Windows 8 build 7814

Windows 8 build 7814 is a build of Windows 8, which was uploaded on 30 September 2021. Prior to being shared, a screenshot was included with the original upload of build 7746 on 3 May 2020.

Due to its earliness, many areas still say "Windows 7" and the kernel version is still 6.1 (much like builds that predate 7875).

Installation
This is the first build to contain a new setup assistant. It is stored on the root of the installation media as  alongside with the older client. Like its predecessor, it requests a product key and installation type, but does not cover the entire desktop with a wallpaper. The modern setup assistant would eventually replace the legacy client in later builds; however, the aforementioned legacy client can still be accessed by booting off of the installation media or launching the  executable in the   folder.

After the first reboot when upgrading to this build using the new setup assistant, the system will boot into the next stage with the text.

Out-of-box experience
The OOBE in this build, while visually similar to Windows 7, has several elements moved around. The first page now only asks for computer name, after which the network location setting appears, having been moved from the last position before the "finalizing your settings" screen. The user account setup then appears, where user account naming part has been moved there, and the HomeGroup setting page no longer appears if the network location is set to Home. The rest of the OOBE continues the same way as Windows 7.

New features and changes

 * The confidential notice is no longer on the wallpaper and instead, a watermark is used, so it is able to be present on all other wallpapers. This change also made the asterisk on the wallpaper from builds 7777 and 7779 obsolete.
 * The build tag watermark size was changed to be the same size with the Windows Operating System name.
 * The "Up" button has been re-added to Windows Explorer.
 * The Windows Store and its associated application files were renamed to "MSHelp".
 * Internet Explorer 9 now uses its final icon.
 * Certificates and digital signatures that recognize SHA-256 have been added.
 * UASP drivers are now included.
 * Windows Classic can no longer be enabled.
 * System crashes now support being displayed at higher resolutions. The system must crash during boot in order for the higher resolution crash screen to appear.
 * In addition,  now displays at higher resolutions as well.

Control Panel

 * System Reset has been added, which can be accessed from the Recovery applet.
 * The Language Profile applet has been added.
 * The Getting Started application has been removed.

Aero
The title bar text is now centered on maximized windows, even if DWM is disabled.

Aero Lite
This is the earliest available client build to feature the Aero Lite visual style, which is almost identical to the Windows Aero visual style at this point in development.

Disk Cleanup
This build introduces a redesigned version of Disk Cleanup. However, it is hidden by default.

Start screen
The Start screen in this build is rather primitive, having only one view featuring every installed application with a tile. It also includes a button to bring up an early search pane. A very early and non-functional snap UI is seen when the user exits from the Start screen.

Charms bar
A primitive Charms bar has been implemented and is accessible by pressing ⊞ Win on the keyboard, but it is non-functional.

Windows Explorer
A partial implementation of the Ribbon interface is present in Windows Explorer, albeit with placeholder icon resources. Additionally, new folder icons have been introduced.

Lock screen
The lock screen can now be personalized. You can choose to sync your current wallpaper to the lock screen from the wallpaper chooser page in Control Panel.

PDF Reader
There is a preliminary version of the Immersive Reader included, accessible by running  with any PDF file as an argument (or without any argument to open a blank page).

Modern Windows Task Manager
A preliminary version of the Modern Task Manager is included as well. It is accessible by running.

Webcam Capture Application
An early version of the webcam capture application is included as well, accessible by running.

Portable Workspace Creator
The Portable Workspace Creator is included as well.

Auto Colorization
To enable auto-colorization for the Aero theme:


 * 1) Create a copy from.
 * 2) Add   to the end of the   section.
 * 3) Save and apply the theme.

Applications Folder
The Application Explorer shell location can be accessed by creating a folder with the name ending with  and opening it. This is where the Start screen app list is stored, even up to Windows 8.1 and in the Start menu All apps list in Windows 11.

Timebomb
This build contains a non-functional timebomb and as a result can be installed on the current date.

Installation

 * The background seen in the Windows Preinstallation Environment is absent in this build.
 * If you use the upgrade setup, the post-installation screen will have no progress bar.

DWM and Aero

 * The Windows Basic and the High Contrast themes do not properly render due to the enforcement of the DWM Aero theme.
 * The Aero functionalities do not work on modern versions of VMware Workstation and above due to changes that are incompatible with the graphics stack. Using either VirtualBox or VMware with the 9.x hardware compatibility or older and using 9.x drivers or older is recommended.
 * This build appears to have a slightly broken Windows Aero theme, with only the top portion of the window frame using the blur effect, leaving the side borders transparent.

Internet Explorer
Like earlier builds, the Internet Explorer engine is unstable and may crash when accessing HTML5 websites.

Help and Support Center
Help and Support Center displays a placeholder page which states that a rework of the application is underway, instead redirecting the user to online help hosted on the official Windows website whilst advising Microsoft employees to not file bugs about the current state of the application.