Help needed to do a CLEAN OEM windows 8 install?

Derekuda

New Member
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3
Hi everyone,
I am SO SO confused by how windows 8 works now without the sticker key on new laptops. I've searched all over the internet and all I can find are dumb articles telling users to use the manufacturers recovery image. I DON'T WANT THAT. I was hoping that someone could please give me detailed and explained instructions on how to do a CLEAN install of Windows 8.
My new windows 8 has NO sticker key on the bottom so my understanding is that it's stored on the bios? Is this correct? So my question is, is if I get an ISO of windows 8 and install it, will it automatically recognize the key or is the key only set up to be recognized by the PC manufacturers crapware filled image? ALSO, if thats the case, can I use a 3rd party product to pull my key and then use that with the clean ISO? Lastly, where can I download a clean ISO of windows 8? I know you can download official windows 7 ISO's, but i cannot seem to find an official windows 8 iso. I have no desire to download a torrent or from some shady website, I just want an official ISO.
Thank you soo soo much for your help in advance.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
Welcome to EightForums

Have you made the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Disks?



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. (Windows 8 only)
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/5132-recovery-drive-create-usb-flash-drive-windows-8-a.html
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2855-system-repair-disc-create-windows-8-a.html (Windows 8 only)




I would recommend you making the OEM manufacturer's Recovery DVD's or USB drive.
or
You can order the Microsoft official OEM Recovery disks from the OEM manufacturer's website.

Derkuda said:
where can I download a clean ISO of windows 8? I know you can download official windows 7 ISO's, but i cannot seem to find an official windows 8 iso.

There are NO official downloads for windows XP/Vista/7/8/8.1 ISO's for OEM manufacturer's installs.

Take a look at those posts for more info.

RETAIL KEY ONLY.
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/18309-windows-8-windows-8-1-iso-download-create.html

The only legal download:
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/18309-windows-8-windows-8-1-iso-download-create.html
 

My Computer

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

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My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ALIENWARE 18 Laptop
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    Intel Core i7-4940MX Extreme CPU @ 4 GHz
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    Alienware 0FT9KT
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if I get an ISO of windows 8 and install it, will it automatically recognize the key

Yes.

I have no desire to download a torrent or from some shady website, I just want an official ISO.

You can't download Windows 8/8.1 from Microsoft's page, if you have Windows 8/8.1 OEM 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.
My new windows 8 has NO sticker key on the bottom so my understanding is that it's stored on the bios? Is this correct?
Yes, that is correct.

So my question is, is if I get an ISO of windows 8 and install it, will it automatically recognize the key or is the key only set up to be recognized by the PC manufacturers crapware filled image?
If you had an image from say Technet or MSDN, it would install just fine. With my work Dell computers, I could get them with the clean Windows 8 OS disk, not the recovery image with all of the crap installed.

ALSO, if thats the case, can I use a 3rd party product to pull my key and then use that with the clean ISO?
You don't need a 3rd party for this. It will simply just work.

Lastly, where can I download a clean ISO of windows 8? I know you can download official windows 7 ISO's, but i cannot seem to find an official windows 8 iso. I have no desire to download a torrent or from some shady website, I just want an official ISO.
Therein lies the issue. Without technet or MSDN, there isn't just a place to download this. Check with your computer vendor and see if you can buy a copy of the Windows 8 install disk.
 

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  • OS
    Windows 7
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    Self-Built in July 2009
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    Intel Q9550 2.83Ghz OC'd to 3.40Ghz
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    Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R rev. 1.1, F12 BIOS
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    Western Digital 1TB Caviar Black, 32MB cache. WD1001FALS
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    Corsair 620HX modular
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    Antec P182
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    stock
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    ABS M1 Mechanical
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    Logitech G9 Laser Mouse
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    15/2 cable modem
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    Windows and Linux enthusiast. Logitech G35 Headset.

My Computer

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  • OS
    7/8/ubuntu/Linux Deepin
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
Some of the answers to your questions depend on whether you clean install 8.0 or 8.1. My laptop has an OEM embedded key for Windows 8.0 Core. My Windows 8.0 TechNet ISO's will read an use it to install 8.0 Core automatically without prompting me to enter a product code. If I do a clean install with my 8.1 TechNet ISO though, I get prompted to enter a key. It won't accept an 8.0 key, it needs an 8.1 key to install with. You can get around this by using a generic 8.1 install key (that won't activate) and then change the key and activate with the 8.0 OEM key. http://www.eightforums.com/installa...retail-windows-8-1-windows-8-product-key.html I use RWEverything to retrieve the embedded OEM key from the BIOS.
 

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
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    NVIDIA Geforce GT640 2 Gig DDR3 PCIe
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    VIA VT1708s High Definition Audio 8-channel Onboard
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    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
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    Stock heatsink fan
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    Logitech Wireless K350 Wave
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    Logitech M570 Trackball and T650 TouchPad
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    80 Mbps Down 30 Mbps Up
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    Windows Defender
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    HP DVD1040e Lightscribe - External USB2
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