Windows 8 (not 8.1): Still possible to download?

I'm helping a non-PC literate person remotely. The can't get into Windows 8 (or 8.1, I'm unsure if she's been updated to 8.1), and when their notebook tries to boot they go into recovery mode. The problem is, recovery is looking for media which she does not have.

I've used my desktop to download Windows 8.1, both 32 and 64 as I don't know which she has, and I plan to send them to her to try. However, I'd like to send Windows 8 disks (32 and 64) also in case she hasn't been upgraded to 8.1.

Is there a location/means I can get Windows 8, not 8.1, ISO's?

Thanks for any info on this!

Chuck

You are most likely correct - when the pc was upgraded to windows 8.1 - windows 8.1 created another partition - thus bumping the recovery partition back from say partition 5 to partition 6

you have to re-register the recovery partition and factory Image

How is that possible though without being able to get into Windows? Before this I didn't know that Microsoft got rid of F8, is there some special key to press before Windows boots that would let me walk her through that?

See here: http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/18309-windows-8-windows-8-1-iso-download-create.html

I read that whs but I don't get how I can download Windows 8 on my 8.1 computer?

From here you can download and save the iso. Just click on "create media" and select a folder.

Create installation media for Windows 8.1 - Windows Help

Oh, I see what you're saying. Yes, I have the 32 and 64 bit Windows 8.1 ISO's. What I'm talking about are the non Service Pack 1 Windows 8 ISO's. Just plain Windows 8, non 8.1. Are those still available?

Try this site. Don't know whether this still works.

The Official Windows 8 Repository

Those links are dead too Wolfgang,

PLEASE NOTE: Due to a DMCA notice the download links have been removed and will not be re-added. If you download the Upgrade Assistant you will get a ISO download once you purchase a license through the program.

Click to expand...

You can install Windows 8.1 on a PC that came with Windows 8.0 and use the OEM 8.0 key. The latest Windows 8.1 install media will install and activate with OEM embedded 8.0 product codes. If that's what your worried about. It will read them automatically from the BIOS during the install.

So it looks like to get Windows 8, non 8.1, I'd have to torrent.

My worry is, if I send her the 8.1 disks, when recover program Microsoft has running on startup looks at the disk, if it's an 8.1 disk and she doesn't have 8.1 but rather has 8, that is going to be a problem for the recovery program. That's why I wanted both, just in case.

The problem is really with the key that is stored in the BIOS. My understanding is that if this was originally an 8 system, then 8.1 will not activate. But with a robocall to Microsoft that should be easy to solve.

But will it need to activate if Windows system repair is just fixing itself? If she needs a real re-install then she's going to have to ship it to me, no way am I walking her redo'ing a PC over the phone.

Nah, for a repair there is no activation required.

Why don't you first find out what system she has. It is really simple.

whs said:

The problem is really with the key that is stored in the BIOS. My understanding is that if this was originally an 8 system, then 8.1 will not activate. But with a robocall to Microsoft that should be easy to solve.

Click to expand...

I've installed 8.1 on my laptop that has a factory 8.0 key and it activated online with no issues. There may be glitches/exceptions but for most people I think it should be a non issue. I've gone through many different install scenarios on my laptop and haven't had to phone activate yet. As always though, YMMV.