Install Windows 8 on dead Vista laptop

Wagster

New Member
Messages
2
Hi all,

My Vista running laptop recently died. It boots as far as the screen saying it didn't boot properly last time and suggesting I boot into Safe Mode etc. Whatever I chose it doesn't work. I can boot into Ubuntu via USB disc so I know the laptop is fine.

My laptop has a genuine Vista licence key but I don't have any install or recovery discs. Is there any way I can install Windows 8 using the upgrade licence while it is still cheap?

Thanks,

Wagster
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Vista
It would be good to know that you have a shot at running Win8 before embarking on installing Win8. Some stumbling blocks are mentioned in this MS quote:

"Physical Address Extension (PAE), NX processor bit (NX), and Streaming SIMD Extensions 2 (SSE2) refer to features of the processor. PAE enables 32-bit processors to access more than 4 GB of physical memory on capable versions of Windows and is a prerequisite for NX. NX allows the processor to help guard the PC from attacks by malicious software. SSE2 (a standard on processors for a long time) is an instruction set that is increasingly used by third-party apps and drivers. For Windows 8, for your malware defense features to work reliably we require that your processor support NX. To enhance the reliability of third-party apps and drivers running in Windows 8, SSE2 is also required. If your PC doesn't support PAE, NX, and SSE2 you won’t be able to install Windows 8."

You would have to have a running machine to check these things out physically using the Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant. If you can't use the assistant and do not know if your machine supports
PAE, NX, and SSE2, then you could do some research on you machine or you could take a chance and buy the retail Windows 8 upgrade discs. In this regard, the price is going up very significantly after January 31. See this read. For a short while, presumably, Newegg will be selling the retail set for $69.99. Others price competitively. If you can't use the set, you should be able to sell it easily after January 31.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win7 Ult on DIY; Win8 Pro on MBP/Parallels; Win7 Ult on MBP/Boot Camp; Win7 Ult/Win8 Pro on HP
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    DIY Rig; MacBook Pro (MBP)/Parallels/Boot Camp; HP Pavilion dv6500t Laptop
    CPU
    Intel i7-2600K (sometimes OC'd to 4.8 GHz)
    Motherboard
    ASUS P8P67 Deluxe Rev B3
    Memory
    16 GB Corsair Vengeance
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA 570 SC
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Gateway
    Hard Drives
    Dual Boot:
    Win7 Ult RAID 0 on OCZ Revo x2 and
    Win7 Ult RAID 0 on Caviar Black SATA 3's
    PSU
    Cooler Master Silent Pro 1000W
    Case
    Cooler Master 932 HAF
    Cooling
    Zalman CNPS9900MAX-B CPU Fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500
    Mouse
    Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500
    Internet Speed
    20 Mbps Download/2+ Mbps Upload
    Other Info
    Pioneer Blu-ray Burner/DVD Burner
Thanks Znod.

I'm going to buy a download licence for my working desktop PC whether the laptop works or not. Will the downloaded install version (rather than the boxed version) work do you think (assuming the laptop meets the requirements you list)? If so I just need to buy two licences and get the download.

I think my laptop is an Acer Aspire 5920 (I will check this evening). A quick google shows a few people have installed Win8 on that machine. Is that all I need to check or is there more to these PAE, NX and SSE2 requirements?

The price jump is quite hefty and has left me in a bit of a rush unfortunately!! Don't panic!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Vista
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.



Did you make the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Disks?

Manual how to use Acer eRecovery Management here:

ftp://ftp.support.acer-euro.com/not...s guide/Acer eRecovery Management English.pdf

Acer001.PNG

Have you tried pressing <Alt+F10> at boot up, to goto the Acer eRecovery Management.
Acer Support: Frequently Asked Questions list for How to use Acer eRecovery


Acer Support - Answers, E-Mail, Chat - How do I restore my computer using the eRecovery Management program?

You can Order Acer recovery disks from here:

https://secure.tx.acer.com/RCDB/Main.aspx?brand=acer

Try doing a Startup Repair:
Startup Repair

Also Check the hard drive with the manufacturer's diagnostic tools.

Hard Drive Diagnostics Tools and Utilities (Storage) - TACKtech Corp.
Hard Drive Diagnostic Procedure
 

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
@ Wagster

You are very welcome. If you ultimately want to install on the laptop, then your desktop must be running an OS of the same "bitness" as that you want to install on your laptop--at least if you want to install eventually based on a downloadeded ISO (strongly recommended). In this regard, watch the downloading/installing options closely, and you will see that you can download the ISO without installing--use this tutorial. During the process, you also can buy a disc set that is the same as the retail disc set (recommended). As I recall, the current price of the set is $14.99. All prices i have referred you to are USD.

Check out what theog says above. If you can get your machine running, then things will go more smoothly. Time is short pricing wise.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win7 Ult on DIY; Win8 Pro on MBP/Parallels; Win7 Ult on MBP/Boot Camp; Win7 Ult/Win8 Pro on HP
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    DIY Rig; MacBook Pro (MBP)/Parallels/Boot Camp; HP Pavilion dv6500t Laptop
    CPU
    Intel i7-2600K (sometimes OC'd to 4.8 GHz)
    Motherboard
    ASUS P8P67 Deluxe Rev B3
    Memory
    16 GB Corsair Vengeance
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA 570 SC
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Gateway
    Hard Drives
    Dual Boot:
    Win7 Ult RAID 0 on OCZ Revo x2 and
    Win7 Ult RAID 0 on Caviar Black SATA 3's
    PSU
    Cooler Master Silent Pro 1000W
    Case
    Cooler Master 932 HAF
    Cooling
    Zalman CNPS9900MAX-B CPU Fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500
    Mouse
    Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500
    Internet Speed
    20 Mbps Download/2+ Mbps Upload
    Other Info
    Pioneer Blu-ray Burner/DVD Burner
During the process, you also can buy a disc set that is the same as the retail disc set (recommended). As I recall, the current price of the set is $14.99.

So are you saying that the disk set offered with the download are not upgrade disks - same as download? I just ordered and began my download.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows XP, Vista, 7
During the process, you also can buy a disc set that is the same as the retail disc set (recommended). As I recall, the current price of the set is $14.99.

So are you saying that the disk set offered with the download are not upgrade disks - same as download? I just ordered and began my download.

The 14.99 upgrade offer is for New PC with Windows 7 Preinstalled only.
 

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
During the process, you also can buy a disc set that is the same as the retail disc set (recommended). As I recall, the current price of the set is $14.99.

So are you saying that the disk set offered with the download are not upgrade disks - same as download? I just ordered and began my download.
The retail discs and the ones I obtained are upgrade discs. You can get full install if you buy the Windows 8 system builder software--install under the personal use license.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win7 Ult on DIY; Win8 Pro on MBP/Parallels; Win7 Ult on MBP/Boot Camp; Win7 Ult/Win8 Pro on HP
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    DIY Rig; MacBook Pro (MBP)/Parallels/Boot Camp; HP Pavilion dv6500t Laptop
    CPU
    Intel i7-2600K (sometimes OC'd to 4.8 GHz)
    Motherboard
    ASUS P8P67 Deluxe Rev B3
    Memory
    16 GB Corsair Vengeance
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA 570 SC
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Gateway
    Hard Drives
    Dual Boot:
    Win7 Ult RAID 0 on OCZ Revo x2 and
    Win7 Ult RAID 0 on Caviar Black SATA 3's
    PSU
    Cooler Master Silent Pro 1000W
    Case
    Cooler Master 932 HAF
    Cooling
    Zalman CNPS9900MAX-B CPU Fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500
    Mouse
    Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500
    Internet Speed
    20 Mbps Download/2+ Mbps Upload
    Other Info
    Pioneer Blu-ray Burner/DVD Burner
During the process, you also can buy a disc set that is the same as the retail disc set (recommended). As I recall, the current price of the set is $14.99.

So are you saying that the disk set offered with the download are not upgrade disks - same as download? I just ordered and began my download.

The 14.99 upgrade offer is for New PC with Windows 7 Preinstalled only.
I am talking about $14.99 in addition to $39.99. I did this twice, once pro 32 bit and once pro 64 bit. Each time I received both DVD's--one pro 32 bit and one pro 64 bit. I was a tad surprise that that's what I got, but it happened twice. The sum of the two is less than what Newegg, as mentioned, is selling the upgrade retail disc set for.

Edit: Sorry this post kept coming and going. I kept forgetting so white some things out.
 

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My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win7 Ult on DIY; Win8 Pro on MBP/Parallels; Win7 Ult on MBP/Boot Camp; Win7 Ult/Win8 Pro on HP
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    DIY Rig; MacBook Pro (MBP)/Parallels/Boot Camp; HP Pavilion dv6500t Laptop
    CPU
    Intel i7-2600K (sometimes OC'd to 4.8 GHz)
    Motherboard
    ASUS P8P67 Deluxe Rev B3
    Memory
    16 GB Corsair Vengeance
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA 570 SC
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Gateway
    Hard Drives
    Dual Boot:
    Win7 Ult RAID 0 on OCZ Revo x2 and
    Win7 Ult RAID 0 on Caviar Black SATA 3's
    PSU
    Cooler Master Silent Pro 1000W
    Case
    Cooler Master 932 HAF
    Cooling
    Zalman CNPS9900MAX-B CPU Fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500
    Mouse
    Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500
    Internet Speed
    20 Mbps Download/2+ Mbps Upload
    Other Info
    Pioneer Blu-ray Burner/DVD Burner
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