What is Windows 8? When did Windows 8 come out

Windows 8 is an operating system (OS) from Microsoft released in October 2012. Windows 8 inherits the previous Windows 7 operating system and is the most modern upgrade of the Windows operating system in recent decades. This. Let’s learn about Windows 8 version and its life cycle with Getnada through the article below.

What is Windows 8

Windows 8 is notable for introducing the Windows Runtime (WinRT) platform, enabling the execution of applications developed in Microsoft’s Metro design language. This typography-focused design approach has since been adopted across various Microsoft products, such as the Xbox 360 and Outlook.com.

On October 17, 2013, the company launched Windows 8.1, marking the first significant update to the system. A key feature of this update is the reinstated “start” button, eliminating the need for additional software. Windows 8.1 also introduces the ability to run multiple apps simultaneously on a split-screen with equal proportions, an improvement over the 75-25 ratio in Windows 8. While most other changes are minor, they have been well-received by long-time Windows users. The vibrant default landing page remains, featuring Charms on the right and an app drawer at the bottom of the screen.

According to reports, Microsoft sold 40 million Windows 8 licenses within the first month of its release, surpassing the sales of Windows 7 during the same period. Users who have a licensed copy of Windows 8 can upgrade to Windows 8.1 for free through Microsoft’s website. For those using Windows 7, the standard version of Windows 8.1 is available for purchase at $120.

What is Windows? Advantages, Disadvantages And History of The Windows Operating System

When was Windows 8 release date?

Windows 8 was officially released to the general public on October 26, 2012. Prior to that, it was released to manufacturing on August 1, 2012, allowing hardware companies to pre-install it on their devices. The development of Windows 8 began even before the public release of its predecessor, Windows 7, which was launched on October 22, 2009.

Windows 8 and its capabilities were first revealed at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2011 in Las Vegas. While the actual interface was not shown, Steven Sinofsky, President of Windows at Microsoft, informed the audience that the upcoming version of Windows would support architectures previously only supported by Windows Embedded. This included Windows CE, which powers Windows Phone 7. This announcement hinted at the integration of touch screens and other tablet and smartphone-like features in Windows 8, revealing its potential for a broader range of devices.

As of September 2013, Windows 8 held an 8.2 percent market share, with expectations from the company that this figure would exceed 10 percent by the end of the year. The first major update for the operating system, Windows 8.1, was released to the public on October 17, 2013. Existing Windows 8 users can download this update for free.

When was Windows 8 end of life

Microsoft end support for Windows 8 and 8.1 in January 2023. This marks the cessation of all support and updates for the operating system. Windows 8 and 8.1 had already reached the end of Mainstream Support on January 9, 2018.

Currently, the operating system is in its extended support phase. During extended support, users receive security updates and bug fixes, as well as paid support options, but no new design or feature updates will be provided.

Will My Programs Still Work?

It largely depends on the developers of your applications. Some will transition to supporting Windows 10, while others may continue to provide support for Windows 8.1 for a period. Typically, developers maintain support for an operating system for some time even after Microsoft has ended its official support.

What Can I Do?

The easiest thing for you to do is just upgrade to Windows 10. Unfortunately, depending on the age of your hardware you may need an entirely new system for that. Fortunately there are ways you can easily migrate your data and even some of your programs over to a new system. It’s not as hard to migrate as it was before and Windows 10 is shaping up to be one of the most secure Microsoft operating system in history.

With Windows 8 and 8.1 moving into the extended support phase, and especially if you intend to upgrade to Windows 10, it is highly recommended you back up the files on your computer to a cloud backup service or external hard drive, so you don’t lose your important documents, images, videos and other files in case something happens.

As stated before; you are able to continue to use Windows 8.1 if you so choose. It’s an older Operating System, and at this time no longer receiving mainstream support. Starting in 2023, you may encounter problems going forward with only yourself to support and fix them.

You can choose to upgrade to Windows 10, provided your computer supports it. Microsoft offers information on the system requirements necessary to run Windows 10.

How to update Windows 8 to Windows 10

To upgrade Windows 8 to Windows 10, you can follow these detailed steps:

Step 1: Check System Requirements

Before you start, ensure your computer meets the system requirements for Windows 10:

Processor: 1 GHz or faster

RAM: 1 GB for 32-bit or 2 GB for 64-bit

Hard disk space: 16 GB for 32-bit OS or 20 GB for 64-bit OS

Graphics card: DirectX 9 or later with WDDM 1.0 driver

Display: 800×600

Step 2: Backup Your Data

To ensure you don’t lose any important files, back up your important files to an external hard drive or cloud storage service (such as OneDrive or Google Drive).

Step 3: Download the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool

Go to the Windows 10 download page.

Download the Media Creation Tool.

Step 4: Run the Media Creation Tool

Open the MediaCreationTool.exe file you just downloaded.

Select “Upgrade this PC now” and click “Next”.

Step 5: Follow the On-Screen Instructions

Accept the License Terms: Agree to the terms of use.

Choose What to Keep: Select the option to keep your personal files and apps, or only keep personal files. If you want a clean installation, select the option to keep nothing.

Step 6: Download and Install Windows 10

The Media Creation Tool will download the necessary files and start the installation process.

Your computer will restart multiple times during this process. Make sure your computer is plugged into a power source to avoid interruptions.

Step 7: Complete the Installation

After the installation is complete, you will see the Windows 10 setup screen.

Follow the instructions to set up your personal preferences, sign in with your Microsoft account, and customize your settings.

Step 8: Check for Updates

After the installation is complete, go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.

Click “Check for updates” to ensure your system has all the latest updates.

Notes:

Product Key: If prompted for a product key, use your Windows 8 product key. In most cases, the upgrade process will automatically recognize and activate Windows 10 without needing a product key.