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 What are the system requirements for Windows 8 Release Preview?
Windows 8 Release Preview works great on the same hardware that powers Windows 7:
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Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster
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RAM: 1 gigabyte (GB) (32-bit) or 2 GB (64-bit)
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Hard disk space: 16 GB (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit)
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Graphics card: Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM driver
Additional requirements to use certain features:
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To use touch, you need a tablet or a monitor that supports multitouch.
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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.
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To snap apps, you need a screen resolution of at least 1366 x 768.
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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:
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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.
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You can get to and share your photos, docs, and other files from places like SkyDrive, Facebook, and Flickr.
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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.
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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:
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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.)
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Tap or click Change PC settings.
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Tap or click Users.
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Tap or click Switch to a Microsoft account .
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