In order for this process to finish, you might need to go through another reboot, depending on your computer’s hardware configuration.

Personalizing the Windows 8 Installation

After the reboot is done, Windows 8 will require some time to get things ready.

Then, you are asked to personalize your Windows 8 installation. Start by giving a name for your computer. If you type some “unauthorized" characters like $, %, &, you will be notified appropriately. Also, choose the background color you prefer. Personally, I like the default blue. Once done, click Next.

Next, you need to choose if you want to use the Express settings Windows 8 comes bundled with, or you want to customize your installation. Let’s get down to details, and see what happens if you click Customize.

First, you are asked if you want to turn on file sharing or not. Select the option you prefer.

Then, you are asked about the default behavior of Windows Update and that of Internet Explorer. Change the things you are interested in and click Next.

Next, you are asked if you want to send different types of information to Microsoft. Since Windows 8 is in development stages, I recommend you to leave everything turned on, so that Microsoft gets enough information to develop a great product. Click Next.

Then, you are asked about troubleshooting options and what you want to turn on. Also, you can set if applications can give you personalized content and if they are allowed to access your location. Set things as you wish and click Next.

Finally, you get to the "Sign in to your PC" screen. To experience Windows 8 to its fullest, it is best to use your Windows Live ID (also known as Microsoft account) to sign in. If you don’t know much about this ID and how it helps your to have one, check this article: Simple Questions: What is Windows Live ID?.

Type your ID and click Next.

NOTE: If you would rather not sign in using a Windows Live ID (or Microsoft account), click on "Don’t want to sign in with a Microsoft account" link at the bottom of the window and follow the instructions shown.

Then, you are asked to enter your Windows Live ID password. Type it and click Next.

Then, you can provide an alternate e-mail to recover your account password, in case you forget it or it is changed by unwanted guests. Provide the e-mail account and click Next.

Windows 8 takes a while to prepare your computer and all the settings.

Once everything is done, you enter the default Windows 8 Start screen.

If you press Win+D you can view also the classic desktop.

Welcome to your first Windows 8 experience!

Conclusion

As you can see from this article, the Windows 8 installation starts in a very similar way to that of Windows 7. However, the closer you get to your first login, things change dramatically and the new user interface takes the stage. After you have installed the latest test version of Windows 8, I’m curios to learn your opinion about it. Do you like what you see in Windows 8?

Related Articles:

First Impressions on the Windows 8 Consumer Preview
How to Install Windows 7 - Complete Round of Installation Guides