Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant

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What Does Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant Mean?

Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant is a software utility provided by Microsoft Corporation that scans and evaluates a computer for compatibility with the Windows 8 operating system.

Windows 8 upgrade assistant enables a user to check a computer’s hardware capability and software support for the Windows 8 operating system and suggest the necessary course of action to obtain it.

Techopedia Explains Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant

Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant is designed to be installed and used on Windows 7, Vista, XP and the pre-release version of Windows 8. It operates in several phases:

  • After being installed it will first check the system for hardware resources, connected peripheral devices and software applications that can be used with Windows 8.
  • If an abnormality or incompatibility is detected, Upgrade Assistant will suggest how it can be resolved by generating a compatibility report.
  • The Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant will also check the computer to support features and services that are native to and are only available in Windows 8, such as touch-enabled browsing, snap and secure boot.
  • Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant also provides the option to migrate applications, settings and files; however, that varies depending on the previous OS.
  • Finally, Upgrade Assistant will suggest the best Windows 8 version based on the previous evaluations and the options to buy, download and install Windows 8.

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Margaret Rouse
Technology Expert
Margaret Rouse
Technology Expert

Margaret is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical business audience. Over the past twenty years, her IT definitions have been published by Que in an encyclopedia of technology terms and cited in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine, and Discovery Magazine. She joined Techopedia in 2011. Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages.