How to configure Windows 8 Dev Environment w Hyper-V Visual Studio 11

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Configuring a Windows 8 Dev Environment with Hyper-V and Visual Studio 11

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Added by Spike Xavier September 19, 2011

Here is how I set up my Dev environment for Windows 8 using Hyper-V. I am running Server 2008 R2 fully patched with the Hyper-V Role.

I went to Windows Developer Preview Downloads to download the ISO.

Make sure to use the Windows Developer Preview with developer tools English, 64-bit (x64)

Download the ISO

Now I’ll create a new Virtual Machine in Hyper-V

This starts the wizard, on the first screen I just click next.

On the next window I give my virtual machine a name. I’m calling this one w8-DevTools

I’m going to assign this VM 2046MB of memory.

I’m choosing a network i have set up in my virtual environment so of course others will be different here.

After selecting the virutal network i want to use, I click Next.

This takes me to Create a virtual hard disk which I leave as is. (The path is blurred out in this image.)

Here’s where I browse to my dowloaded ISO after selecting the Install an operating system from a boot CD/DVD-Rom radio button.

I always take a look at the Completing the New Virtual Machine Wizard just to make sure everything looks right, then if it does I click Finish.

With the new w8-DevTools Virtual Machine highlighted in Hyper-V Manager I click on the Start button and then Connect.

The machine boots up and soon I am presented with the Install Windows wizard. I’ll keep the defaults here and click Next.

I click Install now!

This will cause the Setup is Starting Screen to appear.

Setup is Starting.

Soon the liscence terms screen appears.

I accept! and click Next.

Notice the cool UI at the bottom.

I’ll choose Custom (advanced) because this is a brand new virtual machine.

I’ll choose the default here on the Install Windows screen, then click Next.

Installing Windows now…I wait until all the steps are completed. It’s a good time for a break!

When it’s done I am taken to the Liscence terms page for the Dev stuff. How awesome is the first line!

I accept and click the Accept button.

Personalize the install. A screen will flash quickly indicating that you will be personalizing the settings and then I ended up here. I called this machine: win8-dev-vs and clicked next.

I’m choosing Use express settings.

if you don’t want to use a windows live id you can click the link below. I’m using mine. Then I clicked Next.

Next is the enter password screen that I filled out and hit next.

This caused me to log on and then it prepared the PC.

The Preparing your PC screen lasts for a few moments then it sends you to

I got a blank green screen when it was all over. I have found in Windows 8, when in doubt type something. As soon as I typed something it lit up to this.

When I click on the screen a scroll bar appears at the bottom. I use that to scroll to the right until I see Visual Studio 11 Express!!!! and I click that.

When I click this it takes me to a traditional looking Windows 7 like interface. The Start menu is NOT the same though, and starts to install Visual Studio 11 Express.

When it’s done you’ll be asked to install a develper license.

Developer license for Windows Developer Preview.

User Account Control comes up and I click Yes.

Success the Visual Studio 11 Express for Windows Developer Preview Start Page! That’s it I’m ready to start coding!

It’s ready to go. In this blog entry I went step by step in setting up a virtual development machine using Hyper-V, Windows-8, and Visual Studio 11! Enjoy. Soon to come step by step of some applications!