How to Install 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.

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 manufacturer’s 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 you 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 - To go to device manager click search on charm bar on the right. Then type
devmgmt.msc. Click on the devmgmt icon on the left.

Step 31 - You will see all your hardware listed as shown on the image below. You need to check
if you have any yellow exclamation marks next to the name of the devices, similar to "Base
System Device" on the image below. This indicates that the driver has not been installed for this
device.

At this stage you can install the driver for this device. To do so, Right Mouse click on Base
System Device -> Update Driver Software...

Step 32 - You can choose to "Search automatically for updated driver software" or "Browse my
computer for driver software". If you have the driver CD or if the driver is on a USB drive then
choose "browse my computer for driver software". Window 8 will search and install the driver
from the CD or you can locate the driver manually.

Once you have removed all the yellow exclamation marks from the device manager your
Windows 8 configuration would be fully complete.