Install Windows 8 using 8 Pro (Retail) DVD onto new drive?

ShowsOn

New Member
Messages
3
I want to install Windows 10 onto a new drive in a PC that originally came with Windows 8.

To do this, and make sure it activates, I believe I first need to install Windows 8.1 onto the new drive, and to do this, I first need to reinstall Windows 8.

The computer came with Windows 8 and has a key in the UEFI BIOS.

Unfortunately I do not have a Windows 8 DVD, but I do have a retail Windows 8 Pro DVD. I do not have a Windows 8 standard key, so I can't use the Microsoft utility to download an ISO of the DVD.

My plan was to rip the 8 Pro DVD to an ISO and use Rufus to make a bootable USB. But I am worried that the computer will not activate because I am using an installation based on 8 Pro instead 8 (standard).

Does anyone know if the computer will just 'know' to install Windows 8 standard based on the key that's in the bios?
Is there any way I can alter the 8 Pro image so it will install the standard ('Home') version which is what the computer came with?

Note: I have already upgraded this computer to Windows 10, but the upgrade is on the computer's hard disc, whereas I want to do a new installation on a new Solid State Drive that I will install into the computer.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10
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

- The download succeeds without product key.
- Both the 64-bit installation media (USB flash drive and DVD) can be booted in both UEFI and Legacy BIOS boot mode. Both the 64-bit installation media are also compatible with Secure Boot.

Note: You need to download the correct version of Windows 8.1 that matches your UEFI firmware (BIOS) embedded Windows 8/8.1 product key.

Note: If you have an OEM computer with UEFI firmware (BIOS) embedded Windows 8/8.1 product key, the Windows 8.1 installer should automatically detect product key from UEFI firmware (BIOS).
 

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.
IF, you already had windows 10 Build 10240 - activated on that PC
Just re-install windows 10 and just choose skip when asked for product key

you can also install 8.1 Home and it will pickup the embedded 8 key and activate..
you can also install 8.1 Pro, but you must type in the key to activate

no need to re-install windows 8 at all..
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 3.1 > Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700
    CPU
    I7
    Memory
    24 GB
Thank you both for these follow ups. I guess I will try to install 10 Home on the new drive and see if it activates. I'm worried that it may not activate because the new drive will constitute a significant change to the hardware. If it doesn't activate, then I am now confident I can just install 8.1 Home which will activate via the BIOS. I will then just do an upgrade to 10 Home of that and choose to keep nothing.

Thanks for your help.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10
Thanks for the advice again. I installed the SSD and just tried installing Win 10 Home onto the drive without bothering with 8.1 first. To my surprise it activated no problems. It seems that whatever information about the PC is sent to MS, it doesn't include the drive info because I installed 10 onto a drive that wasn't in the computer until after the upgrade from 8.1 to 10.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10
Back
Top