Solved Do not install update version of Windows 8 on a clean hard drive

Abe77957

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Location
El Paso, Texas
***I KNOW ITS OBVIOUS BUT I SPENT ALL MY MORNING LOOKING THROUGH FORUMS AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE MISLEADING TO MAKE YOU BELIEVE THAT IT CAN BE DONE*** For all of you wondering if you can get the 14.99 update and download the ISO and burn it on a DVD or USB and then install it on a different computer or on a fresh hard drive, BEWARE, because the updated version REQUIRES you to have a legit copy of Windows 7, on your hard drive in order to install the Windows 8 update, if you don't there is no work around, Windows 8 will install but will not activate unless you enter a valid retail key, It will state that the key that you have is a upgrade key and that a valid copy of windows must be on your hard drive before installing Windows 8. HAPPY UPGRADING!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo Z480
    CPU
    i3-3110m
    Motherboard
    Lenovo
    Memory
    4GB DDR3 1600
    Graphics Card(s)
    Integrated Graphics
There is a registry key hack that you can use to activate it.

With that said, don't cheat the system...it's you don't qualify for the 14.99 upgrade, don't buy it.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self-Built in July 2009
    CPU
    Intel Q9550 2.83Ghz OC'd to 3.40Ghz
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R rev. 1.1, F12 BIOS
    Memory
    8GB G.Skill PI DDR2-800, 4-4-4-12 timings
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA 1280MB Nvidia GeForce GTX570
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC899A 8 channel onboard audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    23" Acer x233H
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Intel X25-M 80GB Gen 2 SSD
    Western Digital 1TB Caviar Black, 32MB cache. WD1001FALS
    PSU
    Corsair 620HX modular
    Case
    Antec P182
    Cooling
    stock
    Keyboard
    ABS M1 Mechanical
    Mouse
    Logitech G9 Laser Mouse
    Internet Speed
    15/2 cable modem
    Other Info
    Windows and Linux enthusiast. Logitech G35 Headset.
I previously had the OEM Windows 7 Home basic OS installed and Lenovo has a very neat OneKey software that in case you need to recover you can just by pressing a physical button on the machine recover your OS without the need to use any external media, of course by installing windows 8 that button would be worthless and I decided to download the software and set it up to save a backup copy of Win8 problem is I wiped my full HDD in the process and thus deleted the OEM win7 so it took me all day to get a working copy of Win 7 home basic (I guess no one bothers pirating Win7 Home basic mostly just premium and ultimate) and activated my original serial key in order to legitimate activate Windows 8.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo Z480
    CPU
    i3-3110m
    Motherboard
    Lenovo
    Memory
    4GB DDR3 1600
    Graphics Card(s)
    Integrated Graphics
information   Information
We always assume you have made your Recovery Disks using the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Media Creator app the first day you had your new PC.
& made the Startup Repair CD.
startup repair disc-create



Did you make the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Disks?

You can Order Lenovo Recovery Disks from here:

Lenovo Support - Home (US)


Lenovo Recovery
Lenovo Support - Home (US)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4
Have you tried to re-install Win8 over top of the install you have now???

Try to install again and this time select upgrade install and let's see what happens.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win8.1 Pro 64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    My Build
    CPU
    i5 4670K
    Motherboard
    ASUS z87-Pro
    Memory
    G-Skill 1600 @10-10-10-27
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASIS GTX 660 Ti
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell 24 inch
    Hard Drives
    250GB 850 EVO, 2250GB 840 EVO, 2TB WD spinner
    PSU
    Corsair AX-1200
    Case
    TT Urban S31 (quiet case)
    Cooling
    Corsair H100
    Keyboard
    Logitech G15
    Mouse
    Logitech M500
    Internet Speed
    Cable
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