Hello Jack,
I will be more than happy to participate but for the time being all I want to see is the schematic connection between the Atmega Chip (Microcontroller) and the Xilinx Spartan 6.
Now regarding the problem with Installing Xilinx Software on Windows 8 describe in the link below
Installation of ISE crashing video
gadgetfactory.net/learn/2013/09/ … -included/
Please see the link below that reply to the problem.
Xilinx Os support
xilinx.com/support/answers/18419.html
If you have some issue again about Xilinx FPGA, Please feel free to drop me an email.
Kind Regards,
Christian