Question

[Carnage]

I'm might be getting a free key for Windows 8 Pro and I was wondering how do I install it to my new computer when i get it? It has never had a OS before. And I've seen people that say that you need to put something on a usb and then what?

 

Where can I get a full tut how to do everything? Was looking at youtube but found people upgrading from Windows 7 not like a new OS

[Godlygamer23]

When I downloaded my Windows 8 copy, I downloaded a small app that I ran, which downloaded W8, and then I had the option of upgrading(from Vista), doing a clean install, and something else. If it's an ISO, you can use Unetbootin. You can find the direct link here. In order to use this, you'll need a flash drive or hard drive. It'll format it and turn it into something you can boot off of so you can install your OS.

[GoodBytes]

I'm might be getting a free key for Windows 8 Pro and I was wondering how do I install it to my new computer when i get it? It has never had a OS before. And I've seen people that say that you need to put something on a usb and then what?

 

Where can I get a full tut how to do everything? Was looking at youtube but found people upgrading from Windows 7 not like a new OS

 

Installing Windows 8 is ridiculously easy!It will be like installing any programs on your system! :)

Since Vista, Microsoft did an amazing job at doing this easy to install experience.

 

Here is how to install Windows 8

 

Preparation:

The following is ONLY for the first time you build your computer. Next time you re-install Windows on that system, it won't be needed. It's optional, but HIGHLY recommended to easiest time at setting up your computer.

 

1- Refer to the motherboard manual to go in the BIOS/UEFI setup screen.

2- Set the Date and Time of your system.

3- Set your SATA Controller to AHCI mode.

4- Depending on your processor, you may have somewhere something called HPET. If you see something about it in the BIOS or UEFI setup, enable it, and set it to 64-bit mode.

5- Set the boot order to boot from your the drive where Windows will be on.

 

That is all. Now you are ready to actually install Windows for the first time.

 

Actually installing Windows:

Step 1: Insert the Windows 8 disk or USB flash drive in your system. If you use a USB flash drive, make sure it is plugged in a USB 2.0 port, not 3.0 (USB 3.0 is still new, the setup doesn't really support all USB 3.0 controllers yet)

 

Step 2: Turn on your computer if it's not turned ON, or restart it if its already ON, and refer to the motherboard manual which key to press on your keyboard to get to the Boot Menu. This menu will allow you to pick your USB flash drive or disk drive depending on the medium you have where Windows 8 is on. Pick the corresponding one.

 

Step 3: The setup will now load. And once it's done, you will see, it will look like any other program you install on your PC :) Just follow the wizard!

If you are not sure about something, check out this step by step guide available here: http://www.buildeasypc.com/sw/windows_8/install_windows_8.htm, but it should be fairly straight forward.

If you are stuck somewhere, please let us know so that we can help you!

 

Hope this helps!

 

 

Now that you have successfully installed Windows 8, you are ready to get familiar to Windows 8. Please note: The learning curve is a bit steep, but I'll try my best to reduce is considerably so that you can enjoy Windows 8 really quickly.

 

As you start your computer, you are greeted with the Start Screen. The Start Screen is just the Start Menu... but full screen. Allowing you to have easy access to more items that the Start Screen offers. The Start Screen is fully customizable, so if you don't like the default layout, and the fact that there is no shortcut to your folders, don't worry, you can easily customize this!

 

Things to know:

 - To go back to your good old familiar desktop, click on the desktop tile.

 - To go to the Start Screen, simply position the mouse at the bottom left most of the screen, and you'll notice the Start button will appear, click on it, and you are back to the Start Screen.

 - You can search like before, just type, and it will search.

 

As you can see, it's not that much different.

 

Customizing the Start Screen to fit your needs

 -> The Start Screen is constituted of tiles. They can be moved, removed, and new groups can be made and named. To pin a program, simply right-click on the Start Screen, and select All apps (or do Ctrl+Tab) to get a list of all programs installed on the system. Simply right-click on one, and click on the Pin button.

 

 -> To pin a folder, simply go on the desktop, go to the folder you want to pin (yes that is right, unlike the old Start Menu, you have any folder you want, pinned on the Start Screen), right-click on it, and select Pin to Start. That is all. When you go on the Start Screen, it will be there at the far right, ready to be placed where you want.

 

 -> To remove an item on the Start Screen, simply right-click on it, and select unpin.

 

 -> To make a new group, simply position a tile between 2 groups, and one will be made

 

 -> To name a group, simply tap the Ctrl key and scroll down with your mouse, it will zoom out of the Start Screen, giving you an overview of everything. Right-click on a group, and select Name, and enter the name of the group. Click anywhere OR Ctrl and scroll up with the mouse, to zoom back in on the Start screen.

 

 

The best way to customize the Start Screen, is to arrange the most use items at the bottom left corner of the screen, (as it's quickly accessible from the mouse), to the top far right.

For most used programs, you want them pinned on the Task Bar.

 

Here is my layout for references:

 

How to shut down your computer

 Ok here is a down side of Windows 8, but rumored to be improved in Windows 8.1 update (will be free). The easiest way, is to do Alt+F4 on the desktop, to access the shutdown menu, or do Win+I anywhere to access the Power button that will show up. Or you can simply hit the power button on your computer.

 

A bit annoying, I admit, but you'll get used to it. I do Win+I method. Others made a title on the Start Screen to shutdown their system.

 

Power Menu

Windows 8 has a cool menu to quickly access popular Windows system panels, like Device Manager, Program and Features (aka: Add/Remove Programs in Windows XP and older), System, Task Manager, etc.

All you have to do, is right-click on the Start Button that show up, at the bottom left corner of the screen, when you move your mouse there. Or you can do Win+X anytime.

 

Default Programs

By default videos, music, etc, files will open using Modern UI apps, and not the desktop version of these apps like Windows Media Player. You can change this very quickly and easily, by accessing Default Programs panel. Open it (you can just search from it from the Start Screen, by typing: default programs), and click on Set your default program, now click on the program you want, like Windows Media Player, and click on Set this program as default. Of course, if you install your own programs, like previous version of Windows, it will use that program that you just installed.

 

 

That should give you the basics in getting started with Windows 8. There is more, obviously, but it should give you a good start.

Also, check out these 'how-to' tutorials from Microsoft: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-ca/windows/how-to

[Carnage]

Installing Windows 8 is ridiculously easy!It will be like installing any programs on your system! :)

Since Vista, Microsoft did an amazing job at doing this easy to install experience.

 

Here is how to install Windows 8

 

Preparation:

The following is ONLY for the first time you build your computer. Next time you re-install Windows on that system, it won't be needed. It's optional, but HIGHLY recommended to easiest time at setting up your computer.

 

1- Refer to the motherboard manual to go in the BIOS/UEFI setup screen.

2- Set the Date and Time of your system.

3- Set your SATA Controller to AHCI mode.

4- Depending on your processor, you may have somewhere something called HPET. If you see something about it in the BIOS or UEFI setup, enable it, and set it to 64-bit mode.

5- Set the boot order to boot from your the drive where Windows will be on.

 

That is all. Now you are ready to actually install Windows for the first time.

 

Actually installing Windows:

Step 1: Insert the Windows 8 disk or USB flash drive in your system. If you use a USB flash drive, make sure it is plugged in a USB 2.0 port, not 3.0 (USB 3.0 is still new, the setup doesn't really support all USB 3.0 controllers yet)

 

Step 2: Turn on your computer if it's not turned ON, or restart it if its already ON, and refer to the motherboard manual which key to press on your keyboard to get to the Boot Menu. This menu will allow you to pick your USB flash drive or disk drive depending on the medium you have where Windows 8 is on. Pick the corresponding one.

 

Step 3: The setup will now load. And once it's done, you will see, it will look like any other program you install on your PC :) Just follow the wizard!

If you are not sure about something, check out this step by step guide available here: http://www.buildeasypc.com/sw/windows_8/install_windows_8.htm, but it should be fairly straight forward.

If you are stuck somewhere, please let us know so that we can help you!

 

Hope this helps!

 

 

Now that you have successfully installed Windows 8, you are ready to get familiar to Windows 8. Please note: The learning curve is a bit steep, but I'll try my best to reduce is considerably so that you can enjoy Windows 8 really quickly.

 

As you start your computer, you are greeted with the Start Screen. The Start Screen is just the Start Menu... but full screen. Allowing you to have easy access to more items that the Start Screen offers. The Start Screen is fully customizable, so if you don't like the default layout, and the fact that there is no shortcut to your folders, don't worry, you can easily customize this!

 

Things to know:

 - To go back to your good old familiar desktop, click on the desktop tile.

 - To go to the Start Screen, simply position the mouse at the bottom left most of the screen, and you'll notice the Start button will appear, click on it, and you are back to the Start Screen.

 - You can search like before, just type, and it will search.

 

As you can see, it's not that much different.

 

Customizing the Start Screen to fit your needs

 -> The Start Screen is constituted of tiles. They can be moved, removed, and new groups can be made and named. To pin a program, simply right-click on the Start Screen, and select All apps (or do Ctrl+Tab) to get a list of all programs installed on the system. Simply right-click on one, and click on the Pin button.

 

 -> To pin a folder, simply go on the desktop, go to the folder you want to pin (yes that is right, unlike the old Start Menu, you have any folder you want, pinned on the Start Screen), right-click on it, and select Pin to Start. That is all. When you go on the Start Screen, it will be there at the far right, ready to be placed where you want.

 

 -> To remove an item on the Start Screen, simply right-click on it, and select unpin.

 

 -> To make a new group, simply position a tile between 2 groups, and one will be made

 

 -> To name a group, simply tap the Ctrl key and scroll down with your mouse, it will zoom out of the Start Screen, giving you an overview of everything. Right-click on a group, and select Name, and enter the name of the group. Click anywhere OR Ctrl and scroll up with the mouse, to zoom back in on the Start screen.

 

 

The best way to customize the Start Screen, is to arrange the most use items at the bottom left corner of the screen, (as it's quickly accessible from the mouse), to the top far right.

For most used programs, you want them pinned on the Task Bar.

 

Here is my layout for references:

 

How to shut down your computer

 Ok here is a down side of Windows 8, but rumored to be improved in Windows 8.1 update (will be free). The easiest way, is to do Alt+F4 on the desktop, to access the shutdown menu, or do Win+I anywhere to access the Power button that will show up. Or you can simply hit the power button on your computer.

 

A bit annoying, I admit, but you'll get used to it. I do Win+I method. Others made a title on the Start Screen to shutdown their system.

 

Power Menu

Windows 8 has a cool menu to quickly access popular Windows system panels, like Device Manager, Program and Features (aka: Add/Remove Programs in Windows XP and older), System, Task Manager, etc.

All you have to do, is right-click on the Start Button that show up, at the bottom left corner of the screen, when you move your mouse there. Or you can do Win+X anytime.

 

Default Programs

By default videos, music, etc, files will open using Modern UI apps, and not the desktop version of these apps like Windows Media Player. You can change this very quickly and easily, by accessing Default Programs panel. Open it (you can just search from it from the Start Screen, by typing: default programs), and click on Set your default program, now click on the program you want, like Windows Media Player, and click on Set this program as default. Of course, if you install your own programs, like previous version of Windows, it will use that program that you just installed.

 

 

That should give you the basics in getting started with Windows 8. There is more, obviously, but it should give you a good start.

Also, check out these 'how-to' tutorials from Microsoft: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-ca/windows/how-to

Damn, thanks alot for this will definitely going to refer to this when i build my new computer

[GoodBytes]

You're welcome! :)

Glad I could help.