Install Windows 8.1 in parallel with Windows 8
If you don't want to throw Windows 8 overboard right away, you can install Windows 8.1 parallel to the old system. We'll show you how it's done.
Step 1: download Windows 8.1
In order to install Windows 8.1 parallel to Windows 8, you must first manually download the installation file for Windows 8.1 and save it on a storage medium, for example a USB stick.
- Download the free Windows 8.1 Setup Tool and start the program.
- Select the "Create installation media" item and then decide whether you want to transfer the approximately 2.5 GB file to a USB stick or DVD.
- If you select the USB stick, the ISO file is transferred directly to it. If you select the DVD option, you must then burn the ISO file to the DVD yourself. This is possible with the CDBurnerXP, for example.
- If you then start the process, the Windows 8.1 installation file will be downloaded and automatically transferred to the storage medium.
Step 2: Install Windows 8.1 in parallel with Windows 8
Now you can install Windows 8.1 on your computer. A second partition for Windows 8.1 must be created so that both systems can exist in parallel. You can either do this as in this example when installing Windows 8.1 or in advance with a program such as the Easeus Partition Master.
- Insert the DVD into the computer or insert the USB stick. Shut down and then restart the computer.
- After a short wait, the installation of Windows 8.1 starts. Click on "Next" at the bottom right and then on the button "Install now".
- Enter a valid license key, accept the license terms and click "Next". If you have not previously noted your license key, you can enter it later.
- Now select the option below, the "User-defined installation". Here you can see all partitions of your computer. Click on "Drive Options" at the bottom right and then on "New" to open another partition.
- Give it a name and assign it the desired storage space. It should be at least 25 GB. If you also want to install programs on the partition, you should set at least 50 GB.
- If you click "Next", Windows 8.1 will be installed on the partition.
Step 3: choose between Windows 8 and Windows 8.1
If the computer is then restarted, you will be given the choice of which operating system you want to start. A blue screen appears, in which you can now choose between Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 each time you start.
- If you select Windows 8.1 for the first time, it still has to be configured.
This practical tip explains how to set up the Media Center in Windows 8.1.