How do I buy & download non-upgrade Win 8 from Microsoft?

ecbritz

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I have bought a notebook in China, with Windows 8 PRC pre-installed. Everything in Windows is written in Chinese, which I can't read. The English language pack for Win 8 does not work effectively with Windows 8 PRC. And if you try to upgrade, using the Win 8 Upgrade Assistant, you automatically download another Chinese version of Win 8.

I need to buy and download an English version of Win 8 from Microsoft, and then overwrite Windows 8 PRC pre-installed completely. I do not want to upgrade. I want to reformat the C drive and reinstall an English version of Win 8 from scratch. This is the only way I can get rid of Windows 8 PRC pre-installed forever, and have Win 8 in English.

I need to be directed to the exact place on the web where I can buy and download an English version of Win 8 from Microsoft. Please do not simply send me to the Windows Store, where I cannot find my way. I need to know exactly where I can buy and download, from Microsoft, an English version of Win 8 that I can install on a freshly reformatted disk.

Thanks in advance!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus S200
    CPU
    Intel® Core™ i3 3217U
    Memory
    DDR3 1333 MHz SDRAM, OnBoard Memory 4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Integrated Intel® HD Graphics

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8 x64 Pro
    System Manufacturer/Model
    tw33k
    CPU
    Intel 3770K @ 4.7GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS Maximus V Formula
    Memory
    8gb (2x4GB) Crucial Ballistix
    Graphics Card(s)
    Sapphire 7950
    Sound Card
    On Board
    Monitor(s) Displays
    27" Acer B273HU
    Screen Resolution
    2048 x 1152
    Hard Drives
    Crucial M4 128GB
    WD Black 2TB
    Samsung F3 1TB
    WD 1TB USB 2.0
    WD 3TB USB 3.0
    PSU
    Corsair AX-750
    Case
    Corsair 800DW
    Cooling
    H100
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Wireless 5000
    Mouse
    Microsoft Wireless 5000
    Internet Speed
    5mb/s
Thanks but the appreciated advice does not get me to the place where I can buy and download a custom English version of Win 8. When I click on the link you gave me, I first get a range of continents and countries. If I click on my own country, located in Africa, I have to buy a PC with Windows 7 from Microsoft before I can get an upgrade to Win 8. No custom version offered. If I click on China where I am temporarily posted, only the Chinese version of Win 8 is on offer. A visit to the Windows Shop site is equally impossible and maddening. What I need is a link, (http://www........) where I can buy and download a custom English version of Win without any such hassles. I would really be very happy if such a link could be supplied to me!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus S200
    CPU
    Intel® Core™ i3 3217U
    Memory
    DDR3 1333 MHz SDRAM, OnBoard Memory 4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Integrated Intel® HD Graphics
The only downloadable version of Windows 8 that I've seen so far is the introductory special on the upgrade version, and it's available only through the Upgrade Assistant. Which helps you not at all. I suppose that the restrictions of the Upgrade Assistant wouldn't apply to copies obtained through MSDN, but that's probably not cost effective for a single copy.

(Incidentally: the Microsoft Store in the local mall only has the retail WIn8 Pro Upgrade on its shelves. No full version yet. It's available online, but not for download, as far as I know.)

Good luck. I think you'll need it.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Window 8 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    homebuilt
    CPU
    I7-3930k
    Motherboard
    Asus P9X79 Pro
    Memory
    16 GB Gskill DDR3-2133
    Graphics Card(s)
    eVGA GTX 680
    Sound Card
    Soundblaster Zx
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Asus PA246Q
    Screen Resolution
    1920X1200
    Hard Drives
    Corsair Force GT 120GB
    WD Cavair Black 1.5TB
    PSU
    PC Power & cooling Silencer 750
    Case
    Silverstone FT02B-W
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-D14 w/ PWM fans
    Keyboard
    cheap Logitech USB wired
    Mouse
    old 5 button Microsoft USB optical
    Internet Speed
    6Mb cable
You said you just bought a laptop so enter it's details and download an English copy of Windows 8 Pro. It's really not hard
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8 x64 Pro
    System Manufacturer/Model
    tw33k
    CPU
    Intel 3770K @ 4.7GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS Maximus V Formula
    Memory
    8gb (2x4GB) Crucial Ballistix
    Graphics Card(s)
    Sapphire 7950
    Sound Card
    On Board
    Monitor(s) Displays
    27" Acer B273HU
    Screen Resolution
    2048 x 1152
    Hard Drives
    Crucial M4 128GB
    WD Black 2TB
    Samsung F3 1TB
    WD 1TB USB 2.0
    WD 3TB USB 3.0
    PSU
    Corsair AX-750
    Case
    Corsair 800DW
    Cooling
    H100
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Wireless 5000
    Mouse
    Microsoft Wireless 5000
    Internet Speed
    5mb/s
I managed to phone Microsoft Support in America. Mr. tw33k, I'm afraid your advice is not correct. There is no full or custom version of Win 8 you can buy and download from Microsoft yet. They only have the upgrade version for sale at this point in time. And a Win 8 PRC installation cannot upgrade to an English installation. Microsoft Support told me there are two ways of deciding or changing the language. The first is when you install Windows. You then decide (or install) the core language, for instance English, which cannot be changed later, at least not by the user. The second is a language pack you can install. You can install other languages later. But its not really a satisfactory solution in the case of Win 8 PRC. They advised me to contact Microsoft China in Beijing so that they can try to do something by means of remote connection. Did you mark my thread as solved? The matter is not solved. I would appreciate the opportunity to mark the issue as solved when I have actually reached a solution.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus S200
    CPU
    Intel® Core™ i3 3217U
    Memory
    DDR3 1333 MHz SDRAM, OnBoard Memory 4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Integrated Intel® HD Graphics
Greetings:

I'm an American living in New York. I lived and worked overseas for 17 years on 4 continents, in some pretty rough, backward countries. Five Years in Vietnam. So I know the drill trying to find a Christmas tree in Africa or a Turkey for Thanksgiving. Or to watch pro football ! And to buy clothes and shoes !!!!!!! On some contracts I had diplomatic privileges that made it easy to order and bring in items. If you are military or State Department importing should be easy.

There are four companies here around me that have computer supplies on line: You would need to buy the disc and have it imported.

Costco *( A wholesale warehouse company that is International and - not sure - maybe not in China but several in Taiwan. I have seen BOTH versions of Windows 8 in their store here close to my home; the "clean install" complete AND the upgrade.

Oop's - Just remembered, you have to be a member to order, sorry.

Welcome to Costco Wholesale

Staples. Office Supplies, Printer Ink, Toner, Electronics, Computers, Printers & Office Furniture | Staples®

Best Buy. Best Buy: Making Technology Work for You

CompUSA. CompUSA.com - Computers, Laptops, Televisions, Software, and Electronics from the All-New CompUSA!

__________________________________________________________________________________________

I Googled some Windows 8 downloads and found this:

windows 8 downloads - Google Search
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP
You said you just bought a laptop so enter it's details and download an English copy of Windows 8 Pro. It's really not hard

I haven't the faintest idea what you're posting. Do you?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Window 8 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    homebuilt
    CPU
    I7-3930k
    Motherboard
    Asus P9X79 Pro
    Memory
    16 GB Gskill DDR3-2133
    Graphics Card(s)
    eVGA GTX 680
    Sound Card
    Soundblaster Zx
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Asus PA246Q
    Screen Resolution
    1920X1200
    Hard Drives
    Corsair Force GT 120GB
    WD Cavair Black 1.5TB
    PSU
    PC Power & cooling Silencer 750
    Case
    Silverstone FT02B-W
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-D14 w/ PWM fans
    Keyboard
    cheap Logitech USB wired
    Mouse
    old 5 button Microsoft USB optical
    Internet Speed
    6Mb cable
Would it be possible to download an english of windows 7 (but don't buy an activation key), then once that's installed use the Windows 8 upgrade advisor?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus Tansformer Book Flip TP500LN
    CPU
    Intel i5-4210U
    Memory
    8GB DDR3 SDRAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia Geforce GT 840M
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15" Touchscreen
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    1TB Hybrid
    Mouse
    Microsoft Wireless Mobile Mouse 4000
After speaking to Microsoft Support in the USA, I went to see the Chinese-American manager of a company specialized in software solutions in Shanghai. He told me there is no good solution to my problem available at this time. Microsoft China will not be able to change the language (i.e. Chinese) of the Windows 8 PRC pre-installed on my new computer. Microsoft Support in America did not give me correct advice on that. The English language pack won't work to my satisfaction. I can't buy and download a full version of Windows 8 from Microsoft at this time -- perhaps it might become available later. The idea of some forum members that one can upgrade Win 8 PRC to Windows 8 Pro in English is unfortunately invalid. No such luck. If a boxed (optical disk) version of the full Win 8 is indeed for sale at Staples or elsewhere in America, it will be an uphill and expensive struggle to ship it to Shanghai because it will have to be sent by courier -- normal airmail does not arrive here or arrives after many months. The Staples online site in the USA does not really cater for customers in China. Staples also has branches in Shanghai, but they are geared to the Chinese market, not to the individual oddball who needs Win 8 in English. Amazon has no Win 8 version on sale except the Upgrade version. This makes me think there is in fact no full Win 8 version for sale in any form or shape. Goodbye to the solution to fly to another country, where a boxed Win 8 in English (full version) is deemed to be available. The idea that I buy and install Windows 7 in English (for sale at about $200 for the OEM version in Shanghai), and then upgrade that for $39 to Win 8 in English, is the best idea that has been offered to me yet. Using the activation key would not prevent but rather enable the upgrade to Win 8, I think. But $239 dollars for an experiment that might not work, is quite scary. Apple/Mac computers in China can be set to English without a problem. I'm a Microsoft loyalist and this seems to be part of the Microsoft culture: the customer must learn to work under the bonnet, to survive frequent program crashes, to face regular re-installations of the O/S, and to start travelling the seven seas if he needs an English version of the latest edition of Windows on Chinese soil. I'm used to this rough computer life. The smooth predictability of Apple computers puts me off. I appreciate the contribution of the ex-diplomat wetibbe -- he understands my dilemma very well. In future, I simply won't buy a Windows-based computer in China, that was the lesson learnt. Travel to Hong Kong perhaps.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus S200
    CPU
    Intel® Core™ i3 3217U
    Memory
    DDR3 1333 MHz SDRAM, OnBoard Memory 4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Integrated Intel® HD Graphics
Oops, by accident I repeated the same message. Read the sad story above.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus S200
    CPU
    Intel® Core™ i3 3217U
    Memory
    DDR3 1333 MHz SDRAM, OnBoard Memory 4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Integrated Intel® HD Graphics
If you want, E-mail me. We can deal off line.


I'll buy the disc locally and ship to you. I'm not familiar with Chinese import regs so you may advise any glitches.

You can mail payment to me. I'll give you my mailing address, no bank transfers necessary.

Just specify what you want.

The Windows 8 pro update, *( from W7 or previous ) sells for US $66.99 *( Plus 8.38 NY sales tax ) $69.53 at Costco. There will be shipping regular USPS mail. No handling charge.

Here's the USPS web site. International Price Calculator

At first blush it looks like a large envelope fee US - China is US$38 for upto 20 pounds. The package, disc plus hard case and envelope, weighs about 4 - 5 ounces. But I think it will be $69.53 plus $38 = US$107.54.

The USPS site has more on customs and import that I will research in due time.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP
Thanks for the kind offer above. I have emailed you.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus S200
    CPU
    Intel® Core™ i3 3217U
    Memory
    DDR3 1333 MHz SDRAM, OnBoard Memory 4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Integrated Intel® HD Graphics
Hi ecbritz,

I am stuck with a brand new Dell with Windows 8 PRC.
Can you please tell us whether you managed to install a fresh Windows 8 English with a CD from the US?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
Hi there
try Hong Kong -- plenty of English stuff there and of course they know the Chinese market backwards.
You can still find cheap copies of W7 (legal too). -- I don't think accessing a Hong Kong supplier from mainland China is difficult -- at least it wasn't when I was in Shanghai recently. -- They will take USD, EUR, GBP or anything that "works as currency".

Once you've installed that - don't bother to activate -- you'll be able to get and download English International upgrade versions of W8.

Cheers
jimbo
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Linux Centos 7, W8.1, W7, W2K3 Server W10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1 X LG 40 inch TV
    Hard Drives
    SSD's * 3 (Samsung 840 series) 250 GB
    2 X 3 TB sata
    5 X 1 TB sata
    Internet Speed
    0.12 GB/s (120Mb/s)
Most versions of Win8 won't install without an activation key.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus Tansformer Book Flip TP500LN
    CPU
    Intel i5-4210U
    Memory
    8GB DDR3 SDRAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia Geforce GT 840M
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15" Touchscreen
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    1TB Hybrid
    Mouse
    Microsoft Wireless Mobile Mouse 4000
Hi all,

Is there a way to install a Windows 8 (normal version) on top of a Windows 8 PRC without loosing the existing applications?
I would like to keep all the Dell stock applications that came pre-installed.

Thanks.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
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