How to Upgrade your Computer to Windows 8

Learn how to upgrade your existing comptuer - running Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7 - to the new Windows 8. Your files and apps can also be migrated to Windows 8.

Let’s say your existing Windows computer is running XP, Vista or Windows 7 and you want to upgrade to Windows 8.

This is an upgrade so you’ll be overwriting your current version of Windows but before you take the plunge, please note that your existing software programs will only be preserved if you are moving from Windows 7 to Windows 8. If your PC is running Windows XP or Vista, all your files and data will be preserved but you won’t be able to use the software apps after upgrading to Windows 8.
Ready? Here’s how may upgrade your computer to Windows 8.
Step 1: Insert the bootable Windows 8 DVD into your computer, switch to the DVD drive inside Windows Explorer and double-click the setup.exe file.

Step 2: Windows 8 installer will recommend that you “install updates” before proceeding with the installation. You can actually say “No thanks” and skip because, as of writing, there are no updates available and hence you’ll save a few minutes.

Step 3: Enter you Windows 8 Product key – you can use NF32V-Q9P3W-7DR7Y-JGWRW-JFCK8.

Step 4: Accept the EULA and choose the component of your existing Windows setup that you like to preserve in Windows 8. You can either do a clean install and choose “Nothing” or use the “Windows settings, personal files and apps” option to preserve everything.
Please note that you might have to reinstall certain apps after Windows 8 is installed. Also, if you choose “Nothing,” your personal files (anything saved inside the User folder and on the desktop) will be moved to a windows.old folder.

Step 5: Windows 8 installer may want you to uninstall certain apps – Microsoft Security Essentials for example – before proceeding. One you have done that, restart the PC and hit the Install button. You can re-install these apps once the installation is complete. Simple!