Updating Retail Windows 8 with 8.1 RTM

I have a machine that has an activated retail windows 8 that came from the upgrade offer.

I just downloaded the 8.1 RTM from technet and burned the ISO install media to a DVD.

Will it work to upgrade the retail windows 8 with the RTM DVD by simply doing a setup.exe from within windows 8?

Will it retain the original permanent retail key after the upgrade?

Also, I'm assuming that any additional changes to the 8.1 will come through online updates so it will get caught up to whatever is released to the general public?

As far as I know, you can't run an upgrade 8 to 8.1 using the iso. There might be some fiddly workarounds.

SIW2 said:

As far as I know, you can't run an upgrade 8 to 8.1 using the iso. There might be some fiddly workarounds.

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Interesting. Guess I;m confused. I read an article by Ed Bott earlier today and this he mentioned the following:

"This is a full copy of Windows 8.1, which means you can use it to install on new hardware, or you can upgrade an existing Windows 7 or Windows 8 installation. If you upgrade from Windows 8, you can keep all your apps (including desktop programs) and files. If you boot from a USB flash drive or DVD to start the install, you must do a clean install. If an existing copy of Windows is on the target drive when you do that install, it gets moved to a new Windows.old folder."

Here is the actual link.

Windows 8.1 RTM: What's new, what's next? | ZDNet

Windows 8.1 RTM: What's new, what's next? | ZDNet

Do I need a product key?

Yes, you do. MSDN subscribers get five product keys for Core and Pro, respectively. TechNet subscribers get three keys for each edition. Each key can be used for multiple online activations.

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The new Windows 8.1 key.

theog said:

Windows 8.1 RTM: What's new, what's next? | ZDNet

Do I need a product key?

Yes, you do. MSDN subscribers get five product keys for Core and Pro, respectively. TechNet subscribers get three keys for each edition. Each key can be used for multiple online activations.

Click to expand...

The new Windows 8.1 key.

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If I run it as an upgrade will it not retain the original retail product key? In this case I want a non-expiring key.

Type in your new product key to replace the old key.

theog said:

Type in your new product key to replace the old key.

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It won't allow you to put in the original retail product key? Is this going to be different then when people attempt to do the upgrade via the online store and they don't have a new key?

Is this going to be different then when people attempt to do the upgrade via the online store and they don't have a new key?

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No need for a new product key, when using MS Store UPDATE.

theog said:

Is this going to be different then when people attempt to do the upgrade via the online store and they don't have a new key?

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No need for a new product key, when using MS Store UPDATE.

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So it handles the store update different than DVD media update with regard to original product key?

Try it and see.

There is NO DVD media update.

SIW2 said:

Try it and see.

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Since I'm dealing with a live install I'm rather know what to expect rather than experiment. I realize that this may be too new for anybody to actually know the answer but thought it wouldn't hurt to ask.

NCguy said:

SIW2 said:

Try it and see.

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Since I'm dealing with a live install I'm rather know what to expect rather than experiment. I realize that this may be too new for anybody to actually know the answer but thought it wouldn't hurt to ask.

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If use your new product key, it will work.

theog said:

NCguy said:

SIW2 said:

Try it and see.

Click to expand...

Since I'm dealing with a live install I'm rather know what to expect rather than experiment. I realize that this may be too new for anybody to actually know the answer but thought it wouldn't hurt to ask.

Click to expand...

If use your new product key, it will work.

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I do get that. But what I need to know is if its going to ask for the key again since its an upgrade and if I could use the original retail key (if it asks) instead of the new technet key. I need an unexpring key for this install.

As far as I heard, upgrade 8.0 to 8.1 doesn't work with install media - but I don't think anyone was using new keys .

Perhaps it will do the upgrade using a new key. No idea if you can then change it to your previous 8.0. key.

The new product key will expire when your MSDN subscribers/TechNet subscribers expires

Bit useless, then. I believe people have tried with iso, but can't recall anyone getting the thing to co operate

SIW2 said:

Bit useless, then. I believe people have tried with iso, but can't recall anyone getting the thing to co operate

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Thanks for the info. After I read Ed Bott's remarks I thought it might be possible. Not looking good.

Iirc various attempts have included mucking with cversion and transferring the install.wim into the 8.0 setup.

SIW2 said:

Iirc various attempts have included mucking with cversion and transferring the install.wim into the 8.0 setup.

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Its sounding like its not going to be worth the attempt. I'll just wait until the official release and do it from the online store.