As promised, Microsoft has made the Windows 8.1 Preview available for download. MSDN and TechNet subscribers can download a full installer image from their respective membership sites, while everyone else can get the preview from the Windows Store.
To install the Windows 8.1 Preview, first head to Microsoft’s download page and choose “Get the Update.” This will configure your PC to see the update in the Windows Store. After installing this preliminary update, reboot and you’ll see the full update to Windows 8.1 in the Store. The download is about 2.4GB on our 64-bit Windows 8 test platform.
Readers should note that users will not be able to upgrade from the Preview build of 8.1 to the final build when it is released this fall. A reformat and fresh install will have to be performed to get rid of the 8.1 Preview when the time comes. That caveat, plus the usual warnings about beta software, mean that only experienced users who are willing and able to risk their data should consider upgrading to the Windows 8.1 Preview.
We’ll have more reports on the changes and features over the coming days.
