Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant

Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant is a small and portable application that lets you know if your system is compatible with the Windows 8 release, and helps you figure out which edition is suitable for you, in accordance with your software preferences.

Since installation is not a prerequisite, you can drop the EXE file anywhere on the hard drive and run it. It is also possible to move Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant to a USB flash drive or similar storage unit, in order to run it on any computer and test its capabilities.

It is important to mention that Windows Registry does not get entry updates, and files are not left behind on the hard disk after removing the program.

The interface of the application is modern and simple to use, taking a wizard approach. At initialization, it automatically scans the computer for all installed devices; this task may take a while to finish, depending on the complexity of your hard drive.

Results shows the total number of apps and devices which are compatible with Windows 8, along with the items that require reviewing. The compatibility details can be printed or saved to file for further scrutiny.

The software tool also helps you choose a Windows 8 edition (standard or professional), depending on what configuration best works for you. You can keep Windows settings, apps and personal files, only personal files, or nothing. The differences between the editions can be compared in the default web browser, where the program brings up the Microsoft corresponding webpage.

Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant is light on the system resources and works smoothly. No errors have been shown in our tests, and the utility did not hang or crash. Although it is not an indispensable tool, Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant can help users get a better idea on what features they are looking for, when it comes to Windows 8.