How hard will it be for a Windows 7 computer to upgrade to Windows 8 when the final new system of the new system comes out later this year? Is the test version safe to use?
Windows 7 users should have the easiest time with an upgrade to the new Windows 8 system. Although the final version has not yet been released, Microsoft has stated that Windows 7 users who upgrade their computers can bring along pretty much everything, including installed programs, Windows system settings and personal files to Windows 8. (Not every program may work perfectly after the upgrade, so expect a few updates from software makers after the finished version of Windows 8 lands.)
People with computers running Windows Vista or the decade-old Windows XP system will likely have more work to do when upgrading to Windows 8. As of now, Vista users can transfer system settings and personal files, but XP users can only bring along personal files.
The Windows 8 Release Preview is available on Microsoft’s site for anyone ambitious enough to download it and install it on a compatible computer; installing the test system on a spare, secondary PC is probably the safest option. Keep in mind that this is still a work-in-progress, so some programs, hardware drivers and other bits of software may not behave normally.
The Windows 8 preview cannot be uninstalled once in place. To go back to a previous version of Windows, you must install it again from the original system discs or recovery media. As with any unfinished software program, install it at your own risk.
When Windows 8 does arrive, however, it will be relatively inexpensive compared to earlier Windows releases. Users running Windows XP (or later) will be able to download an upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for $40 until January 31, 2013. For those who prefer to upgrade from discs, DVD copies of Windows 8 will cost $70 for a limited time.
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