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Windows 8 is out now, Are you thinking of upgrading to Windows 8?

I have and thought you may find a few bits of information listed below useful.

Q: What are the hardware requirements for Windows 8?

A: Here are the basics as outlined by Microsoft in a blog post:

• 1GHz or faster processor
• 1GB RAM (32-bit) or 2GB RAM (64-bit)
• 16GB available hard-disk space (32-bit) or 20GB (64-bit)
• DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver

Microsoft also says, “Metro style applications have a minimum of 1,024×768 screen resolution, and 1,366×768 for the snap feature.” “Snap” refers to Windows 8’s feature of automatically resizing and positioning application Windows when you drag them to the side of the screen. And “Metro” is the now-abandoned nomenclature for Windows 8’s distinct touch-oriented software interface design.

Microsoft has suggested both “Modern UI,” and “Windows 8-style UI” as alternatives, and may further refine the name before Windows 8’s October 26 launch date.

Q: From which older versions of Windows can I upgrade to Windows 8?

A: According to this official Microsoft blog post, if you own a Windows XP, Windows Vista, or a Windows 7 PC, you are eligible for a downloadable upgrade to Windows 8 Pro.

Of course if you don’t have a compatible upgrade version, you can still do a fresh install. Just remember to back up all your files first!

Q: What happens to my old files and system settings when I upgrade?

A: It depends on which version of Windows you started with. Per Microsoft: “You will be able to upgrade from any consumer edition of Windows 7 to Windows 8 Pro and bring everything along which includes your Windows settings, personal files, and apps. If you are upgrading from Windows Vista, you will be able to bring along your Windows settings and personal files, and if you are upgrading from Windows XP you will only be able to bring along your personal files.”

Q: Will I have any problems with older hardware or software when I upgrade?

A: If you’re upgrading from Windows XP or Windows Vista, you can expect to have to reinstall any applications you might have used prior to the upgrade. Most programs that worked in Windows 7 should work in Windows 8, though. Microsoft has a Compatibility Center Web site where you can check for specific applications and hardware devices that have been certified to work in Windows 8. When you launch the upgrade installation, you will also receive a compatibility report.

Q: What about other versions of Windows 8?

A: Microsoft has announced four versions of Windows 8. You can only upgrade to two of them as a consumer, Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro. Windows RT will only come with tablets, and an Enterprise version will be sold with large-volume corporate PC purchases. Windows 8, Windows Pro, and Windows 8 Enterprise will be available in both 32-bit and 64-bit editions, with 64-bit being most common. Microsoft has not yet announced pricing for the vanilla Windows 8 upgrade.

Q: What are the differences between Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro?

A: In this blog post, Microsoft says, “For many consumers, Windows 8 will be the right choice,” while it designed Windows 8 Pro “to help tech enthusiasts and business/technical professionals obtain a broader set of Windows 8 technologies.”

Basically what that means is that Windows 8 Pro comes with features Microsoft believes most consumers won’t care about. For the most part this is probably true. Most people won’t miss Pro’s extras like the Client Hyper-V virtualization software and BitLocker disk encryption tool.