October 24, 2012

Windows 8 and Autodesk Products

Each time a new operating system arrives, customers ask us at Ideate about compatibility. As some of you know, Microsoft is releasing Microsoft Windows 8 on October 26, 2012.

The new operating system has many changes, a new user interface, and a lot of features that will be geared toward customers using tablets. Also, new computers purchased will be able to be pre-loaded with Windows 8.

QUESTION: Will my Autodesk products be able to run on Windows 8?

ANSWER: An unqualified kinda/sorta! Officially, as of October 22, 2012, Autodesk does not support Windows 8 Operating System. What does that mean?

  • It does not mean that you cannot load, or run certain Autodesk products. 
  • It means that any technical support questions, whether to Autodesk or Ideate, could not be answered due to an unsupported operating system.
Ideate has done some testing on the consumer preview beta of Windows 8 and found that Revit 2013 would load (after SP2 was installed), however, Navisworks Manage 2013 would only load as far as the splash screen – so definitely user beware. Ideate’s recommendation, for now, is to hold off any production implementation of Windows 8 and Autodesk products.

Stay tuned to this blog and Twitter for further late-breaking news.



David Haynes, NCARB, PMP, LEED AP
Ideate Director of Consulting

David is a Registered Architect, Project Management Certified Professional, who previously had his own architectural practice and was President of a commercial design-build construction company for 15 years. A graduate of University of Arizona, he has worked as an Architect, contractor, developer and as a national construction manager for a national retailer. David currently provides business process analysis, virtualization and change management solutions for AEC clients across the United States involved in the design and building industry. Follow David on Twitter: @dhaynestech

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