Both of the download pages for for Desktop and for Windows 8 provide the same web installer called: \"Visual Studio Express 2012 for Windows Desktop\". I installed it and he
You have most likely downloaded wrong Visual Studio Express version, maybe there is broken link on that page.
If you want to develop Metro style apps for Windows 8, download the proper Visual Studio Express here:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/apps/hh852659