Installing Windows 10 Technical Preview - how it works

Install Windows 10 Technical Preview: Microsoft has unveiled the next generation of Windows and customers can now download the free trial version. The beta version is available in English, Chinese and Portuguese and has a number of interesting new features. How does the installation work?

Microsoft is making four test versions available to all interested parties. On the one hand, users can choose between Windows Technical Preview and Windows Technical Preview for Enterprise. Private users should download the first version, all corporate customers the second version.

Windows Technical Previw for Enterprise also offers numerous features for commercial purposes, including BranchCache, AppLocker and Windows To Go.

Both trial versions can be downloaded by users in 32- and 64-bit versions. This depends on the RAM capacity: If you have 4 GB of RAM or more, the 64-bit variant is recommended; if you have less capacity, users should install the 32-bit version of Windows 10.

Only if users install the trial version in one of three safe variants can they rule out problems with the operating system they have been using and can easily remove Windows 10 again following the instructions.

Three options are possible

If users have a second PC or notebook, they can install Windows 10 there. Before doing so, they should make sure that the computer meets the system requirements. If there is no Windows operating system there, users should burn the test version to a USB stick or DVD using the first computer and then boot the second computer with it. If, on the other hand, they have Windows on the second computer, they can download and install the beta version there and have the previous system overwritten.

If at least 30 GB of storage space is available on the computer, users can set up an extra partition and install Windows 10 there. This has no effect on the area usually used with the previous operating system. To do this, users go to Disk Management, for example via the Start menu. Right-click and then click on "Shrink volume". Now enter the desired storage space of at least 30 GB and click on shrink. Then boot the computer using the installation program on a USB stick or DVD and select the new partition as the destination.

A virtual installation is also possible, for which the free VirtualBox program is recommended. Users download the program and follow the instructions. However, this does not achieve high performance; the first two variants prove to be better.

All those who want to stay up-to-date should follow the instructions for installing Windows 10. You can already explore what the new version has to offer. This will help them decide later whether they really want to install Windows 10 after the release in mid-2015. Users of Windows 8 and Windows 7 will probably not have to pay anything for the upgrade. However, an official statement on this is still pending.