Download Windows 8.1 preview right now
If you know you’re into these things, then you can easily head over to the Windows 8.1 preview download page and take it over for there rather than clicking the download links directly. For the moment, you can install the Windows 8.1 preview following directly this download link (don’t worry, it’s secure and it’s Microsoft official). Microsoft makes sure to warn us about a few important things:
The following devices won’t get Windows 8.1 straight away – Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet 2, ASUS VivoTab TF810C, Samsung ATIV Smart PC, HP ElitePad 900, HP ENVY x2, Fujitsu ARROWS Tab. Create a USB recovery drive before installing Windows 8.1 Preview so that, if you don’t like the Windows 8.1 update or you feel that it is not for you, you could go back to Windows 8 when needed. Windows 8 Enterprise & Windows 8 Enterprise Evaluation users will need to download the Windows 8.1 Preview ISO files following this link.
For those that don’t currently need the ISO links and can install the update, here’s what you should pay attention at. After clicking the Get the update button, you will need to follow the instructions. After restarting your PC when you are asked to do so, you will get the update from the Windows Store. In the Windows Store you will have to follow the instructions again in order to download the Windows 8.1 Preview and complete the installation. After that, you’ll be ready to explore the new face of your Windows 8 device!
Download Windows 8.1 ISO files
Just as expected, Microsoft has released the ISO files for the Windows 8.1 preview. You should know that they are actually considered an alternative to downloading Windows 8.1 Preview which should normally be done through the Windows Store itself. Microsoft advises us to use the ISO files if “you are an advanced user and want to install the preview on another partition, another PC, or a virtual machine.” Your Windows 8.1 Preview ISO files need to be converted into installation media which you will store on a DVD (using a disc image burner) or a USB flash drive. Yes, you might need even a DVD for that, because it doesn’t seem to be just a minor update, if we’re speaking about size – the x86 version comes at 2.5 GB and the x64 one at 3.3, that is for the English versions. Download Windows 8.1 Preview ISO Files: English 64-bit (x64) Download Windows 8.1 Preview ISO Files: English 64-bit (x86)
