Solved Clean 8.1 install on a laptop with pre-installed 8?

emgray

New Member
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3
Hello everyone,
Today I received a new Acer laptop which came with Windows 8 but it has a bunch of programs which I will never use and I just want to restart with a clean slate.

From here (Option 1) I downloaded and put an ISO of 64-bit Windows 8.1 on a USB drive but I'm not sure about how to go forward. The Windows 8 key of the Acer is in the BIOS right so with 8.1 being a free upgrade will that key automatically activate 8.1 for me?

I was also reading about editing the ei.cfg and unless I'm understanding it wrong this allows you to install 8.1 without a product key and I read somewhere else that you can use your Windows 8 key to activate 8.1 after it has been installed. Is any of this correct?

Apologies for the silly questions, I'm not good at setting up computers and my son usually does everything but he's not around at the moment.

Thank you for reading.
Advice will be appreciated.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
How to download and clean install Windows 8.1 if you have an OEM computer with UEFI firmware (BIOS) embedded Windows 8/8.1 product key. -> link

How to create a bootable USB flash drive. -> link
 

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.
You won't be able to clean install Windows 8.1 using the embedded key in your bios.

Here is what you need to do
Find a script called ShowKey.vbs to get a copy of your existing embedded BIOS key. You can find from this forum.
Google for Windows 8.1 generic key and install using that key

Once installed, that generic key will not activate
So, from an admin level command line, run slmgr.vbs -ipk {your_original_key} : this is the key you obtained from showkey.vbs.

You system will need to reboot and should activate just fine. I've done this trick many times at work, no problems at all.
 

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.
Last edited:

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.
You won't be able to clean install Windows 8.1 using the embedded key in your bios.

Here is what you need to do
Find a script called ShowKey.vbs to get a copy of your existing embedded BIOS key. You can find from this forum.
Google for Windows 8.1 generic key and install using that key

Once installed, that generic key will not activate
So, from an admin level command line, run slmgr.vbs -ipk {your_original_key} : this is the key you obtained from showkey.vbs.

You system will need to reboot and should activate just fine. I've done this trick many times at work, no problems at all.

This is not needed now it seems.
The new Option 1 OP has referred, consists of new Windows installation media creation tool from MS, that will install Windows 8.1 Update in an OEM/Retail machine with Windows 8/8.1 directly. In OEM system, Windows 8.1 Update would be automatically activated with BIOS Windows 8/8.1 activation key.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8.1 Update x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion 15
    CPU
    Haswell Core i5 4200U
    Memory
    8GB Dual-Channel DDR3L @1600
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD 4400 Integrated; 2GB Dedicated NVIDIA GT 740M
    Hard Drives
    500GB Samsung 840 EVO Internal SSD ;
    2TB WD MyPassport Ultra EHDD ;
    1TB TOSHIBA HDD
    Cooling
    Deepcool X6
    Mouse
    Logitech B175 Wireless Mouse
    Internet Speed
    10 Mbps
    Browser
    Opera v25.0
    Antivirus
    KIS 2014
    Other Info
    Microsoft Wired Xbox 360 Controller
Genet, thank you for your help. When I posted this message I had already made my bootable USB and I guess that all I needed to do was change the boot order and plug it in.

Now I have Windows 8.1 running on the laptop.

The only thing is that I want to change the boot order again but I can't seem to get back into the BIOS with the old key, does Windows change the key location?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8

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.
Genet, thank you for your help. When I posted this message I had already made my bootable USB and I guess that all I needed to do was change the boot order and plug it in.

Now I have Windows 8.1 running on the laptop.

The only thing is that I want to change the boot order again but I can't seem to get back into the BIOS with the old key, does Windows change the key location?

Some members have reported issues trying to get into the BIOS when Windows 8's Fast Startup is enabled. When enables the PC goes into a hybrid sleep mode. What genet posted should get you in. The BIOS access key hasn't changed it just doesn't work when the PC is coming out of fast startup's sleep/hibernate mode. If you turn fast startup off it should work like it did before. It's up to you what you want to do. I turn it off as I have an SSD anyway and my boot time is about 10 seconds. Just a FYI post,
 

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

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8.1 Update x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion 15
    CPU
    Haswell Core i5 4200U
    Memory
    8GB Dual-Channel DDR3L @1600
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD 4400 Integrated; 2GB Dedicated NVIDIA GT 740M
    Hard Drives
    500GB Samsung 840 EVO Internal SSD ;
    2TB WD MyPassport Ultra EHDD ;
    1TB TOSHIBA HDD
    Cooling
    Deepcool X6
    Mouse
    Logitech B175 Wireless Mouse
    Internet Speed
    10 Mbps
    Browser
    Opera v25.0
    Antivirus
    KIS 2014
    Other Info
    Microsoft Wired Xbox 360 Controller
I turn it off as I have an SSD anyway and my boot time is about 10 seconds.

:ditto: :)

What I actually do is disable hibernation from the command prompt, powercfg -h off. Doing it this way also gets rid of the hyberfill.sys file. If you have a smallish SSD that's a bonus.
 

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
What I actually do is disable hibernation from the command prompt, powercfg -h off. Doing it this way also gets rid of the hyberfill.sys file. If you have a smallish SSD that's a bonus.

Yes, I've done that from cmd after I installed the SSD :)
Also disabled indexing & few other options from Power options like turning off hard drive, sleep. I don't keep system on whole time, so they're not needed for me.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8.1 Update x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion 15
    CPU
    Haswell Core i5 4200U
    Memory
    8GB Dual-Channel DDR3L @1600
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD 4400 Integrated; 2GB Dedicated NVIDIA GT 740M
    Hard Drives
    500GB Samsung 840 EVO Internal SSD ;
    2TB WD MyPassport Ultra EHDD ;
    1TB TOSHIBA HDD
    Cooling
    Deepcool X6
    Mouse
    Logitech B175 Wireless Mouse
    Internet Speed
    10 Mbps
    Browser
    Opera v25.0
    Antivirus
    KIS 2014
    Other Info
    Microsoft Wired Xbox 360 Controller
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