[Reimar]

I just installed Windows 8 Professional 32bit RTM on an 12 year old computer as a Fun-Test!

That old computer I use for to scan and test problematic drives etc and also scan them for Virus etc., so that machine still works in nearly daily use. I was wondering while receiving the Windows 8 RTM today, what that machine will do and if it works, how it would be perform. With an Single Core Intel P4 3.06MHz CPU, 2GB Ram, 1 Hdd 13 GB IDE (same old as that machine!!), 250GB Sata2 HDD, build in Graphic with 128 MB, that machine work very well with Windows 200 and event OK with XP. Vista was a problem to get to run and Windows 7 was working like XP from performance and speed.
First I was thinking there will be a problem because the Installation was need nearly 1.5h while Windows 7 was run after 35min!! In Windows 7 I had to install most driver manually while in Windows 8 RTM just the Sound driver I need to download what W8 was doing automatically after pointing to search on the Internet and also installed the sound automatic. No any red or yellow sign in Device Manager!! Evrything is just working and the performance is even better than on Windows 2000 which is the default OS on that machine.

Overall the first short look proves what Microsoft is telling about Windows 8, excellent performance, all works without problem and even fast on that very old machine.

Tomorrow I may install on an AMD 6Core with 890 Chipset, Sata III and USB 3 and check how it will work on that machine.

And now is nearly bedtime, 22:40 in Thailand.

[dryster]

I knew it was a mistake to sell my Dell 286...

[Reimar]

I really hadn't expected that Windows 8 will work that well on that Dinosaur Computer!! So I'm really surprised!

[pawn3d]

"Single Core Intel P4 3.06MHz CPU, 2GB Ram, 1 Hdd 13 GB " LMAO!

[ckirkp79]

I have Windows 8 running on an old computer as well...it's a custom built pc, with an AMD Sempron 3600 2.0ghz (i think) processor, 1.5 GB ram, 80gb hard drive. I would have to say this beast is over 7 years old. Funny thing is I have Windows 8 64bit running on it. I know requirements for 64bit is 4gb of memory but I lucked out and got the 64bit since the processor is 64bit as well. It don't run too bad-it's mainly used as a media server...surfing the web on it isn't fun to do but it streams my movies and music pretty much flawlessly.

Can't wait to see the final version of Windows 8...I'm not really a Microsoft fan, but when they announced it would only be 40 bucks to upgrade that is better than paying 200 like we did for Vista

[PieterNel]

WOW can't wait to try w8 as well!

[Reimar]

Just download the Windows 8 Enterprise Evaluation from Microsoft. Runs for 90 days and is fully activated within installation. May youm could even rearm 1 time which would say the use will be up to 180 days in total. That is anyway time enough for really deep testing of Windows 8 and than you could easy change to an fully own after October 26. which will cost just 40 buck as upgrade.

[jerrymeyer58]

I still have windows 2 & 3 on floppies and a working 486/33 dell laptop

[dryster]

As I had bought a Dell win7 laptop I "qualified" for the $15 win8 install, so it made sense to try it, they also threw in media centre as well for free. I installed the win8 (not on the laptop) and ran in for a month or so on a Dell Optiplex core 2 duo.

Overall I would say I am rather unimpressed with win8 and give it a high meh! factor. It is perhaps one of the few operating systems that I have known that can actually break itself without any interactions with the user.

So free, or $15, my rating is that it is overpriced!