I have recently purchased a new Lenovo C540 that has Windows 8 already installed on it (please note I have posted in Lenovo forums, awaiting solution there as well). I would like to perform a clean install of Windows 8.1 on this computer.
This is what I have done so far:
It is important to me that I get to perform a CLEAN install of Windows 8.1...I do not want to upgrade through windows store (though I'd be willing to do it if it was an intermediary step that allowed me to eventually do a clean install)...the only keys I have are a W8 Pro Retail key (for my laptop) and a W8 Core OEM key (that came with the new C540)...I am using a flashdrive to perform this since I knew I may have to add/change files like the PID and EI.CFG....
I would appreciate any help I can get in solving this problem...I am also willing to try burning an .iso with the PID and/or EI.CFG, but I'm trying to avoid trial and error with that since it is time consuming, requires an ADK, and may waste DVDs...I'd only make an .iso if (for whatever reason) that would work where a flashdrive with the same files would not...
This is what I have done so far:
- I disabled 3 things in the BIOS: IIRC, they were secure boot, quick boot, and something about "optimized" startup...I couldn't even boot from a disc or flashdrive without those 3 things disabled, regardless of my boot priority...
- I have changed my boot priority to put the CD/DVD drive first and any flashdrive 2nd
- I have figured out my OEM Windows Product Key (this is for a Windows 8 Core/64 bit OS)
- I have setup a flashdrive with Windows 8.1 on it
- I tried to boot from the flashdrive...when I get the option to install windows 8.1, I click on it and very quickly get the following error -- "The product key entered does not match any of the Windows images available for installation. Enter a different product key."
- I added a PID.txt file with my OEM product key in the Source folder of the Windows 8.1 install....I don't get the above error message immediately, but a screen comes up that asks me to enter a Product Key...my OEM product code (being for W8, not W8.1) does not work while using a generic key (for Windows 8.1 Core) yields the same error message as above and exits the installer. The generic key I used begins with 334NH...I have not tried with a KMS key as I don't know what that is or what strings are attached to that...
- I then added an EI.CFG file that sets the edition to core, the version to OEM, and the Volume to 0...unfortunately, when trying to install Windows 8.1 it still asks me for a product key before installing...I cannot get past this screen even though (to my understanding) the EI.CFG file should cause the installer to skip asking for a product key during installation...
It is important to me that I get to perform a CLEAN install of Windows 8.1...I do not want to upgrade through windows store (though I'd be willing to do it if it was an intermediary step that allowed me to eventually do a clean install)...the only keys I have are a W8 Pro Retail key (for my laptop) and a W8 Core OEM key (that came with the new C540)...I am using a flashdrive to perform this since I knew I may have to add/change files like the PID and EI.CFG....
I would appreciate any help I can get in solving this problem...I am also willing to try burning an .iso with the PID and/or EI.CFG, but I'm trying to avoid trial and error with that since it is time consuming, requires an ADK, and may waste DVDs...I'd only make an .iso if (for whatever reason) that would work where a flashdrive with the same files would not...
My Computer
System One
-
- OS
- Windows 8.1