How To Upgrade Windows Xp To Sp3

If you have a car running XP Pro Service Pack iii, here'due south the complete step past step guide to upgrade install to Windows viii.

Previously we reported about Microsoft'southward announcement regarding the upgrade path to Windows viii from previous versions of Windows. If y'all have a motorcar running XP Pro Service Pack 3, here's how to do an upgrade install to Windows 8.

Annotation: Only your data files will be kept when upgrading XP Pro to Windows 8; some of your programs and drivers will need to be reinstalled and/or upgraded.

Set up XP for Windows 8 Upgrade

Before upgrading from XP to Windows 8, make sure your system has the hardware to upgrade. According to Microsoft, y'all'll need the following:

Processor: one gigahertz (GHz) or faster
RAM: 1 gigabyte (GB) (32-fleck) or ii GB (64-chip)
Hard disk space: 16 GB (32-bit) or twenty GB (64-bit)
Graphics card: Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM driver
To access Windows Store, yous demand a screen resolution of at least 1024×768. To utilize the Snap feature for Metro apps, you'll demand a screen with a 1366×768 resolution or higher.

Power on your XP system and make sure it'south running Service Pack three.

Please make certain all of your important data on your XP organisation is backed up either locally or online with a service like Backblaze. In case something goes wrong with the install, you'll take all of your data withal available. But your files will exist kept; some of your programs volition need to be reinstalled.

So head to the download page for Windows eight Upgrade Banana.

Start Windows viii Upgrade Assistant

After it's washed downloading, double click to launch the executable file.

When upgrading XP to Windows 8, the Windows eight Upgrade Assistant starts and checks your system to see what's compatible with Windows 8 on your current system.

So you're given a full general list of what is uniform and non. For more info, click See Compatibility Details.

Review the list of what is uniform with Windows eight and what isn't. The outset part of the list will display what isn't compatible. This is an important list to review and print out or save, equally yous'll be required to install different drivers and apps.

Keep scrolling downward the list to see what is compatible with Windows viii.

Continue the Windows eight Upgrade Assistant wizard, and it'll get a product cardinal automatically – for the Release Preview version.

Next, Windows viii volition be downloaded to your reckoner. You lot can continue to apply it if you demand to while the download takes place.

Yous'll discover a serial of letters while the sorcerer verifies the download and gets everything prepare for the upgrade.

Install Windows 8

Once those steps are complete, select Install Now and click Next.

Next, bank check I Have the License Terms and click Accept.

Y'all get the choice to keep personal files or naught. Different upgrading Vista or Windows seven, you can only keep the personal files yous've created – documents, pictures, music, etc.

Now Windows is ready to install. If you need to change any settings, now's the fourth dimension by clicking Change Selection. If everything looks skillful, click Next.

Wait while Windows 8 is installed on your XP system. Your computer will restart a few times. It takes several minutes – in some cases over an hr. Go on your middle on information technology though, during one XP upgrade I did, I had to restart the computer manually.

After Windows 8 is done installing, become through the setup magician and put in your Personalization settings, Windows ID email, and password. After that, you tin first using Windows 8.

The process is essentially the same every bit installing Vista or Windows 7 over the spider web. The biggest deviation is you're only able to bring your personal files with you. Depending on the historic period of your computer, you'll more than likely need to update device drivers too.

I've upgraded 3 XP systems to Windows viii, and all personal data files were brought over. You'll need to reinstall most of your apps – I recommend ninite.com for installing popular freeware in one shot.

If y'all're used to playing DVDs on your XP system, you'll need to install DVD playback software. Or install Windows Media Center, which is available as a separate download.

Microsoft announced that upgrading to Windows eight from previous versions would toll $39.99 or $14.99 if you purchase a qualifying PC.

If yous've been a die-hard XP user, and are leaping Windows 8, be prepare for a steep learning curve. Don't worry, though; we have yous covered with hundreds of Windows eight How To articles.