Interesting. It doesn't look like this option would allow you to
repartition or format your hard drive. I'm assuming you'd still need the
media to partition or format the hard drive. I wonder how clean an empty
install of Windows 8 would be then? Looks good for those who want to do
an upgrade as opposed to a clean install!

On 28/11/11 13:05, Harry Brown wrote:
> Hi all,
> My thanks to Chris Hallsworth, from the blind windows 8 email list for this!
> Harry
> ----- Original Message -----
> *From:* chris hallsworth <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
> *To:* [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
> *Sent:* Monday, November 28, 2011 11:35 AM
> *Subject:* [blindwindows8] Microsoft to Deliver Windows 8 Upgrades Online
> 
>  
> 
> This I got from another list. The source is unknown.
> 
> Microsoft to Deliver Windows 8 Upgrades OnlineMicrosoft wants to make
> upgrading to Windows 8 from older Windows versions easier and faster
> through online delivery, no product key entry for at least one
> installation method and a process that involves 82 percent fewer screen
> clicks.
> 
> "Our aim in improving setup is to reduce the time from start to finish,"
> Microsoft's Windows chief, Steven Sinofsky, said in a recent post on the
> Building Windows 8 blog.
> 
> Windows installations have always been a pain, and even when they're
> easy the process can still take as long as four hours as my colleague
> Jeff Bertolucci mentioned during the Windows 7 launch. Microsoft hopes
> to improve its upgrade process to convince the more than 450 million
> Windows 7 PCs capable of running Windows 8 to upgrade. Not to mention
> the large number of users with modern PCs running Vista and XP that may
> be finally willing to try a new Microsoft OS.
> Digital delivery
> 
> To make it easier to get started, Microsoft will favor selling downloads
> of Windows 8 instead of having users purchase a physical disc at a local
> retailer. This is similar to what Apple did with the release of OS X
> Lion. If online downloads aren't your thing, you can still purchase a
> Windows 8 DVD, but Microsoft is hoping more people will opt for the
> download option. Microsoft did not mention whether there would be a
> pricing difference between online downloads and physical DVD purchases
> of Windows 8.
> 
> Microsoft to Deliver Windows 8 Upgrades OnlineIf you opt for online
> delivery, you will still be able to create a bootable thumb drive or DVD
> to install your new version of Windows. This might be your preference if
> you plan on backing up your files on another hard drive and then wiping
> your system to do a clean install of Windows 8.
> No annoying product keys
> 
> If you want to take the easier way out, you can start the upgrade wizard
> online and then complete the move to Windows 8 on your desktop.
> Microsoft claims this process will be "one continuous integrated
> experience from beginning to end." Even better, the easy install option
> doesn't involve entering an annoying 25-digit product key to activate
> your copy of Windows. Microsoft says it will embed the product key into
> the disk image you download during the setup process.
> 
> Microsoft to Deliver Windows 8 Upgrades Online
> 
> Before you get to that point, however, the first thing Microsoft does if
> you start your installation online is to scan your PC to determine its
> compatibility with Windows 8. You can then read a simplified or detailed
> report on whether there are any upgrade problems with the apps and
> peripheral devices on your system. The compatibility scan also allows
> Microsoft to automatically determine which language to deliver the new
> OS in and whether you can support a 32- or 64-bit version.
> 
> After that, Windows 8 starts downloading to your PC to complete the
> installation process. Once it's ready to go, you can choose to retain
> your complete Windows profile including your account settings, personal
> files and apps, or you can choose to keep just your personal files. You
> could also choose to keep nothing at all and start with an empty version
> of Windows 8.
> 
> In general, Windows 7 users will be able to retain their apps, Windows
> settings, user accounts and files when upgrading to Windows 8 using the
> simplest upgrade wizard. Vista users will be able to keep their
> settings, user accounts and files, while XP users will only be able to
> retain their user accounts and files.
> 
> Windows 7 upgrades required four different installation wizards
> including the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor and Windows Easy Transfer and up
> to 60 screen clicks to complete. Microsoft says it has dramatically
> reduced the number of maximum screen clicks during a Windows 8 upgrade
> to 11. But whether cutting back on screen clicks will actually result in
> a faster and streamlined upgrade process remains to be seen.
> -- 
> 
> Chris Hallsworth
> Sent from Thunderbird
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