What’s new with Windows 8.1 for home?
Download Windows 8.1 Disc Image (ISO File) If you need to install or reinstall Windows 8.1, you can use the tools on this page to create your own installation media using either a USB flash drive or a DVD.
- Download BlueStacks For Windows 10/8/7 PC Bluestacks is a Virtual Android emulator that helps us to install Android Apps on Windows running PCs, Laptops and Mac Os devices. Every one of us is fond of installing and using applications on Android.
- FIFA 2019 Game for Windows Full Offline Installer Overview. If you have been a fan of football, you must have heard of FIFA gaming franchise. After the success of its predecessor, EA game developers have now launched the 2019 version of their popular and heart-warming, FIFA game for PC and we can’t go slow.
Windows your wayNow it’s even easier to personalize your system with Windows 8.1. Set the lock screen to your favorite photo, or turn the lock screen display into a slideshow of your pictures. Pin tiles to your Start screen for quick access to the people, sites, and apps that matter to you, and arrange them the way you want. |
Easy connectivityOpen up a whole world of options and experiences so you can connect instantly. Sign in to any of your PCs running Windows 8.1 with your Microsoft account and you'll see your own background, display preferences and settings right away.Your Microsoft account is the email address and password that you use to sign in to Outlook.com, Xbox, Windows Phone, or other Microsoft products.
Versatile navigation Windows 8.1 is perfect for PCs with a mouse and keyboard. But if you’ve chosen a system with 10-finger capacitive touch, Windows 8.1 ensures maximum performance as you tap, swipe, pinch and stretch your way around the web with a multi-touch display with impressive responsiveness. |
Mail made easyThe updated mail app and Outlook.com give you an amazingly powerful and personal mail experience. It’s easy to handle multiple email accounts all in one place. |
Cool communicationEmail is great, but nothing beats Skype* when you want to catch up with your best friend, see your kids while you’re on the road, or reconnect with far-away family. All you need is a webcam and microphone on your Dell PC, along with a high-speed internet connection, and you're all set.
Windows shoppingThe beautifully redesigned Windows Store makes it easy to access apps to complete your Windows 8.1 experience with great new features. Open the Store right from your Start screen to browse and download apps for cooking, photos, sports, news and more. |
Quick access to the Start button, now on the taskbar, lets you get started right away. Choose from a new, broad color palette for your Start screen, including animated options, or skip the start screen all together and boot directly to your desktop or apps screen.
To go straight to desktop mode when you start your device:
1. While in desktop mode, using your mouse, right click on the taskbar and select properties. (If you have a touch screen, press the Windows Logo for several seconds). This will open the “Taskbar and Navigation Properties” dialog box.
2. Select the “Navigation” tab.
3. Under the Start Screen section, select “Go to desktop instead of start when I sign in”.
4. Select “Apply”.
2. Select the “Navigation” tab.
3. Under the Start Screen section, select “Go to desktop instead of start when I sign in”.
4. Select “Apply”.
Windows 8.1 Update | |||
Windows 8.1 is a free operating system update that offers new ways to personalize your PC with great new apps and services. Learn how to upgrade in three easy steps. Visit //support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/kcs/document?docid=625361 for more detailed instructions on how to upgrade your Windows 8 system to Windows 8.1. Driver updates may also be required. | |||
1. Open the Windows Store and select the “Update to Windows 8.1” tile. If a notification to “Update to Windows 8.1” is displayed, you can select the “Go to the Store” button. | 2. From the Windows 8.1 product page, select “Download.” The download and installation of Windows 8.1 may take up to 1-2 hours, but you can continue using your PC while downloading. If asked to take any actions, follow the on-screen instructions. | 3. When prompted to reboot your PC, select the “Restart now” button or wait for Windows to automatically restart. After Windows restarts, follow any on-screen instructions, and then sign-in to Windows 8.1. | |
Services One-stop support: Dell services are here to help you with your software and hardware needs throughout the life of your Dell products so you can focus on doing more with your digital life. We can assist in setting up your new computer and connected devices, or work with you to resolve technology issues that may arise. Our support team can also help you set up your free Windows 8.1 update, from backup and installation to customization. It’s easy to contact us around the clock via phone, email or chat. Premium Phone Support: Dell Premium Phone Support offers 24x7 advanced phone support for hardware and software issues (including support for 3rd party software). You can count on us for a great experience and rapid support for your Insprion and XPS laptops and desktops or Windows-based tablets. Learn more › |
There are any number of reasons why someone might want to download Windows 8, or maybe the newer Windows 8.1. Most obviously, if you don't have Windows 8, getting your hands on the operating system via a download is much easier than buying a boxed copy.
Even if you already have Windows 8 on a computer, most manufacturers don't include a copy, making a clean install of Windows 8 or 8.1 pretty much impossible. Plus, having a copy of Windows 8 makes some kinds of troubleshooting a lot easier.
Finally, maybe you just want to give it a try on a spare computer or on a virtual machine. You've seen the prices for Windows 8 and it isn't cheap. There are probably free copies of Windows 8 floating around somewhere, right?
Windows 10 is the most recent version of Windows available and can be upgraded to from a currently installed Windows 8 or Windows 7 OS. See Where Can I Download Windows 10? for help.
Where Can I Download Windows 8 or 8.1?
There are several ways to download Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 online, but of them are only a couple completely legal methods.
There is a Windows 8 trial option, as well as some not-so-legal methods of downloading Windows 8, all of which is discussed below.
If you do have a copy of Windows 8 or 8.1 (in ISO format or on a disc or flash drive) and also have that copy of Windows 8 installed and working but you've lost your product key, there may be a way to find it. See How to Find Your Windows 8 or 8.1 Product Key for help.
There are three, completely legal ways to download a full copy of Windows 8.1.
If you're new to Windows 8, purchasing Windows 8.1 (Windows 8 with the 8.1 update already included) is probably the smartest choice. Sometimes you can find a less expensive boxed copy of Windows 8 (before the 8.1 update) from general retailers like Amazon or from an electronics outlet like NewEgg, which you can then update to Windows 8.1 for free after installation.
Your second option, useful if you have experience working with ISO images, is to download Windows 8.1 directly from Microsoft. Please note, however, that unlike buying Windows 8 new, a Windows 8 download from Microsoft doesn't get you the product key you need to activate Windows.
- Visit Microsoft's Download Windows 8.1 Disc Image (ISO File) page.
- Pick the Windows 8.1 edition you want, and select Confirm. Torrent sites for software download.Unless there's a specific reason to pick another option, most people should select Windows 8.1.
- Choose the Windows 8.1 ISO download you want. There's both a 32-bit and 64-bit download option.
Your final option is to download Windows 8.1 or Windows 8 for 'free' as part of a paid Visual Studio subscription (previously called an MSDN subscription), which runs for several hundred dollars per year. You'll get a copy of Windows 8.1 in ISO format, ready for burning to a disc or transferring to a USB device.
This is a professional subscription program available for purchase by anyone, but designed for software developers. You get access to all full versions of Windows 8 & 8.1, including valid product keys, in addition to software and keys for almost every software and operating system Microsoft has ever created.
The Visual Studio subscription program is anything but cheap. Unless you're a software developer or some other professional IT person that needs access to multiple operating systems, a Visual Studio subscription probably isn't a cost effective way to legally download Windows 8.
If you already have a Windows 8 or 8.1 disc or ISO and are only trying to download Windows 8 because you need to install it on a computer without an optical drive, there is a way to get the files from the disc or ISO onto a flash drive. See How to Install Windows 8 or 8.1 From USB for a complete tutorial.
It's important to follow the disc or USB creation instructions linked above if you want to put your Windows 8 download on a DVD or flash drive. You can't boot to the Windows 8 media just by downloading the ISO directly onto the disc or drive. A very specific process, explained in those links, is what you need to follow to make the Windows 8 download bootable.
Any other free or incredibly inexpensive Windows 8 or 8.1 download you find online is almost certainly illegal, including Windows 8 ISO files you might find on torrent sites. Legal issues aside, these Windows 8 downloads, unlike the official ones from Microsoft, run the very serious risk of containing a surprise or two.
For example, a number of Windows 8 & 8.1 downloads available from unofficial sources are 'cracked' versions of Windows 8 installation discs, meaning that they've been changed for one reason or another and could easily contain malware. It would be very unfortunate to install Windows 8 on your computer and be automatically infected with a virus.
Please know that when you pay for Windows 8, what you're actually paying for is the product key used to activate Windows 8. In other words, even if you do download Windows 8 from someone other than Microsoft, whether it's a clean and legitimate copy of Windows 8 or not, you'll still need a valid Windows 8 product key to use the operating system.
Windows 8 For Laptops Download
Don't Download Windows 8: Replace It
A much better option for those of you with lost or broken, but valid, copies of Windows 8 or 8.1 is to order replacement media. In your case, there's no reason to pay full price for another copy of Windows 8 or risk being infected with malware.
If Windows 8 came preinstalled on your computer, and you did have DVD or flash media but now it's damaged or lost, contact your computer maker for a replacement. Depending on their policy, your computer maker might provide you with Windows 8 media for free or a small fee.
If you purchased a retail Windows 8 DVD, you can contact the Microsoft Supplemental Parts team and request a replacement.
While not a replacement for Windows 8, please know that you also have the option to create a Recovery Drive for Windows 8 using a friend's Windows 8 PC, all for the cost of a small flash drive. Your Recovery Drive can be used to perform all the diagnostic and repair functions that a full copy of Windows 8 can. See How to Create a Windows 8 or 8.1 Recovery Drive for instructions.
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Windows 8 For Laptops Download Speeds
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