Windows 8 : How to Upgrade?

How to upgrade your current Windows operating system to Windows 8? Well, the upgrade process is simple, provided your system meets the requirements of Windows 8. To install Windows 8 Pro, your system must be running any of the following operating systems: Windows XP SP3, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8 Consumer Preview, or Windows 8 Release Preview. Also you must have a good system configuration. In my previous post, I already wrote about the basic requirements & Upgrade Assistant of Windows 8. Check that for more details.

Anyway, to upgrade you can choose from two options – upgrade online or buy a retail copy of the upgrade. As a promotion offer, Microsoft is offering Windows 8 online upgrade at $39.99. But you need to hurry! The special price is valid till January 31, 2013. On the other hand, if you want to by the DVD version of Windows 8 Pro upgrade, you need to pay $69.99. Microsoft is also offering special upgrade offer to those purchasing a new Windows 7 PC between 2 June 2012, and 31 January 2013. They can get the upgrade at just $14.99.

Upgrade to Windows 8 Online:

1. Download Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant from this page. Click the Download Pro button.
2. When the browse prompts, run the Upgrade Assistant (Windows8-UpgradeAssistant.exe).
3. The upgrade assistant will provide information on compatibility of your system. Read through the information in “Here’s what we found” screen and click Next.
4. Then choose Nothing and click Net in Choose what to keep screen.
5. Follow the steps to pay online.Your product key will displayed upon successful payment. Save the key.
6. Then download the installation files from the Downloading Windows 8 screen.
7. After download is complete, wait and Install Windows 8 message will appear.
8. Select the option “Install by creating media”. It will let you have a bootable media or a disk image file (.iso).
9. On the Choose which media to use screen, pick the option for your choice (USB flash drive or ISO file).
10. Then pick the location of your flash drive or where you want to save the ISO file.
11. If you picked USB option, now you’ll have a bootable USB device. And if you opted for ISO file, burn it to a DVD.
12. Next install Windows 8 from the bootable flash drive or the DVD.

Some points to remember before upgrade:

1. Don’t forget to backup your current installation for Windows (XP, Vista or Windows 7).
2. Check if your operating system is fully updated. If on Windows XP, make sure you have Service Pack 3.
3. Scan your computer & remove virus/malware (if any).
4. Remove devices that you know is not compatible with Windows 8. Visit this page to get a list of applications & devices known to be compatible with Windows 8.