Where to get Windows 8 non-upgrade for an existing PC?

Dogmatix

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I have found many offers for Windows 8 Upgrades, and for Windows 8 pre-installed on new PCs.... but it seems difficult to find a full-licence Windows 8 for an existing PC which doesn't have a previous version of Windows on it. I have installed the Enterprise Evaluation on an old Shuttle PC, and it runs acceptably well, but will soon expire. I do not have a 'spare' WinXP or Win7 licence to upgrade, so I will need a full-licence version of Windows 8, but such does not appear to be generally available - not for download from Microsoft, certainly. Amazon have an 'OEM' version for £80; is that what I need? Or should I find an XP CD on Ebay, and 'upgrade from that'? I assume I wouldn't have to install it, but just 'show' Win8 the XP disc...
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows XP
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Shuttle SD11G5
    CPU
    Pentium M
    Motherboard
    Shuttle SD11G5
    Memory
    plenty
    Graphics Card(s)
    on-board (Intel 915GM)
Windows 8 no longer has a retail version per se. You buy the system builder version, and if you use it for your own personal use then the Personal Use License applies.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    CPU
    Intel i7 3770K
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Z77X-UD4 TH
    Memory
    16GB DDR3 1600
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVidia GTX 650
    Sound Card
    Onboard Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Auria 27" IPS + 2x Samsung 23"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440 + 2x 2048x1152
    Hard Drives
    Corsair m4 256GB, 2 WD 2TB drives
    Case
    Antec SOLO II
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000
    Mouse
    Logitech MX
I downloaded the Windows 8 upgrade as an ISO - burned it to disc, formatted my drive wiping my Win7 install and installed 8. At no point did it ask me for my Windows 7 key, nor did it ask me to verify that I owned Windows 7 when I installed Windows 8.

I haven't tried installing my Win7 on my other machine yet - so honestly I don't know if it will still activate or not, but I saw no mention or transaction of my Windows 7 key, unless the Upgrade Assistant sent and deactivated my Win7 key "underthehood". I'd be curious if anyone could verify this also.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro

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.
I downloaded the Windows 8 upgrade as an ISO - burned it to disc, formatted my drive wiping my Win7 install and installed 8. At no point did it ask me for my Windows 7 key, nor did it ask me to verify that I owned Windows 7 when I installed Windows 8.

I haven't tried installing my Win7 on my other machine yet - so honestly I don't know if it will still activate or not, but I saw no mention or transaction of my Windows 7 key, unless the Upgrade Assistant sent and deactivated my Win7 key "underthehood". I'd be curious if anyone could verify this also.

The upgrade installer looks for a qualifying OS. If one is present, you can delete the OS partition or reformat it during the install, and the installer will "remember" that it was there.

If you run the upgrade on a blank disk, you may still be able to install 8, but you can't activate the result with an upgrade key.

I was surprised that even when I performed a custom (clean) install and deleted the old OS partition, some settings (IE favorites, desktop background) were carried over.

I don't think the upgrade disables the key for the old OS. I once had to re-install 7 to run the 8 upgrade again. The short-lived 7 install activated successfully with the old key, on the same hardware.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Window 8 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    homebuilt
    CPU
    I7-3930k
    Motherboard
    Asus P9X79 Pro
    Memory
    16 GB Gskill DDR3-2133
    Graphics Card(s)
    eVGA GTX 680
    Sound Card
    Soundblaster Zx
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Asus PA246Q
    Screen Resolution
    1920X1200
    Hard Drives
    Corsair Force GT 120GB
    WD Cavair Black 1.5TB
    PSU
    PC Power & cooling Silencer 750
    Case
    Silverstone FT02B-W
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-D14 w/ PWM fans
    Keyboard
    cheap Logitech USB wired
    Mouse
    old 5 button Microsoft USB optical
    Internet Speed
    6Mb cable
The upgrade installer looks for a qualifying OS. If one is present, you can delete the OS partition or reformat it during the install, and the installer will "remember" that it was there.

If you run the upgrade on a blank disk, you may still be able to install 8, but you can't activate the result with an upgrade key.

As I said, I formatted the disk, no settings from my previous install were brought in as the previous install did not exist. I installed Windows 8 using the "upgrade" key I got when I purchased it, and it installed and activated just fine. So to go back to OP's point then, about not having a "spare" key - it seems someone doesn't need a spare since it doesn't deactivate your Win7 key - you simply need to have a Win7 key. Apparently "upgrade" just means "You get Windows 8 for $39.99 if you own a previous OS".
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
It' not as cheap as I expected. If you can get hold of an old xp license for peanuts - you can do the upgrade dance.

It checks your o/s before letting you order and download the $40 deal.

It checks when you boot the dvd - you can format then.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7/8/ubuntu/Linux Deepin
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
It checks your o/s before letting you order and download the $40 deal.

Could be dangerous - you might do the ordering on a different PC to the one you want Win8 for.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows XP
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Shuttle SD11G5
    CPU
    Pentium M
    Motherboard
    Shuttle SD11G5
    Memory
    plenty
    Graphics Card(s)
    on-board (Intel 915GM)
The upgrade installer looks for a qualifying OS. If one is present, you can delete the OS partition or reformat it during the install, and the installer will "remember" that it was there.

If you run the upgrade on a blank disk, you may still be able to install 8, but you can't activate the result with an upgrade key.

As I said, I formatted the disk, no settings from my previous install were brought in as the previous install did not exist. I installed Windows 8 using the "upgrade" key I got when I purchased it, and it installed and activated just fine. So to go back to OP's point then, about not having a "spare" key - it seems someone doesn't need a spare since it doesn't deactivate your Win7 key - you simply need to have a Win7 key. Apparently "upgrade" just means "You get Windows 8 for $39.99 if you own a previous OS".

When did you format the disk?

If you did it during the Win8 upgrade, that's normal. The installer will remember that a qualifying OS was on the drive. I think that you might be in trouble if you used the installer to format the drive, and then stopped the installation.

If you formatted the disk using a third party utility, and then tried to run the Win8 upgrade, the upgrade key ought to not activate the resulting installation. (You can enter the key at the start of the process, and the installation will proceed, but Win8 won't be activated. You'll see a message in the lower right corner of the desktop screen that says "build 9200", and you'll have all the limitations of an install that isn't activated.) There is no provision for entering a license key for the qualifying OS; it has to actually be installed. (Inconvenient.)

Consider: you can get the upgrade license for $40 (Boxed version, $70). The System Builder copy (installs on a blank HD) is $130. Do you think that Microsoft is so generous (or foolish) to make the upgrade and System Builder licenses the same?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Window 8 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    homebuilt
    CPU
    I7-3930k
    Motherboard
    Asus P9X79 Pro
    Memory
    16 GB Gskill DDR3-2133
    Graphics Card(s)
    eVGA GTX 680
    Sound Card
    Soundblaster Zx
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Asus PA246Q
    Screen Resolution
    1920X1200
    Hard Drives
    Corsair Force GT 120GB
    WD Cavair Black 1.5TB
    PSU
    PC Power & cooling Silencer 750
    Case
    Silverstone FT02B-W
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-D14 w/ PWM fans
    Keyboard
    cheap Logitech USB wired
    Mouse
    old 5 button Microsoft USB optical
    Internet Speed
    6Mb cable
It checks your o/s before letting you order and download the $40 deal.

Could be dangerous - you might do the ordering on a different PC to the one you want Win8 for.

I did exactly that. The PC I wanted the upgrade for was running Win 8 Enterprise Evaluation. The Upgrade Assistant won't let you buy an upgrade license from that OS. I ran the Assistant on a Win 7 X64 PC. I actually downloaded the upgrade from the Win 8 PC, using a link in the confirmation email.

Oddly enough, I was able to use the Win 8 Ent. Eval. copy to qualify the Win 8 Pro upgrade. (That isn't supposed to work.) I had expected that I'd have to revert to the real quaifying OS (Win 7 Pro), but I didn't have to do that. Installed and activated normally.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Window 8 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    homebuilt
    CPU
    I7-3930k
    Motherboard
    Asus P9X79 Pro
    Memory
    16 GB Gskill DDR3-2133
    Graphics Card(s)
    eVGA GTX 680
    Sound Card
    Soundblaster Zx
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Asus PA246Q
    Screen Resolution
    1920X1200
    Hard Drives
    Corsair Force GT 120GB
    WD Cavair Black 1.5TB
    PSU
    PC Power & cooling Silencer 750
    Case
    Silverstone FT02B-W
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-D14 w/ PWM fans
    Keyboard
    cheap Logitech USB wired
    Mouse
    old 5 button Microsoft USB optical
    Internet Speed
    6Mb cable
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