Solved How to clean install Windows 8.1

NEOBAHAMUT

New Member
Messages
9
Good Morning,

I have bought a Dell Inspiron 15R which arrived this week. I have already decided that I am going to install my own copy of Windows 8.1 Professional on to my system.

I have tried this several times now and I keep failing. I am booting from my DVD and the install goes fine. However during install I am normally prompted to enter my Serial for 8.1 and it does not do this. It progresses as though everything is ok, I can format the Hard drive and then it proceeds to install Windows 8.1.

Once fully installed I then go to see if it is activated and to my surprise it is. It has activated with the same Serial as the OEM that came with the laptop.

I have also noticed that this copy of 8.1 cannot join the laptop to my own domain (the options to do this are greyed out) which I am also wanting to do. So this copy of 8.1 is not the copy I am trying to install.

How can I install my own copy of 8.1. I think this is something to do with Dells bios configuration but not sure where to start.

Please help.

Regards,
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
Hey mate,

first, make sure you have the latest BIOS by dell. Then see if following this tutorial can help at all: http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2299-clean-install-windows-8-a.html

Note that if you are doing (what I recommend) UEFI install, you'll also want to take a look at this tutorial before you begin: http://www.eightforums.com/tutorial...e-firmware-interface-install-windows-8-a.html
For the UEFI, note what is required:
You will need to satisfy the following requirements in order to proceed:


  • A Windows 8 compatible system
  • A Windows 8 64-bit installation media. 32-bit is not supported.
  • A UEFI v2.0+ compliant PC. Check your chipset manufacturer/firmware documentation.
  • A blank, partition-free, hard disk for installation.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-3820 CPU OC @ 3.80GHz
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte G1.Assassin2
    Memory
    Corsair Dominator 16GB Quad Channel DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia by EVGA - GeForce GTX 670 4GB
    Sound Card
    On board Creative SB X-Fi
    Monitor(s) Displays
    acer 24" H243H
    Screen Resolution
    1920 X 1080
    Hard Drives
    Main 500GB Hybrid Drive @ 7,200RPM
    Secondary OCZ SSD Vertex 3 Max IOPS
    PSU
    Silent Pro 1000w gold 80+
    Case
    Azza Hurrican 2000
    Cooling
    Liquid CPU cooler & fans
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000
    Mouse
    Tek Republic Wired Laser Mouse
    Internet Speed
    5ms Ping 5.15Mb/s Download .64Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer
    Antivirus
    Defender, Malwarebytes

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-3820 CPU OC @ 3.80GHz
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte G1.Assassin2
    Memory
    Corsair Dominator 16GB Quad Channel DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia by EVGA - GeForce GTX 670 4GB
    Sound Card
    On board Creative SB X-Fi
    Monitor(s) Displays
    acer 24" H243H
    Screen Resolution
    1920 X 1080
    Hard Drives
    Main 500GB Hybrid Drive @ 7,200RPM
    Secondary OCZ SSD Vertex 3 Max IOPS
    PSU
    Silent Pro 1000w gold 80+
    Case
    Azza Hurrican 2000
    Cooling
    Liquid CPU cooler & fans
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000
    Mouse
    Tek Republic Wired Laser Mouse
    Internet Speed
    5ms Ping 5.15Mb/s Download .64Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer
    Antivirus
    Defender, Malwarebytes
Thanks for your help. Why on earth are companies like Dell corrupting our computers like this? I have installed thousands of operating systems and never had issues like this before. I'm at work at the moment so will try the posts tonight.

added - the Windows 8.1 Pro DVD I have is fine, It's a brand new copy and I have installed this previously to a Virtual Machine just as a test etc.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
Because Dell is a terrible company lol. But good luck on the problem. If it doesn't work out, you could consider giving them a call to find out why it isn't working. I've never heard of something like this before :confused:
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-3820 CPU OC @ 3.80GHz
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte G1.Assassin2
    Memory
    Corsair Dominator 16GB Quad Channel DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia by EVGA - GeForce GTX 670 4GB
    Sound Card
    On board Creative SB X-Fi
    Monitor(s) Displays
    acer 24" H243H
    Screen Resolution
    1920 X 1080
    Hard Drives
    Main 500GB Hybrid Drive @ 7,200RPM
    Secondary OCZ SSD Vertex 3 Max IOPS
    PSU
    Silent Pro 1000w gold 80+
    Case
    Azza Hurrican 2000
    Cooling
    Liquid CPU cooler & fans
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000
    Mouse
    Tek Republic Wired Laser Mouse
    Internet Speed
    5ms Ping 5.15Mb/s Download .64Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer
    Antivirus
    Defender, Malwarebytes
Your PC has an OEM key embedded in the BIOS. Windows 8 install media is setup to look for and use that key automatically during the install. It looks like Windows 8.1 media does the same thing. Core was installed because that's what the embedded key is for. Dell isn't the only one doing it, they all do it for systems that come with Windows pre installed by the manufacturer. You could go to "add features" and try entering your pro key and see if it will except it. One way around it is to add a PID.txt to the sources folder of your install media. Put the pro key in the PID.txt file and windows will use it instead of the embedded key during the install. Replace the x's with your product code.
[PID]
Value=xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Education 64 Bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition Deneb 3.7GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS M4N68T-M V2 µATX Motherboard
    Memory
    8GB 4GBx2 Kingston PC10600 DDR3 1333 Memory
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Geforce GT640 2 Gig DDR3 PCIe
    Sound Card
    VIA VT1708s High Definition Audio 8-channel Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    22" LG E2242 1080p and 2 19" I-INC AG191D
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024 - 1920x1080 - 1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    Crucial MX100 256 GB SSD and 500 GB WD Blue SATA
    PSU
    Thermaltake TR 620
    Case
    Power Up Black ATX Mid-Tower Case
    Cooling
    Stock heatsink fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless K350 Wave
    Mouse
    Logitech M570 Trackball and T650 TouchPad
    Internet Speed
    80 Mbps Down 30 Mbps Up
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    HP DVD1040e Lightscribe - External USB2
I shouldn't have to do this.

I just want to install from the Media I have. It is Windows 8.1 Professional. Since the days of Windows XP i have been able to install from a CD/DVD with no issue. Why do they do this?

It corrupts the whole system.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
Windows 8/8.1 uses OA 3.0, Windows 7 and earlier use OA2.x. OA stands for Oem Activation. Before Windows 8 you had to have Branded custom install media to make use of the OEM SLIC table in the BIOS. Regular install media prompted for a product code, custom media "made for that PC brand" entered it automatically. Microsoft changed it with OA 3.0, all media looks for the embedded key and uses it automatically. Your DVD can install Core or Pro even though the Box says Pro. If you bought Core you'd get the same DVD just a different product code. To go from core to pro you need the Pro Pack. It sucks for some but that's the way it is. Normally you wouldn't buy full media to install on a PC that came with 8.1 already installed. You'd buy the Pro Pack that is only a Product key to be used though the add features. Or a Media Center key that is used the same way. If you use that media on a PC that doesn't have an OEM embedded key you'll get prompted to enter one. You could enter a Core or Pro key.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Education 64 Bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition Deneb 3.7GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS M4N68T-M V2 µATX Motherboard
    Memory
    8GB 4GBx2 Kingston PC10600 DDR3 1333 Memory
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Geforce GT640 2 Gig DDR3 PCIe
    Sound Card
    VIA VT1708s High Definition Audio 8-channel Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    22" LG E2242 1080p and 2 19" I-INC AG191D
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024 - 1920x1080 - 1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    Crucial MX100 256 GB SSD and 500 GB WD Blue SATA
    PSU
    Thermaltake TR 620
    Case
    Power Up Black ATX Mid-Tower Case
    Cooling
    Stock heatsink fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless K350 Wave
    Mouse
    Logitech M570 Trackball and T650 TouchPad
    Internet Speed
    80 Mbps Down 30 Mbps Up
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    HP DVD1040e Lightscribe - External USB2
I have bought a Dell Inspiron 15R which arrived this week. I have already decided that I am going to install my own copy of Windows 8.1 Professional on to my system.

I have tried this several times now and I keep failing. I am booting from my DVD and the install goes fine. However during install I am normally prompted to enter my Serial for 8.1 and it does not do this. It progresses as though everything is ok, I can format the Hard drive and then it proceeds to install Windows 8.1.

Once fully installed I then go to see if it is activated and to my surprise it is. It has activated with the same Serial as the OEM that came with the laptop.

Upgrade from Windows 8.1 to Windows 8.1 Pro with a Windows 8.1 Pro product key.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/6673-add-features-windows-8-a.html





8. If you Already Have a Product Key Number

A) Enter your product key number of the feature or edition that you purchased, wait for the key to be approved, click/tap on Next, and go to step 10 below. (see screenshot below)

notesmall1.png
Note
You can use this option to do either of this below:


  • Add the Windows Media Center feature to Windows 8 Pro or Windows 8.1 Pro.
  • Upgrade from Windows 8 to Windows 8 Pro with a Windows 8 Pro product key.
  • Upgrade from Windows 8.1 to Windows 8.1 Pro with a Windows 8.1 Pro product key.




 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo G580
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-3230M
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD Graphics 4000
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, standard user account
    Other Info
    UEFI firmware (BIOS) embedded Windows 8 product key.
:ditto: It can't hurt to try using the "add features" route. I know my TechNet "Retail" Pro keys are accepted.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Education 64 Bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition Deneb 3.7GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS M4N68T-M V2 µATX Motherboard
    Memory
    8GB 4GBx2 Kingston PC10600 DDR3 1333 Memory
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Geforce GT640 2 Gig DDR3 PCIe
    Sound Card
    VIA VT1708s High Definition Audio 8-channel Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    22" LG E2242 1080p and 2 19" I-INC AG191D
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024 - 1920x1080 - 1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    Crucial MX100 256 GB SSD and 500 GB WD Blue SATA
    PSU
    Thermaltake TR 620
    Case
    Power Up Black ATX Mid-Tower Case
    Cooling
    Stock heatsink fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless K350 Wave
    Mouse
    Logitech M570 Trackball and T650 TouchPad
    Internet Speed
    80 Mbps Down 30 Mbps Up
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    HP DVD1040e Lightscribe - External USB2
I have bought a Dell Inspiron 15R which arrived this week. I have already decided that I am going to install my own copy of Windows 8.1 Professional on to my system.

I have tried this several times now and I keep failing. I am booting from my DVD and the install goes fine. However during install I am normally prompted to enter my Serial for 8.1 and it does not do this. It progresses as though everything is ok, I can format the Hard drive and then it proceeds to install Windows 8.1.

Once fully installed I then go to see if it is activated and to my surprise it is. It has activated with the same Serial as the OEM that came with the laptop.

Upgrade from Windows 8.1 to Windows 8.1 Pro with a Windows 8.1 Pro product key.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/6673-add-features-windows-8-a.html





8. If you Already Have a Product Key Number

A) Enter your product key number of the feature or edition that you purchased, wait for the key to be approved, click/tap on Next, and go to step 10 below. (see screenshot below)

notesmall1.png
Note
You can use this option to do either of this below:


  • Add the Windows Media Center feature to Windows 8 Pro or Windows 8.1 Pro.
  • Upgrade from Windows 8 to Windows 8 Pro with a Windows 8 Pro product key.
  • Upgrade from Windows 8.1 to Windows 8.1 Pro with a Windows 8.1 Pro product key.





Thanks for your help guys. This fixed my issue. Bit of a pain but hay ho we live and learn :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
It makes it a two step process, but at least its doable. I had to go that route when I was running 8.0 on my laptop. It was three steps for me as I also added Media Center. Windows 8.1 ignores the 8.0 embedded key so now I can go right to Pro. I use USB thumb drives to install Windows so I just add a PID.txt file to them. I add some OEM info too. I have one install thumb drive for each PC I own. I do everything from thumb drives these days. The only time I touch an optical disk is to install games with DRM.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Education 64 Bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition Deneb 3.7GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS M4N68T-M V2 µATX Motherboard
    Memory
    8GB 4GBx2 Kingston PC10600 DDR3 1333 Memory
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Geforce GT640 2 Gig DDR3 PCIe
    Sound Card
    VIA VT1708s High Definition Audio 8-channel Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    22" LG E2242 1080p and 2 19" I-INC AG191D
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024 - 1920x1080 - 1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    Crucial MX100 256 GB SSD and 500 GB WD Blue SATA
    PSU
    Thermaltake TR 620
    Case
    Power Up Black ATX Mid-Tower Case
    Cooling
    Stock heatsink fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless K350 Wave
    Mouse
    Logitech M570 Trackball and T650 TouchPad
    Internet Speed
    80 Mbps Down 30 Mbps Up
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    HP DVD1040e Lightscribe - External USB2
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