Windows 10 Preview Downloads and Information

Microsoft has launched its Windows Insider Program a moment ago which lets you test new Windows versions before they are released, and in today's case a preview version of Windows 10.

It is interesting to note that it seems possible to download the Windows 10 Preview without signing up for the program.  In fact, if you sign up for it and visit the download page afterwards, you can only download a 4 Megabyte executable file instead of ISO images only at first.

If you scroll down however and click on the get the ISO files link you will be able to download ISO images of Windows 10 as well.

ISO images are provided for different languages and as 32-bit or 64-bit versions.

If you want to join the Windows Insider Program on the other hand you can do so on this page. Note that you need a Microsoft Account for that.

Here are the direct links that you can use to download the files right away

• English 32-bit - Hash: 73AC23AD89489855F33CA224F196327740057E2E
• English 64-bit - Hash: EB75A3D3C0F621F175B75DC65DB036D0E00EAC43
• English 32-bit UK - Hash: 17C6CD7224D13DB61B93A4A9D38202E3A0019378
• English 64-bit UK - Hash: BFF496678A09255738BFBFA14903295D55478C33
• Chinese Simplified 32-bit - Hash: 3EE3A2033BE666BA55AFED3FCF6BB52A7C15C7CC
• Chinese Simplified 64-bit - Hash: 135E3193571C5AF9FBF36D24D07B2BE7EE49B2E8
• Portuguese (Brazil) 32-bit - Hash: 611FE8F94906EFE75F64D197913344AC040DF644
• Portuguese (Brazil) 64-bit - Hash: 3DA91BB9EA7316F670C0A132D940FC1D58BAB296

Product Key for all versions: NKJFK-GPHP7-G8C3J-P6JXR-HQRJR

If you prefer to get the update file instead click here.

Note that only four languages seem to be supported right now. Languages such as German, French or Japanese which are usually included in these previews are not provided right now. The update program will fail if the system you run the update on uses an unsupported language.

The update executable can be run on Windows 7 SP1 or higher.

If you update systems with different languages you will only be able to keep personal files but not apps or Windows settings. In other words, installed programs, apps or customizations won't be migrated to the new version of Windows. Note also that any language pack that you may have installed will be removed during that process.

System Requirements

• Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster

• RAM: 1 gigabyte (GB) (32-bit) or 2 GB (64-bit)

• Free hard disk space: 16 GB

• Graphics card: Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM driver

• A Microsoft account and Internet access

Microsoft notes that some processors and accounts are not supported by the Technical Preview but the only information  apart from that is that a "small number of older, 64-bit CPUs" might be blocked.

Additionally, users won't be able to play DVDs using Windows Media Player and Windows Media Center if installed will be removed as well.

The preview won't work on Windows RT devices or Windows Phone.

The technical preview expires on April 15, 2015.