Windows 8.1 ISO download for 64 and 32 bit
We have a couple of Windows 7 laptops and desktop PCs to upgraded to Windows 8.1 for software testing. It seems Microsoft no longer hosts the Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 ISO file. What is the best place to let me download Windows 8.1 ISO file now? Safety is our first priority as we will run some corporate based apps on these machine.Our new Windows insider leader has spoken to us!
Moving the Windows Insider Program forward By Amanda Langowski / Principal Program Manager Lead Quote: " Hey Windows Insiders! How’s everyone holding up? I wanted to touch base, thank everyone for the warm welcome to the program, and share some of my initial thoughts on the program and where we want to take it forward. As mentioned in Panos’ blog post, I’ve had the amazing opportunity to work at Microsoft for most of my career working on Windows and devices powered by Windows, big and small, and like many of you, have watched Windows evolve to make great things, and learn some valuable lessons on the way. My most recent experience was driving the backend of the Windows Insider Program on the systems that make flighting ‘work’ and Flight Ops where we review data and make flighting decisions. Having been in these and other forums I saw how critical insight from Insiders was and how it directly impacted how we made release decisions in response. So, I’m very excited to pop over from behind the curtain to talk directly to Insiders and to be an interpreter between our engineers and our customers and help drive making Windows better. On a personal note, I have a crazy blended family with early elementary school aged triplets, two teens in high school, and a new goldendoodle pup that is chewing on everything including my last nerve, but he’s cute. I’m a Seattle native, introvert at heart, and get my energy by traveling and soaking up new cultures and landscapes and seeing live music. And, like many of you, my family and I are adjusting with the recent world events to juggle managing family, work, team and community. Sight Words, Geography, Algebra, BioMed and French lessons are interspersed between Teams calls, PowerPoint decks, emails and Feedback Hub triage throughout the day. It can be a lot and I can’t wait to stretch my legs again and explore, but I feel lucky to be safe and virtually connected to everyone. As the leader of the Windows Insider Program, I’ll be behind the scenes a little more than past leaders, but still working tirelessly on enhancing our listening systems, feature previews and engagement opportunities. My goal is to connect you more to the passionate and unique folks that design, code and monitor the quality experiences you most care about and provide clarity on how your feedback is informing the way we build amazing experiences for all our Windows 10 customers. I’ll be primarily engaging on the @WindowsInsider Twitter handle (^AL) and upcoming virtual events, and you will continue to see regular posts from the rest of the crew. Brandon LeBlanc (^BLB) and Jason Howard (^JH) will keep everyone looped in on the flights we are delivering to Insiders, with Eddie Leonard (^EL) providing support. We also have Jennifer Gentleman who is one of our top Community Champions for Windows as well as Community Champions from other areas. We are lucky to have a passionate group of people focused on driving and supporting the Windows Insider Program and will be featuring more folks in the future. In the first three weeks on the job, I’ve been learning a lot about what Insiders want and care about most (more access to new UI, quality flights, and insight into the feedback process to name a few) – but where we take this program forward is really up to you. Last week we sent out a link to our annual Windows Insider Survey to Insiders via email – my eyes and ears are open, so please take a moment to fill it out and let me know what you love and what you want to see improved with the program. I can tell you from my past experience that we spend TONS of time across the Windows org looking at the data from the surveys to inform our planning. We’ve made modifications to the frequency of flights, how folks register for the program and opt-in their PCs to receive flights, and adjusted the Fast ring to be closer to the latest code from our engineers, with more to come! In addition to the annual survey, we also offer more Pulse surveys each week via our Twitter handle to make sure that we are making progress on key elements of the program and listening more regularly. These Pulse surveys are a fantastic way of letting us know how you feel about the program each week. We look for patterns and things that pop to inform how things are going as we release new builds and engage on Twitter. Thank you for welcoming me aboard as the new Windows Insider Program lead and I’m looking forward to working with all of you to grow and enrich this program! Stay inside, Insiders 😉 Thanks, Amanda" Windows Insider BlogAnnouncing Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 19608
"[UPDATE 4/17] We’ve released Cumulative Update Build 19608.1006 (KB4557426) that contains a single fix to improve overall reliability of the OS." Hello Windows Insiders, today we’re releasing Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 19608 to Windows Insiders in the Fast ring. Windows Insider BlogReleasing Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 19041.172 to the Slow ring
Hello Windows Insiders, today we’re releasing 20H1 Build 19041.172 (KB4552455) to Windows Insiders in the Slow ring. This Cumulative Update includes quality improvements. Key changes include: We fixed an issue that prevents the Windows logo key + J keyboard shortcut from giving focus to certain Windows tips. Known issues We are aware Narrator and NVDA users that seek the latest release of Microsoft Edge based on Chromium may experience some difficulty when navigating and reading certain web content. Narrator, NVDA and the Edge teams are aware of these issues. Users of legacy Microsoft Edge will not be affected. NVAccess has released a NVDA 2019.3that resolves the known issue with Edge. More info at Windows BlogWindows 12 Is Not a Rumor. It’s Already in Your System
The new build 29558 reveals way more than most people think. If you know where to look, you’ll see that the next Windows release is already very close. Side‑by‑Side Winners now includes new versions of core system modules Startup‑task‑data is updated across all architectures Defender and Networking UI have new branding resource packages ShellCompatibility is already using version 12.\* GDI+ and the Search engine have new generations of libraries These are not “small tweaks”. This is the groundwork for a new shell and a new UI that is already physically present in the system — just not unlocked yet. Don’t follow YouTube “tech enthusiasts” — they spread rumors and don’t know how to look for real evidence inside the system. Windows is not analyzed through thumbnails, but through the registry, WinSxS and shell layers. 😎✌️ Winners sample: offlinefiles-ui is now running on version 29558.1000. This is one of many modules that indicate the presence of a new shell layer in the system.
A Vision for Windows 12: Familiar Power Meets Modern Innovation
Dear Microsoft Windows Development Team and Community Hub, With the inevitable speculation around Windows 12, I wanted to share a comprehensive vision for the next iteration of Windows. The goal is to blend the best elements of past versions with modern needs, creating a truly powerful and personalizable operating system. Here’s what many users like myself are hoping to see: 1. A Revitalized Start Menu & Screen Fresh, Resizable Layout: A clearly divided Start Menu with dedicated zones: Account Area (top-left), Shortcut Area (far left for common folders), List Area (pinned, most-used, and suggested apps), and a Pinned Tiles Area (right side, four-column layout). It should be resizable by dragging its edges. Full-Screen Start Screen Option: A return of the full-screen Start that combines the easy-to-browse list from Windows 7 with the dynamic Windows 8.1-style Live Tiles, supporting both horizontal and vertical arrangements. Enhanced Tile Flexibility: Tiles in five sizes (small, medium, long, wide, large, tall) with smooth resizing animations. New customization options should include colorful, gradient, light, dark, transparent, and semi-transparent tones. Migration Friendly: When upgrading from Windows 7, 8.1, 10, or 11, all pinned apps and websites should automatically migrate. Copilot Integration: A dedicated, prominent Copilot Tile to highlight the AI assistant's role, perhaps with a new rainbow effect for visual flair. 2. A More Functional Taskbar & Search Comprehensive Taskbar: Featuring the Cortana icon, mobile devices, Start, Search, Task View, Chat, applications, and the system tray. Prominent Search Box: The search box should be more prominent, changing from a circle to a rectangular shape, serving as a stronger entry point. Flexible Search Menu: The search interface should be highly adjustable and consistent with the new Start menu's style. 3. Personalized User Experience Lock Screen Customization: Options for left or center-aligned date and time. New photo effects that highlight the main subject, allowing it to overlay the time. Windows Hello: Facial recognition that works while wearing a mask. Enhanced Widgets: Desktop Pinning: Widgets should be pinnable anywhere on the desktop, not just in a sidebar. Full-Screen Widgets Board: A full-screen mode with a widget panel on the left and news/feeds on the right, supporting up to six columns. New Widgets: Introduction of a 'Calendar', 'People', 'Microsoft Edge', 'Cortana Suggestions', and a dedicated 'Microsoft Store' widget. 4. Peak Productivity & Multitasking Task View & Virtual Desktops: A return to the mature Windows 10 experience, allowing windows to be dragged directly to other desktops in Task View. Timeline Returns: The Timeline feature should come back, including cross-device history. Classic Alt+Tab: The Windows 10 Alt+Tab window switcher experience should be restored. Supercharged Snap Assist: Enhanced Snap Layouts supporting up to 8 segments for large screens, with specific, intelligent layouts for ultrawide (21:9, 32:9) monitors. 5. Application & Ecosystem Evolution App Updates: New versions of Mail, Calendar, and People. The new Outlook app should fully support popular third-party email services like QQ, 163, and 126. A New Cortana: Multilingual support with the return of consumer skills (music control, smart home, third-party skills). It could be offered in two visual forms and power the 'Cortana Suggestions' widget. Screenshot Tool Upgrade: Should support full-screen recording. Media Player: The return of an appearance selector and support for live tiles. Microsoft Store Revamp: UWP Return: High-quality UWP and classic Metro apps should return to the store, with PWAs transitioning to UWP. Gaming Expansion: Addition of dedicated PlayStation and Nintendo Switch apps, including a Nintendo game section. 6. Visual & Nostalgic Enhancements Refined Aesthetics: Improved window transparency with a new glass effect, rounded rectangle system avatars, and a new top bar (weather, system tray, time). Dynamic wallpaper effects would be a welcome addition. Keep the Win11 Sound: The Windows 11 startup sound is great and should be retained. The "Bold Strategy" – Legacy Feature Return: To satisfy power users and nostalgia, consider the large-scale return of beloved features like MSN apps, Windows 7 Desktop Gadgets, Windows Media Center, Groove Music, HomeGroup, a significantly enhanced Tablet Mode, and Windows Ink Workspace. 7. Hardware, Compatibility & Core System Broad Controller Support: Native compatibility with DualShock 4/5, Joy-Con, and others. Android Subsystem (WSA) Return: WSA should return with a focus on fixing previous pain points, especially full-screen landscape app support. Separated Notification Center: The Notification Center and Calendar quick actions should be separated for a cleaner interface. "Next-Gen PC" Promise: Windows 12 should deliver on larger storage, longer battery life, more power, and enhanced security/stability. Enhanced Backup & Transfer: Windows Backup should expand to more regions and add support for backing up personal files and apps to external drives, including migration from old PCs or to new hard drives. 8. Core Versioning & Hardware Requirements A Fresh Start: Version 26H1, with an internal OS version reset to 12.0.0.0. Tiered Editions: Windows 12e (for education, 2GB RAM), Windows 12 (mainstream, 4GB RAM, removing strict TPM restrictions), and Windows 12 Ultra (flagship, 8GB RAM, unlocking all AI and performance features). Extensive Free Upgrade Path: A critical strategy, offering free upgrades from Windows 11 (including SE), Windows 10 (including S), Windows 8/8.1 (including RT), and Windows 7. Doubled Support Lifecycle: Home/Pro/Workstation: 24 months → 48 months. Enterprise/Education/IoT: 36 months → 72 months. In summary, we envision a Windows 12 that isn't afraid to learn from its rich history while pushing forward with modern innovation. It should be a system that respects user choice, empowers productivity, and welcomes everyone from legacy users to those with the latest hardware. If you like this vision and want to support it, you can upvote it here: https://aka.ms/AAylqhw Thank you for considering this feedback. Sincerely, A Passionate Windows User
