Here are answers to some common questions about Windows 8 Release
Preview. We'll update this list with more questions and answers, so check back later.
What is Windows 8
Release Preview?
Windows 8 Release Preview is a prerelease version of Windows 8 that
focuses on people and apps and gives you powerful new ways to use social
technologies to connect with the people who are important to you. It's Windows
reimagined. Windows 8 Release Preview is
built on the rock-solid foundation of Windows 7 and has the security and
reliability features you expect from Windows, but we’ve made it even better.
It’s fast, and it’s made to work on a variety of form factors—especially the
new generation of touch devices.
Here’s your chance to be one of the first to try it out. Similar to
Consumer Preview, we'll be using information from Release Preview users to make
the final product even better.
For detailed product and feature information, download the Windows
8 Release Preview Guide (available in English only).
Is Windows 8
Release Preview ready for everyone to try?
We strongly recommend that only experienced PC users download
Windows 8 Release Preview. Before you download the preview, you should weigh
the pros and cons of installing software that's still in development. If you
install the preview release, you'll get to try out the many new features, but
you might also encounter errors that you wouldn't encounter using a released
version of Windows.
You should consider downloading the Windows 8 Release Preview only
if all of the following apply to you:
You like to use the latest software and enjoy experimenting with
new technology.
You're comfortable backing up a PC, formatting a hard drive, and
installing an operating system from scratch.
You feel comfortable troubleshooting PC problems yourself.
You don't mind updating software frequently.
You have the installation or recovery media and the knowledge to
restore your previous operating system after you're done testing Windows 8
Release Preview.
Are there risks to
installing Windows 8 Release Preview?
Yes. Windows 8 Release Preview is stable and has been thoroughly
tested, but it’s not the finished product. Your PC could crash and you could
lose important files. You should back up your data and you shouldn't test
Windows 8 Release Preview on your primary home or business PC. You might also
encounter problems like:
Software that doesn’t install or work correctly, including
antivirus or security programs.
Printers, video cards, or other hardware that doesn’t work.
Difficulty accessing corporate or home networks.
Files that might become corrupted.
You should carefully balance the risks and rewards of trying out
the Windows 8 Release Preview before you install it.
How do I provide
feedback?
The best way to provide feedback is to participate in the Windows 8
Release Preview forum. On this dedicated forum, you'll find thousands of other
Windows enthusiasts who are testing our product, posting their experiences, and
participating in the Windows 8 Release Preview online community. In particular,
if you think you've encountered a problem that you'd like to have addressed in
future releases of Windows 8, post a “Bug Report” about your issue on the
Windows 8 Release Preview forum. In your post, describe what you encountered,
any text or messages that were displayed, and other information that would help
us reproduce your issue in our own testing environments. We're monitoring the
Windows 8 Release Preview forum and might ask you to post additional
information to help us improve the experience.
Where do I go for
Windows 8 Release Preview support?
We’ve created some online
forums where you can ask questions and get answers from other Release Preview
testers and Microsoft support professionals. (We don't offer technical support
for prerelease software, including Windows 8 Release Preview.)
Visit the Windows 8 Release Preview forum
Visit the Internet Explorer 10 Release Preview forum
Visit the developer forums for building apps
Visit the IT pro forums for Windows 8 business features
Downloading and installing
What
are the system requirements for Windows 8 Release Preview?
Windows 8 Release Preview works great on the same hardware that
powers Windows 7:
Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster
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.
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)
What is PAE, NX, and SSE2 and why does my PC need to
support them to run Windows 8 Release Preview?
Physical Address Extension (PAE), NX processor bit (NX), and
Streaming SIMD Extensions 2 (SSE2) refer to features of the processor. PAE
enables 32-bit processors to access more than 4 GB of physical memory on
capable versions of Windows and is a prerequisite for NX. NX allows the
processor to help guard the PC from attacks by malicious software. SSE2 (a
standard on processors for a long time) is an instruction set that is
increasingly used by third-party applications and drivers. For Windows 8, we
require that your processor support NX for security reasons to ensure that
malware defense features work reliably. To enhance the reliability of
third-party applications and drivers running in Windows 8, SSE2 is also
required. If your PC does not support PAE, NX, and SSE2 you won’t be able to
install Windows 8 Release Preview.
Where do I download developer tools and samples to build
apps?
Free developer tools and samples are available from the Windows Dev
Center downloads page.
What languages is the preview available in?
Windows 8 Release Preview is available in Arabic, English, Chinese
(Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), French, German, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese
(Brazil), Russian, Spanish, Swedish, and Turkish.
Note
If you install Windows 8 Release Preview in a language that's
different from the language currently on your PC, you can only keep your files.
Will my devices and programs work with Windows 8 Release
Preview?
Windows 8 Release Preview should work with the same devices and
programs that work with Windows 7. In some cases, the device or program might
require an update or you might need to uninstall some programs, and then
reinstall them after installing Windows 8 Release Preview. The Windows 8
Release Preview Setup program will scan your PC to determine what's compatible
and provide a report that you can save or print. Make sure your devices are
connected to your PC and turned on before you run the Setup program. If you
want compatibility info for a specific device or program, see the Windows 8
Release Preview Compatibility Center.
What is a Microsoft account and do I need one to use
Windows 8 Release Preview?
A Microsoft account is an email address and password that you use
to sign in to Windows. You can use any email address, but it's best if you
choose the one you already use to communicate with friends and sign in to your
favorite websites. You don't need a Microsoft account to use Windows 8 Release
Preview, but we highly recommend that you use one. When you sign in to your PC
with a Microsoft account, you’ll connect your PC to the people, files, and
devices you care about. (If you need an email address, we can give you one for
free.)
When you sign in with a Microsoft account, your PC is connected to
the cloud and:
Your friends’ contact info and status automatically stay up to date
from places like Hotmail, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn as soon as you connect
those services to your Microsoft account.
You can get to and share your photos, docs, and other files from
places like SkyDrive, Facebook, and Flickr.
Your personal settings are synced to any PC running Windows 8
Release Preview that you sign in to, including your themes, language
preferences, browser favorites, and apps.
You can get apps in the Windows Store and use them on any PC
running Windows 8 Release Preview that you sign in to.
If you've already installed Windows 8 Release Preview and didn't
sign in with a Microsoft account or you don't have a Microsoft account and want
to get one, follow these steps:
Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then tap Settings.
(If you're using a mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the
screen, move the mouse pointer down, and then click Settings.)
Tap or click Change PC settings.
Tap or click Users.
Tap or click Switch to a Microsoft account.
Upgrading
Can I upgrade from previous versions of Windows to
Windows 8 Release Preview?
Yes, you can upgrade to Windows 8 Release Preview from Windows 8
Consumer Preview, Windows Developer Preview, Windows 7, Windows Vista, or
Windows XP, but you might not be able to keep all of your files, programs, and
settings. The following table shows what you can keep during an upgrade
depending on the current version of Windows running on your PC:Current
operating system What you can keep
Windows 8 Consumer Preview
Nothing (your files will be saved in the Windows.old folder)
Windows Developer Preview
Nothing (your files will be saved in the Windows.old folder)
Windows 7
Programs
Windows settings
User accounts and files
Windows Vista
Windows settings
User accounts and files
Windows XP
User accounts and files
Warning
If you create installation media, start your PC from the media, and
then install Windows 8 Release Preview, you won't be able to keep your files,
programs, or settings. To keep files, programs, or settings you need to install
Windows 8 Release Preview by starting your installation from within Windows.
How do I retrieve files from the Windows.old folder?
If you were running Windows 8 Consumer Preview and installed
Windows 8 Release Preview and didn't reformat your hard drive during
installation, you should be able to retrieve your files from the Windows.old
folder.
To automatically retrieve your files
To manually retrieve your files
Uninstalling
Can I uninstall
Windows 8 Release Preview?
Using Windows 8 Release Preview
Where is the Start
button or Start menu?
The Start screen replaces the Start menu in Windows 8. You can pin
apps, contacts, and websites to Start to easily access what you use most. All
of your apps—both apps you install from the Windows Store and desktop apps—are
available from the Start screen. You can organize, group, and name categories
of apps in whatever way makes sense to you. Tiles and notifications show what’s
new so you can get important info and updates at a glance.
You can get to the Start screen
by swiping in from the right edge of your screen and tapping the Start charm or
by pointing your mouse to the upper-right corner of the screen and then
clicking the Start charm. You can also use the Windows key on your keyboard to go to Start.
How do I search?
Whenever you want to search
for something, use the Search charm.
Here's how:
Open the Search charm one of these ways:
With touch, swipe in from
the right edge of the screen, and then tap Search.
With a mouse, move your
pointer into the upper-right corner of the screen, move it down, and then click
Search.
With a keyboard, any time you’re on Start you can just start
typing.
Enter your search term.
From here, you can choose to:
Search the app you're in (for example, find a specific message in
the Mail app).
Search another app (for example, quickly look up something on the
web with Internet Explorer).
Search your entire PC for an app, setting, or file.
What does the Share charm do?
The Share charm lets you share files and info with people you know
or send info to another app, without leaving the app you're in. You can email
photos to a friend, post an article to Facebook, or send a link to your
note–taking app.
Here's how:
Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then tap Share.
(If you’re using a mouse,
move your pointer into the upper-right corner, move it down, and then click
Share.)
Pick which app to share with, and then follow the on-screen
instructions.
How do I print?
Here are some options:
Press Ctrl+P.
If an app has a File menu with a Print command, you can still use
that.
For new apps that support
printing but do not have a File menu , tap or click the printer you want in the
Devices charm.
Note
Not all apps support printing.
If the printer you want to use isn't listed, here's how to add a
printer:
Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then tap Settings.
(If you’re using a mouse, move your pointer into the upper-right
corner, move it down, and then click Settings.)
Tap or click Change PC settings, and then tap or click Devices.
Tap or click Add a device,
and then follow the on-screen instructions.
How do I add an account to an app?
The Mail, Calendar, People, and Messaging apps work great with
services you already use, like your email, Facebook, and Twitter accounts.
Here’s how you add an account:
In the app, open the Settings charm, and then tap or click
Accounts.
Tap or click Add an account.
Tap or click the type of account you want to add, and then follow
the on-screen instructions.
How do I close an app?
In Windows 8, apps you install from the Windows Store don’t slow
down your computer, so you don’t need to close them. When you’re not using an
app, Windows will leave it running in the background and then close it
eventually if you don’ t use it. But if you really want to close an app, here’s
how:
If you’re using a mouse, click the top of the app and drag it to
the bottom of the screen.
If you’re using touch, drag the app to the bottom of the screen.
See how to close an app in
Windows 8.
It’s still a good idea to close desktop apps when are done using
them, particularly before shutting down your PC.
Where is Control Panel?
In Windows 8 there are a few different ways to find and change your
settings: Control Panel, PC settings, and Search. Most of the settings that
you'll want to change can be found in PC settings.
To open Control Panel
Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then tap Search.
(If you're using a mouse, point to the lower-right corner of the
screen, and then click Search).
Enter Control Panel in the search box, tap or click Apps, and then
tap or click Control Panel.
To open PC settings
Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, tap Settings, and then
tap More PC settings.
(If you're using a mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the
screen, click Settings, and then click More PC settings.)
To use Search
To find individual tasks or settings quickly, use the Search charm.
Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then tap Search.
(If you're using a mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the
screen, move the mouse pointer down, and then click Search.) Type a word or
phrase into the search box, and then select from the list of results on the
left.
Where is Windows Media Center?
Windows Media Center is not preinstalled in Windows 8 Release
Preview. If you want to use Windows Media Center, you need to add it by
following these steps:
Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then tap Search.
(If you're using a mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the
screen, and then click Search.)
Enter add features in the search box, and then tap or click Add
features to Windows 8.
Tap or click I already have a product key.
Enter this product key: MBFBV-W3DP2-2MVKN-PJCQD-KKTF7 and then
click Next.
Select the checkbox to accept the license terms and then click Add
features.
Your PC will restart and Windows Media Center will now be on your
PC and the tile will be pinned to the Start screen.
How do I play DVDs?
To play DVDs in Windows 8 Release Preview, you might need to either
add Windows Media Center or install a third-party app that supports DVD
playback.
How
do I shut down or turn off my PC?
When you finish using your PC, it's a good idea to turn it off
properly—not only to save energy, but also to help keep it secure and make sure
your work is saved.
Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then tap Settings.
(If you're using a mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the
screen, move the mouse pointer down, and then click Settings.)
Tap or click Power, and then tap or click Shut down.
Note
Shut down and Restart (or Update and shut down and Update and
restart) appear by default in the Power menu. You can also add other options
like Sleep and Hibernate to this menu.
You should close any desktop apps you have open before shutting
down your PC. This will prompt you to save any work that you might have open on
the desktop.
Can I use Microsoft Security Essentials with Windows 8
Release Preview?
No. Windows 8 Release Preview comes with Windows Defender, which
has been improved in Windows 8 to provide the same level of malware protection
as Microsoft Security Essentials. You do not need to install Microsoft Security
Essentials and it will not work with Windows 8. Microsoft will continue to
provide and improve Microsoft Security Essentials for Windows 7, Windows Vista,
and Windows XP. If you're upgrading to Windows 8 Release Preview, you should
uninstall Microsoft Security Essentials first. For information on uninstalling
Microsoft Security Essentials, see How to manually uninstall Microsoft Security
Essentials.
Apps and the Windows Store
Do I need a Microsoft account to use the Windows Store?
Yes. With a Microsoft
account, you can see all of the apps you bought from the Store and you can
install any of those apps on up to five PCs.
To sign up for a Microsoft account:
Open Windows Store, swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and
then tap Settings.
(If you're using a mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the
screen, move the mouse pointer down, and then click Settings.)
Tap or click Your account, tap or click Sign in, and then tap or
click Sign up for a Microsoft account.
I got an app from the Store but can't find it on my PC.
Where is it?
After apps are installed, a tile for the app appears on the Start
screen. If you don't see the tile for an app, you can try searching for the app
on your PC:
Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then tap Search.
(If you're using a mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the
screen, and then click Search.)
Make sure the search is set to search Apps, and then enter the name
of the app.
If an app doesn't appear in the search results, you can reinstall
it on your PC:
Open Windows Store, swipe in from the top edge of the screen, and
then tap Your apps.
(If you're using a mouse, point to the top of the screen,
right-click, and then click Your apps.)
Swipe down on or right-click the app you want to reinstall, and
then tap or click Install.
How do I use my apps on other PCs?
You can install any of the
apps you bought from the Store on up to five PCs. To install one of your apps
on another PC:
Open Windows Store, swipe in from the top edge of the screen, and
then tap Your apps.
(If you're using a mouse, point to the top of the screen,
right-click, and then click Your apps.)
Swipe down on or right-click the app you want to install, and then
tap or click Install.
I'm having trouble
with an app. How do I get help for it?
If you're having a technical problem with an app, you can contact
the developer of the app for support. To view the developer's support info:
Open Windows Store, and go to the app's description page.
Tap or click App support to see the developer's support website or
contact info.
If you have questions about Windows Store, you can get answers from
other Windows users and Microsoft technical support in the Windows 8 Release
Preview forum.
What's a desktop app?
A desktop app is designed specifically to run on the desktop. You
can view description pages for desktop apps in the Windows Store, and you’ll
need to tap or click the link provided on the desktop app’s description page to
install the app from the developer’s website. After the desktop app is downloaded
from the developer’s website and installed on your PC, you can run it from the
Start screen (which will open the desktop) or pin it to the taskbar to directly
run it from the desktop.
How do I get help with Windows Store app purchases and
billing info?
If you're using a version of the Windows Store that supports app
purchases and you have a problem buying an app from the Windows Store, or if
you have questions about the billing info associated with your account, you can
contact customer support to get help.
Internet Explorer 10 Release
Preview
Why don’t toolbars
and add-ons work?
Internet Explorer 10
provides an “add-on free” experience. It supports HTML 5 for video content, but
you can't install toolbars and add-ons in Internet Explorer 10.
If you are viewing a webpage that requires an add-on, you can view
the content by opening the website in Internet Explorer for the desktop. To do
this, swipe in from the right edge of the screen (if you're using a mouse,
point to the upper-right corner of the screen), tap or click Settings, and then
tap or click Use the desktop.
Where do I find my
favorites?
Internet Explorer 10 doesn't use the traditional Favorites from
previous versions. Instead, you can pin websites to the Start screen or open a
list of pinned sites and frequently visited sites using New tab. If you open
Internet Explorer for the desktop, you can use the traditional Favorites, but
you can’t access the pinned sites from the Start screen.
How do I view a
website in Compatibility View?
To view a website in Compatibility View, open Internet Explorer for
the desktop, and then click the Compatibility view button in the address bar.
How do I set my
default web browser?
On the Start screen, swipe in from the right edge of the screen,
and then tap Search.
(If you're using a mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the
screen, and then click Search.)
Enter Default programs, and then tap or click Apps.
In the search results, tap or click Default Programs.
Tap or click Set your Default Programs.
Choose the browser you want from the list.
Select Set this program as default, and then tap or click OK.
I can't find the Internet Explorer 10 tile on the Start
screen. How do I get it back?
Internet Explorer 10 might have accidentally become unpinned. To
pin it back to your Start screen, follow these steps:
Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then tap Search.
(If you're using a mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the
screen, and then click Search.)
Enter Internet Explorer, and then tap or click Apps.
In the search results, swipe down on the Internet Explorer icon,
and then tap Pin to Start.
(If you're using a mouse, right-click Internet Explorer, and then
click Pin to Start.)
Where do I go for more help with Internet Explorer?
If you have questions about or want to provide feedback on Internet
Explorer, visit the Internet Explorer 10 Release Preview forum.
Courtesy:-microsoft
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