Test Drive Windows 8 As a Virtual Machine - Free for 90 days!

If you want to trial Windows 8 but don't want to go to the expense of purchasing a new machine, or don't want the hassle of installing it as a dual boot, then try installing it as a virtual machine.  I followed the steps shown below without any problems and was up and running in a couple of hours.

Step 1

Download 90 day trial of Windows 8 from www.tinyurl.com/8Latd3
(You will need to login to Microsoft's site, I used a Hotmail account)

Step 2

Install Oracle's VM Virtual Box from https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/downloads
(Accept the defaults during installation)

Step 3

Click 'New', enter a name for the Virtual Operating System such as 'Windows 8'
Click 'Next' to accept default memory size, 'Create', 'Next' to accept VDI image
Click 'Next' to accept dynamically allocated storage, click 'Create' for file location and size

Step 4

Click the green 'Start' arrow, Click 'OK' to any errors or notifications that appear, Click the folder icon to the right of 'Host drive E:'

Browse to the Windows 8 file downloaded in Step 1.  Click 'OK' to acknowledge any information or warning dialogue boxes

Step 5

Windows installation will begin.  Follow the prompts as you would with a standard Windows installation.

Step 6

When prompted, choose 'Custom' installation

Step 7

Click 'Next' and put the kettle on

Step 8

When you have finished using Windows 8, select 'Close' from VM Virtual Box's Machine Menu, this is the same as shutting down a physical machine running Windows 8