Understanding Windows 10 Technical Preview
In this preview, Windows 10 will go through a lot of change with updates, and you will have access to the Windows Feedback app. This app helps send feedback to Microsoft about the different features they are adding and removing to Windows 10 in the preview period and thus, helps you be a part of the team that improves and polishes the OS.
In this preview, Windows 10 will go through a lot of change with updates, and you will have access to the Windows Feedback app. This app helps send feedback to Microsoft about the different features they are adding and removing to Windows 10 in the preview period and thus, helps you be a part of the team that improves and polishes the OS.
That apart, there are many new features that you can try out with
Windows 10. For one thing, it has a new start menu - a blend of live
tiles and classic desktop apps. The Windows apps also don't have to run
in a forced full-screen mode, making them more useful for desktop users.
Windows 10 also features much improved file explorer and search
features.
Windows also finally supports multiple desktops now. If these are
features you had been crying out for since switching to Windows 8, then
the Windows 10 Technical Preview will be quite appealing.
Warning
Before you proceed to try this release, know that you might face system-breaking bugs and end up losing data. If you're installing Windows 10 on your primary PC, we suggest you take a complete backup. Microsoft recommends that you install it on a secondary PC, which is sound advice when using unfinished software.
Before you proceed to try this release, know that you might face system-breaking bugs and end up losing data. If you're installing Windows 10 on your primary PC, we suggest you take a complete backup. Microsoft recommends that you install it on a secondary PC, which is sound advice when using unfinished software.
How to download Windows 10 Technical Preview
If you still want to go ahead, then here's how you can download the Windows 10 Technical Preview.
If you still want to go ahead, then here's how you can download the Windows 10 Technical Preview.
1. Join the Windows Insider Program using this page.
2. Make sure you have a machine that meets the Windows 10 minimum system requirements:
- Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster
- RAM: 1 gigabyte (GB) (32-bit) or 2 GB (64-bit)
- Free hard disk space: 16 GB
- Graphics card: Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM driver
- A Microsoft account and Internet access
Microsoft also notes that you won't be able to play DVDs using Windows
Media Player after installing the preview. It says that some processors
and hardware configurations might be blocked from installing the
preview, without naming any specific models. Currently, only three
languages are supported in the preview - English, Simplified Chinese and
Brazilian Portuguese.
3. Download the Windows 10 Technical Preview install files directly from these links:- Download Windows 10 English 64-bit (3.8GB)
- Download Windows 10 English UK 32-bit (2.94GB)
- Download Windows 10 English UK 64-bit (3.79GB)
- Download Windows 10 Chinese (Simplified) 32-bit (3.05GB)
- Download Windows 10 Chinese (Simplified) 64-bit (3.96GB)
- Download Windows 10 Portuguese (Brazil) 32-bit (2.91GB)
- Download Windows 10 Portuguese (Brazil) 64-bit (3.76GB)
4. After downloading one of these files, you can use an app like ImgBurn to burn the Windows 10 image file to a DVD or a USB pen drive.
5. Double click (or double tap if you are on a touch device) setup.exe and follow the on-screen instructions.
If prompted for the Windows 10 Technical Preview product key, use NKJFK-GPHP7-G8C3J-P6JXR-HQRJR
User data and rollback
If you are installing the preview on top of Windows 7 or 8 and above, you should be able to preserve Windows settings, personal files, and most apps when upgrading to Windows 10 Technical Preview. However, Windows Vista users will have to do a clean install, and since the Windows 10 Technical Preview is x86 only, Windows RT users are completely out of luck.
If you are installing the preview on top of Windows 7 or 8 and above, you should be able to preserve Windows settings, personal files, and most apps when upgrading to Windows 10 Technical Preview. However, Windows Vista users will have to do a clean install, and since the Windows 10 Technical Preview is x86 only, Windows RT users are completely out of luck.
If, after installing Windows 10 Technical Preview, you want to go back
to your old version of Windows for whatever reason, you need to be
prepared before you install the preview. Windows 7 or Vista users should
create recovery media from a recovery partition on your PC using
software provided by your PC manufacturer. Windows 8 or above users
should create a USB recovery drive.
Check the Microsoft website for more information before proceeding with the installation of Windows 10 Technical Preview.
Updates and other information
Once you've installed the preview, you'll get automatic updates. Your preview copy will expire on April 15, 2015, by when we should have a consumer preview of Windows 10. Microsoft has posted instructions to help you familiarise with the new Windows 10 operating system.
Once you've installed the preview, you'll get automatic updates. Your preview copy will expire on April 15, 2015, by when we should have a consumer preview of Windows 10. Microsoft has posted instructions to help you familiarise with the new Windows 10 operating system.
The Windows Insider Program allows users to stay on the cutting edge of
Windows software. Microsoft will issue frequent updates that you can
download as and when available.
A consumer preview version of Windows 10 will be available early next
year, and that is probably a much better option for most users. If you
can't wait though, you can download this early release build of Windows
10.
After months of speculation and plenty of leaks, Microsoft has given the world its first official look at the next version of Windows.
The biggest surprise is its name - Windows 10. While some of the new
features are predictable, others come as surprises. It's clear that
Microsoft has gone back to the drawing board after enduring endless
criticism of its bold Windows 8 strategy and redesign. The reinvented
Windows tries to combine the best of both worlds.
1. Windows 10 will be designed to appeal to office workers
After years of dealing with complaints that Windows 8 was too different to roll out in large-scale corporate environments and would require massive resources to be spent on retraining users, Microsoft has decided to appeal to that crowd by incorporatingfamiliar elements and hiding features that won't be applicable. The new Start menu is a prime example of this.
2. ...and corporate IT managers
On the management side, Windows 10 promises better security, easier manageability, and improved capabilities for dealing with today's security threats. There will also be improved methods of installing and dealing with volume licenses, making the upgrade process easier. Custom app stores will help corporate environments to deal with software deployments and permissions. There is still a huge install base of Windows XP machines in office environments which work just fine, but Microsoft's new features might be tempting enough for managers to finally decide that an upgrade is worthwhile.
1. Windows 10 will be designed to appeal to office workers
After years of dealing with complaints that Windows 8 was too different to roll out in large-scale corporate environments and would require massive resources to be spent on retraining users, Microsoft has decided to appeal to that crowd by incorporatingfamiliar elements and hiding features that won't be applicable. The new Start menu is a prime example of this.
2. ...and corporate IT managers
On the management side, Windows 10 promises better security, easier manageability, and improved capabilities for dealing with today's security threats. There will also be improved methods of installing and dealing with volume licenses, making the upgrade process easier. Custom app stores will help corporate environments to deal with software deployments and permissions. There is still a huge install base of Windows XP machines in office environments which work just fine, but Microsoft's new features might be tempting enough for managers to finally decide that an upgrade is worthwhile.
3. Windows 10 will scale from small smartphones to giant data centres
The Windows 10 name will apply to future versions of Windows Phone as well as Windows on tablets, desktop PCs and hybrid portable devices. The same experience will carry over to the Xbox One console and potentially other devices as well. Users will see an interface suited to their device type, screen size and input methods, so for example, the full-screen Start UI will not necessarily be a part of the desktop usage experience, but will appear for touch-first tablet users. There will even be a way for users to switch between the two modes, especially if they use tablets with detachable or foldable keyboards.
4. The new Start menu will combine Windows 7's usability with Windows 8's tiles
While a lot might change between now and the final release of Windows 10, previews indicate a two-column Start menu with old-style icons for pinned or recent programs on the left, and live tiles on the right displaying updates and information. The tiles will be customisable, though at their smallest size they will be functionally identical to pinned shortcuts.
6. Virtual Desktops are finally coming to Windows
A mainstay of OS X and most Linux distributions for years, virtual desktops have remained a niche feature on Windows. In another move aimed at appeasing hardcore desktop users, virtual desktops are now baked right in. A new Task View will let you see an overview of all running apps and arrange them between desktops.
7. Snap has also been improved
You can now quickly tile four apps at once on the Windows 10 desktop just by dragging them to the corners of your screen. You'll see suggestions for filling up your screen so that you don't have to deal with overlapping windows. Desktop users with large monitors will rejoice.
9. The Charms bar isn't going anywhere
Just like with the Start screen, Microsoft isn't completely removing all vestiges of Windows 8. The Charms bar remains, though most probably only visible to users of touch-first devices. It will be improved, and those Windows 8 users who are familiar with it can continue to use it.
10. There's much more to come
Microsoft has teased that there are plenty of good reasons for its decision to skip a Windows 9 and jump two version numbers ahead. We hope to see many more improvements and refinements of the concepts that have been demonstrated so far. With public beta releases not too far away, it's going to be an eventful year leading up to the final release of Windows 10.
The Windows 10 name will apply to future versions of Windows Phone as well as Windows on tablets, desktop PCs and hybrid portable devices. The same experience will carry over to the Xbox One console and potentially other devices as well. Users will see an interface suited to their device type, screen size and input methods, so for example, the full-screen Start UI will not necessarily be a part of the desktop usage experience, but will appear for touch-first tablet users. There will even be a way for users to switch between the two modes, especially if they use tablets with detachable or foldable keyboards.
4. The new Start menu will combine Windows 7's usability with Windows 8's tiles
While a lot might change between now and the final release of Windows 10, previews indicate a two-column Start menu with old-style icons for pinned or recent programs on the left, and live tiles on the right displaying updates and information. The tiles will be customisable, though at their smallest size they will be functionally identical to pinned shortcuts.
5. Modern apps will run in windows on the desktop
Desktop users will be able to run Modern apps (downloaded from the
Windows store) on the desktop just like other apps. They will be
resizable and can be pinned to the taskbar. Important functions will be
accessible through a context menu.6. Virtual Desktops are finally coming to Windows
A mainstay of OS X and most Linux distributions for years, virtual desktops have remained a niche feature on Windows. In another move aimed at appeasing hardcore desktop users, virtual desktops are now baked right in. A new Task View will let you see an overview of all running apps and arrange them between desktops.
7. Snap has also been improved
You can now quickly tile four apps at once on the Windows 10 desktop just by dragging them to the corners of your screen. You'll see suggestions for filling up your screen so that you don't have to deal with overlapping windows. Desktop users with large monitors will rejoice.
8. Search and power user features will be improved
The new search feature combines local and Web results. You can begin
searching just by typing when the Start menu is open, which means you
can continue to hit the Start button and just start typing exactly like
in Windows 8. Microsoft has another treat for power users - finally, you
can use a simple Ctrl+V shortcut to paste text into the Command Prompt.9. The Charms bar isn't going anywhere
Just like with the Start screen, Microsoft isn't completely removing all vestiges of Windows 8. The Charms bar remains, though most probably only visible to users of touch-first devices. It will be improved, and those Windows 8 users who are familiar with it can continue to use it.
10. There's much more to come
Microsoft has teased that there are plenty of good reasons for its decision to skip a Windows 9 and jump two version numbers ahead. We hope to see many more improvements and refinements of the concepts that have been demonstrated so far. With public beta releases not too far away, it's going to be an eventful year leading up to the final release of Windows 10.
How to Download and Install Windows 10 Technical Preview