Installing Dynamics AX Client on Windows 8

Previously, I blogged on Installing Windows 8 on Virtual Machine over here http://daxdilip.blogspot.com/2011/09/installing-windows-8-developer-preview.html and as promised in my last post, I have come up with this post on installing Dynamics AX on Windows 8.

I was able to install successfully Dynamics AX 4.0 and 2009 Client (The installation experience is the same as before).

Note, I have both the AOS's running on my local host.

Below are couple of screenshots of Dynamics AX Client on Windows 8:

a. Shortcut of Dynamics AX on Metro Style Desktop

b. Dynamics AX Client on Win 8

Installation of Dynamics AX 2012 on Windows 8

You might be wondering, why did I install pervious versions of AX and why not AX 2012? :-), Well, I tried but the Pre-Requisite Validation software fails on Windows 8 :-(

By seeing the log below, it looks like there's a compatibility issue either with Windows Installer or the .Net framework on which the Validation software was built. Will dig in later when I get some time.

Message: Version string portion was too short or too long.


FullText: System.ArgumentException: Version string portion was too short or too long.
  at System.Version..ctor(String version)
  at Microsoft.Dynamics.Setup.PrereqAssembly.Utilities.ParseVersionString(String vstring)
  at Microsoft.Dynamics.Setup.PrereqAssembly.PreReqCheckItemVersion.ValidateVersion(String versionString)
  at Microsoft.Dynamics.Setup.PrereqAssembly.WindowsInstallerVersionCheck.Execute()
  at Microsoft.Dynamics.Setup.PrereqAssembly.Prerequisite.Execute()
  at Microsoft.Dynamics.Setup.PrereqAssembly.PreReqCollection.PerformAsyncPrereqChecks(Object sender, DoWorkEventArgs e)
  at System.ComponentModel.BackgroundWorker.WorkerThreadStart(Object argument)


 ==== Setup encountered an unhandled exception and could not be completed. For details see the previous messages in the log. ===

Installing Windows 8 Developer Preview on VirtualBox

Installation of Windows 8

I tried installing Windows 8 on my Virtual Machine last night. I didn't want to install it directly on my laptop.

Initially tried VMPlayer and Microsoft Virtual PC, but for some reason both gave me some errors, so after reading some forums on world wide web, tried virtualbox.

A. In my previous post, I posted the link for Downloading Windows 8 bits  - http://daxdilip.blogspot.com/2011/09/download-windows-8-bits.html

B. Next step was to download VirtualBox 4.1.2 fom this link http://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads

C. As Virtualbox was something new to me, I found this blog link quite helpful as it shows step by step instructions to setup Windows 8 - http://www.addictivetips.com/windows-tips/how-to-install-windows-8-on-virtualbox/

It took me like 20 mins to setup Windows 8. And, I'm quite impressed by the boot time, It boots up within 80 seconds. Way to Go!

And, here are some screenshots from my new Win 8 VM.. Rest later...Watch out this space as I will try installing Dynamics on Win 8 and post my experiences here..Till then Njoi :-)

Download Windows 8 Bits

Below is the link to download Developer bits for Windows 8 (both 32 and 64 bit)

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/apps/br229516


Njoi :)

Everything You Need to Know about Windows 8 in 8 minutes

This is a cool youtube video about the new features in Windows 8. Note that the audio is not so great.

Some of the features shown in this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9AdL1aBp8w


1. Metro Style UI
2. Application Settings Shared with System Settings
3. Application Charms
4. Search (bing)
5. Windows Store
6. New Task Manager (Graphical Progress of Copy)
7. Control Panel