If you don’t already have Windows 8 and want to try out the latest version of Windows free, you can do so right now. The trial is valid for 90 days. But please, please, please, do not install this as your primary operating system. Best option? Download the free VMWare Player and create a virtual machine — it’s easy to do and keeps Windows 8.1 separate from your primary operating system. Another option is to use dual boot, but we don’t think that option is a good choice, since in 90 days you’d have to remove Windows 8.1 or sit there and choose operating systems at Windows start up — or wait 30 seconds for the automatic boot into your primary operating system. If our readers show enough interest in creating a virtual Windows machine using VMWare Player, we’ll do a picture tutorial for you. How about it? Are enough of you interested? (You can also run Windows XP in a virtual machine and not have to worry about security issues. If the virtual machine is attacked, just delete it and create a new one. It’s that easy.).
The download is available from Microsoft here. While you can between the 32- or 64-bit versions, this version of Windows 8.1 comes in one flavor, and that flavor is Windows 8.1 Enterprise Edition – Captain Jean-luc Picard commanding :-). Keep in mind that this is a huge 3 GB + download and it will take some time to download. Oh yes, you’ll need a Microsoft account too – which is a Hotmail, Outlook.com, Live.com or Msn.com email account..
After you install the trial, you will need to activate it. A product key is not required. You have 90 days to use the trial. You must activate your trial before 31 October 2014.
Setting up Windows 8.1 Enterprise on a Virtual Machine.
Windows 8.1 Enterprise installer finishing up.
Windows 8.1 Enterprise running in a virtual machine.
And after your trial expires, you can renew it 4 additional times — meaning you can use it for 360 days. We’ll show you how soon.
After your recommendation today TC, (that I should reinstall Windows) I wonder if this would be a good solution but sure not jumping up and down about having to install one of those Microsoft accounts 🙁
It’s not a good idea to install this version since it expires and cannot be made permanent. It would be much better to reinstall Windows 7.
Thank you!
I have just purchased a new computer windows 8 64 bit. It was recommended I upgrade to windows 8.1 64 bit, which I did, there was no mention that it was a 90 day trial. I am confused. After looking at the site you recommend for the download it is different to the one I used, now I dont know whether I have done the right thing or not.
Robyn, I think the Cloudeight info above is for people who don’t already have Windows 8–which you do. You do not need to ‘try’ out this OS for 90 days–you already have it! If you’ve upgraded from Win 8 to Win 8.1 it was not a ‘trial’ version, and you are good to go. You do NOT need to check out the website mentioned above.
Thank you Gay Prewett for putting a senior’s mind at rest. I think Iam getting to like 8.1 but it’s not a patch on XP