In this video, I show how you can run the preview version of Windows 8 within Parallels (or you can use any other virtual PC software such as VM Ware) on a Mac running OSX Lion. But don’t be put off, this demo is also applicable to PC users who want to run Windows 8 on a separate partition or their own Virtual Machine (recommended).
Though you might want to watch this directly on YouTube to watch in proper 1080p HD resolution by clicking the following link:
A quick run down on how to run Windows 8 Developer Preview if you don’t want to watch my informative video:
1) Install an emulation application such as VM Ware Fusion or Parallels. In my example, I am using Parallels on my iMac which I wholeheartedly endorse.
2) Download the .iso image you require from:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/apps/br229516
3) Start Parallels and set-up a new virtual machine. Follow the install wizard but select “Other Windows” for the type of machine you require.
4) Direct Parallels to the .ISO file you have downloaded from the MSDN website.
5) Follow the on-screen prompts and standby while Windows 8 installs itself on your virtual machine. The whole process should take around five minutes (though this could be longer dependant on the speed of your hardware).
6) Huzzah! You now have Windows 8 installed on your iMac. The great thing is that when you are finished with it, you can delete the virtual machine with no ill effects to your computer.
I have subsequently posted an updated video showing the installation and demo of Windows 8 Consumer Preview here: http://www.darrenlock.com/2012/03/01/windows-8-consumer-preview-on-mac-os-x-with-parallels
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Darren,
Thanks, I enjoyed your little walk through Window 8 [installed on Parallels on an iMac] during a quiet time…
It occurred to me this morning that I ought to ‘get out of my Mac shell’ and have a look at Windows 8, but how was the question.
a) My circa 2000 Sony PCG XE17 Notebook [a really beautiful thing], but 256MB memory maxed out, and chockers with XP after decade of updates.
b) my Dell Notebook is my work horse, also XP, and cannot be ‘fiddled with’ by ‘Law of IT Department’
This morning the bell rang, the light shone, the Mac OSX gods had spoken to me: Parallels might just do it…
And a quick search found you, and your little demo, say YES, I can run Windows 8 on my iMac OSX Lion.
I had better look and learn, or run the risk of being ‘lost in my Apple World for Ever’
When will a Windows 8 version be available which will do real stuff…
Robert
Darren,
I note you have several versions of Linux setup to run on your iMac [under Parallels i presume]…
Which version do you favour.
I am keen to be able to access the 500GB Back Hard-drive from my LinkSys NAS200 RAID-1 box directly on my iMac. The NAS200 is a Linux based device, and the Hard-drives are formatted for Linux, not readable on iMac or Windows boxes…
In a crisis situation, I need a means of copying all of my stuff [Photos, Music, Financial, E-Mail, and other personal documents from the Linux Hard-drive.
My original five year old NAS200 box just died [no ceremony] a few weeks ago, and I was stuck until I secured a replacement from a friendly eBay seller a few weeks later. The replacement NAS200 gave me access to the Hard-drives from the RAID-1 pair, one at a time, so I was able to copy to a back up ATC. Then came the daunting task of rebuilding the RAID-1 Hard-drive pair…
Would appreciate you opinion on the Linux under Parallels scenario.
Thanks,
Robert
Hi Robert,
I’m not really a Linux expert – those versions on my Parallels setup were just there for me to try out. I didn’t like Fedora much, if that’s any help and quite like OpenSUSE the most. But I am not really an expert, more a tinkerer.
I am sorry to hear about your crash. I hope you get everything back together again. And I am pleased you liked my video.
Regards,
Darren
Darren,
Don’t you ever sleep…
Thanks, I really do appreciate you feedback. I will do some more digging around on Linux.
I have the ‘replacement’ NAS200 RAID-1 fully restored, thanks for your concern.
First I had to copy the entire contents of the Source Hard-drive from the Original RAID-1 pair [installed in the replacement NAS200] to a new Apple Time Capsule [cheaper than buying a new Seagate ES (Enterprise Standard) Hard-drive.
Second, with heart in mouth, plugged the RAID-1 Hard-drive pair into the replacement NAS200, and bingo.
No, RAID-1 was not restored; both drives were instantly reformatted into a fresh RAID-1 pair.
All data lost.
Third, I had to copy all of the files back from the Time Capsule.
What a pain, as a write would occasionally fail, deep down in the Folder structure of iPhoto, or iTunes, or my personal files. There must be a better way; my approach was to just dig in and copy the files over, folder at a time, gradually working my way back up to the root again. Then grab the next lump of stuff. Thank you Apple, for the Column View in Finder.
I will let you know what I find about Linux on iMac, when I get around to it…
Robert
PS: Do like you Web Site. White text on a dark background is my favourite layout, quite rare these days.