Difference between 8 pro upgrade and full version

Just what difference is there in either version except with the upgrade you either have to have a previous version installed or the disks available. I assume you have a choice for doing a clean install with the upgrade if you desire or saving your current files etc.

There is no traditional full retail version of Windows 8. The nearest that I know of is the System Builder license, which can be used similarly to the old retail license. I'm not sure whether it can be used to do an upgrade-in-place, like the old full retail license.

Normally, an upgrade license requires that an upgradeable older OS be installed. (Some would say and activated.) Just having disks for the older OS isn't good enough. However, there's another activation method:

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/13375-clean-install-windows-8-upgrade.html?filter[2]=Installation and Setup

Yes, an upgrade copy can be used to do a clean install. You can even delete the existing partitions on the OS install drive. It's a bit different than older versions of Windows: even if you delete the OS partitions, some settings and files will be carried over from the old installation.

Jackman33 said:

Just what difference is there in either version except with the upgrade you either have to have a previous version installed or the disks available. I assume you have a choice for doing a clean install with the upgrade if you desire or saving your current files etc.

Click to expand...

Technet full-install version (probably MSDN version too) allows upgrading. Not sure about system-builder version as mentioned by bobkn. If using retail upgrade software, then you need to have qualifying software installed or available (don't agree with bobkn on the available point). Either way you forfeit use of the qualifying software if using retail upgrade for as long as your Win8 upgrade is being used.

Personally, I would never do any kind of install (even refresh) without my files being backed up off computer. Only your personal files will be maintained if you start with XP SP3.

Thanks for the input. I guess I did not do enough homework to find that there isn't a full retail copy!!

bobkn said:

There is no traditional full retail version of Windows 8. The nearest that I know of is the System Builder license, which can be used similarly to the old retail license. I'm not sure whether it can be used to do an upgrade-in-place, like the old full retail license.

Normally, an upgrade license requires that an upgradeable older OS be installed. (Some would say and activated.) Just having disks for the older OS isn't good enough. However, there's another activation method:

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/13375-clean-install-windows-8-upgrade.html?filter[2]=Installation and Setup

Yes, an upgrade copy can be used to do a clean install. You can even delete the existing partitions on the OS install drive. It's a bit different than older versions of Windows: even if you delete the OS partitions, some settings and files will be carried over from the old installation.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the help...............

znod said:

Jackman33 said:

Just what difference is there in either version except with the upgrade you either have to have a previous version installed or the disks available. I assume you have a choice for doing a clean install with the upgrade if you desire or saving your current files etc.

Click to expand...

Technet full-install version (probably MSDN version too) allows upgrading. Not sure about system-builder version as mentioned by bobkn. If using retail upgrade software, then you need to have qualifying software installed or available (don't agree with bobkn on the available point). Either way you forfeit use of the qualifying software if using retail upgrade for as long as your Win8 upgrade is being used.

Personally, I would never do any kind of install (even refresh) without my files being backed up off computer. Only your personal files will be maintained if you start with XP SP3.

Click to expand...

You can use a system-builder version as an upgrade.

Technet full-install version (probably MSDN version too) allows upgrading.

Click to expand...

Those are for testing only,& not for consumer use.

Jackman33 said:

Thanks for the help...............

znod said:

Jackman33 said:

Just what difference is there in either version except with the upgrade you either have to have a previous version installed or the disks available. I assume you have a choice for doing a clean install with the upgrade if you desire or saving your current files etc.

Click to expand...

Technet full-install version (probably MSDN version too) allows upgrading. Not sure about system-builder version as mentioned by bobkn. If using retail upgrade software, then you need to have qualifying software installed or available (don't agree with bobkn on the available point). Either way you forfeit use of the qualifying software if using retail upgrade for as long as your Win8 upgrade is being used.

Personally, I would never do any kind of install (even refresh) without my files being backed up off computer. Only your personal files will be maintained if you start with XP SP3.

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

You are very welcome. And, didn't mean to imply anything other than what theog said about technet and MSDN full install versions--that they are for evaluation purposes only.

Thanks!

theog said:

You can use a system-builder version as an upgrade.

Technet full-install version (probably MSDN version too) allows upgrading.

Click to expand...

Those are for testing only,& not for consumer use.

Click to expand...

??? I said above: "And, didn't mean to imply anything other than what theog said [earlier] about technet and MSDN full install versions--that they are for evaluation [the word used by Technet at least] purposes only."

if i buy a new hdd, does this mean i have to install first windows 7 and then windows 8?

has anyone tried this ?..

qwetymikey said:

if i buy a new hdd, does this mean i have to install first windows 7 and then windows 8?

has anyone tried this ?..

Click to expand...

That's generally the best way to proceed if your want to dual boot the two: Dual Boot Installation - Windows 8 and Windows 7 or Vista. You will need to make sure that your Windows 7 and Windows 8 licenses are "EULA legitimate" to do the dual boot. If you want more info on this issue, then tell me the about sources of your two OS's.

qwetymikey said:

if i buy a new hdd, does this mean i have to install first windows 7 and then windows 8?

has anyone tried this ?..

Click to expand...

are you meaning if you buy a new HDD as the replacement for the current boot drive that currently has windows 8?

if you're really asking about activation, when you change the main drive, you'll have to reactivate. the easiest way is to clone your current windows 8 setup to the new drive and then reactivate.

if you're talking about building a system fresh with a fresh new hard drive and using the upgrade version to install windows 8, I'm pretty sure you cannot do this with the upgrade version without another OS already being on the hard drive. there are workarounds for this but you're going to have to google for the dirty work as it's not officially supported.

znod said:

qwetymikey said:

if i buy a new hdd, does this mean i have to install first windows 7 and then windows 8?

has anyone tried this ?..

Click to expand...

That's generally the best way to proceed if your want to dual boot the two: Dual Boot Installation - Windows 8 and Windows 7 or Vista. You will need to make sure that your Windows 7 and Windows 8 licenses are "EULA legitimate" to do the dual boot. If you want more info on this issue, then tell me the about sources of your two OS's.

Click to expand...

dirtyvu said:

qwetymikey said:

if i buy a new hdd, does this mean i have to install first windows 7 and then windows 8?

has anyone tried this ?..

Click to expand...

are you meaning if you buy a new HDD as the replacement for the current boot drive that currently has windows 8?

if you're really asking about activation, when you change the main drive, you'll have to reactivate. the easiest way is to clone your current windows 8 setup to the new drive and then reactivate.

if you're talking about building a system fresh with a fresh new hard drive and using the upgrade version to install windows 8, I'm pretty sure you cannot do this with the upgrade version without another OS already being on the hard drive. there are workarounds for this but you're going to have to google for the dirty work as it's not officially supported.

Click to expand...

hi,

i mean, my brother will build a pc on his own, so everything will be new. he already bought his windows 8 dvd. will it let him boot? I have heard you cant install windows 8 if the drive is blank.... we have windows 7 dvd and xp dvd original too, but it would be really tedious to install them and then windows 8 -,-

qwetymikey said:

hi,

i mean, my brother will build a pc on his own, so everything will be new. he already bought his windows 8 dvd. will it let him boot? I have heard you cant install windows 8 if the drive is blank.... we have windows 7 dvd and xp dvd original too, but it would be really tedious to install them and then windows 8 -,-

Click to expand...

What sort of Win8 license does your brother have? If it's an upgrade, the officially approved method requires that the older "qualifying" OS be installed first, and then the Win8 upgrade. (Which can be a clean install.)

Normally, an upgrade license can be installed on a hard disk that doesn't have a qualifying OS present, but the resulting installation won't activate using the upgrade key.

I've never used them, but there are work-arounds for that:

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/13375-clean-install-windows-8-upgrade.html?filter[2]=Installation and Setup

The simplest is to refresh the unactivated Win8 installation, The result is supposed to accept an upgrade key.

qwetymikey said:

znod said:

qwetymikey said:

if i buy a new hdd, does this mean i have to install first windows 7 and then windows 8?

has anyone tried this ?..

Click to expand...

That's generally the best way to proceed if your want to dual boot the two: Dual Boot Installation - Windows 8 and Windows 7 or Vista. You will need to make sure that your Windows 7 and Windows 8 licenses are "EULA legitimate" to do the dual boot. If you want more info on this issue, then tell me the about sources of your two OS's.

Click to expand...

dirtyvu said:

qwetymikey said:

if i buy a new hdd, does this mean i have to install first windows 7 and then windows 8?

has anyone tried this ?..

Click to expand...

are you meaning if you buy a new HDD as the replacement for the current boot drive that currently has windows 8?

if you're really asking about activation, when you change the main drive, you'll have to reactivate. the easiest way is to clone your current windows 8 setup to the new drive and then reactivate.

if you're talking about building a system fresh with a fresh new hard drive and using the upgrade version to install windows 8, I'm pretty sure you cannot do this with the upgrade version without another OS already being on the hard drive. there are workarounds for this but you're going to have to google for the dirty work as it's not officially supported.

Click to expand...

1. he already bought his windows 8 dvd. will it let him boot? I have heard you cant install windows 8 if the drive is blank....

2. we have windows 7 dvd and xp dvd original too, but it would be really tedious to install them and then windows 8 -,-

Click to expand...

​1. What version did he buy core or Pro? Did he buy an upgrade disc or system builder disc. Has it already been installed on another machine? Neither can be installed on two or more machines at a time. Yes, it will let him boot, and can be installed if the drive is blank. If upgrade, then can't install without having qualifying software--the use of which would be forfeited while Win8 is installed. The qualifying software need not be installed. If not, then likely to have to use the refresh procedure described here to activate: Clean Install with Windows 8 Upgrade.

2. What is the source of your Win7? You may not be able to use it in an EULA-consistent fashion if it is an upgrade. If it was an upgrade to an OEM preinstalled XP or Vista, then you won't be able to use it. Otherwise it should be OK unless installed on another machine and you are not using the original software upgraded from. If retail full install DVD, you can use it unless it already it is installed on another machine.

Let's back up a little bit fellas, say to December 2012.

There were promos, cheap prices.

I bought a new HP with Windows 8 factory installed. It was OEM version with HP's license. It was not Win 8 Pro.

The difference between Win 8 OEM and Win 8 Pro is that Pro has some additional encryption that you don't get with Win 8 OEM

One of my computers hard drive crashed. I replaced it, a Seagate Barracuda 500 GB. It was bare. I bought Windows 8 Pro at Staples. It came with 2 discs, 32 bit and 64 bit. I installed the 64 bit on the bare hard drive. Works just fine.

My new HP bogged down. So I used the same 64 bit disc and upgraded the Win 8 OEM to Windows 8 Pro. No problem. I'm surprised that they didn't ask for the product key number.


I tried to install the Win 8 32 bit on another computer with Vistas Home Premium. No dice. Rejected.


A couple of weeks ago I was in Best Buy. That's after the promo ended and prices went up. They had three *( 3 ) versions of Windows 8. One for $69.95. One for $119.95. And One for $199.95

The $119.95 version was the equivalent of the OEM. Back in December that version was not available for sale in our stores around here or on line.

The $199.95 was the Windows 8 Pro version which comes with enhanced encryption. *( Home owners/users don't need that ).

The $69.95 version, after promo, is a Windows 8 Pro upgrade from Windows 8 OEM type and NOT upgrade from Windows 7 or other. Apparently all you get is the enhanced encryption.

I'm only speaking to in the box in store. Not on line downloads.

Now to muddy the water even more, I'm hearing about a Student/Professor version of Win 8 for around $39.95 if you can prove your eligibility.

There are separate from the builders license and Enterprise versions which are not for sale in stores here in my area. These are purchased from Microsoft.

Seems as though Microsoft's marketing/sales and offerings changed pre-promo and post-promo.

I'll add that so far as I know the Windows Media Center is still a purchased add on that you order from the Apps store in your Win 8 on your computer. This is to hook up TV and Video. My understanding is that you must have Win 8 Pro installed to make it work.

So Microsoft Windows 8 has a whole repertoire of offerings. The strategy or philosophy for staging these in increments is apparently to allow buyers to select what fits their need and doesn't load the whole enchilada onto the buyer all at once with the full version which they may not want or need.

I tried to install the Win 8 32 bit on another computer with Vistas Home Premium. No dice. Rejected.

Click to expand...

that because the key you got with it was to be used for either or ,32bit or 64bit , not both

Absolutely correct

bobkn said:

What sort of Win8 license does your brother have? If it's an upgrade, the officially approved method requires that the older "qualifying" OS be installed first, and then the Win8 upgrade. (Which can be a clean install.)

Normally, an upgrade license can be installed on a hard disk that doesn't have a qualifying OS present, but the resulting installation won't activate using the upgrade key.

I've never used them, but there are work-arounds for that:

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/13375-clean-install-windows-8-upgrade.html?filter[2]=Installation and Setup

The simplest is to refresh the unactivated Win8 installation, The result is supposed to accept an upgrade key.

Click to expand...

Yea, I have read this too, that if you want to install windows 8 in a blank cd you have to install it twice and it will activate.

My brother owns a sony vaio which came with windows 7 home premium oem, so he bought the upgrade and got the media center code too (we asked for the dvd to be shipped and it came just 2 weeks ago). I think he received an email saying that he had to activate his media center code before february 1st or it wasnt gonna work after that, so he installed windows 8 on a virtual pc and activated the media center, after that he uninstalled the virtual pc and is currently using windows 7.

znod said:

​1. What version did he buy core or Pro? Did he buy an upgrade disc or system builder disc. Has it already been installed on another machine? Neither can be installed on two or more machines at a time. Yes, it will let him boot, and can be installed if the drive is blank. If upgrade, then can't install without having qualifying software--the use of which would be forfeited while Win8 is installed. The qualifying software need not be installed. If not, then likely to have to use the refresh procedure described here to activate: Clean Install with Windows 8 Upgrade.

Click to expand...

Hi, he is not using windows 8. he just activated it on a virtual pc to not lose his media center code, but he is not using windows 8 on his laptop. he wants to use it on his new build pc.

znod said:

2. What is the source of your Win7? You may not be able to use it in an EULA-consistent fashion if it is an upgrade. It it was an upgrade to an OEM preinstalled XP or Vista, then you won't be able to use it. Otherwise it should be OK unless installed on another machine and you are not using the original software upgraded from. If retail full install DVD, you can use it unless it already it is installed on another machine.

Click to expand...

Sorry I dont understand the part that says that I cant use it if the pc comes with oem xp or vista ?? why ?

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qwetymikey said:

znod said:

​1. What version did he buy core or Pro? Did he buy an upgrade disc or system builder disc. Has it already been installed on another machine? Neither can be installed on two or more machines at a time. Yes, it will let him boot, and can be installed if the drive is blank. If upgrade, then can't install without having qualifying software--the use of which would be forfeited while Win8 is installed. The qualifying software need not be installed. If not, then likely to have to use the refresh procedure described here to activate: Clean Install with Windows 8 Upgrade.

Click to expand...

Hi, he is not using windows 8. he just activated it on a virtual pc to not lose his media center code, but he is not using windows 8 on his laptop. he wants to use it on his new build pc.

znod said:

2. What is the source of your Win7? You may not be able to use it in an EULA-consistent fashion if it is an upgrade. If it was an upgrade to an OEM preinstalled XP or Vista, then you won't be able to use it. Otherwise it should be OK unless installed on another machine and you are not using the original software upgraded from. If retail full install DVD, you can use it unless it already it is installed on another machine.

Click to expand...

Sorry I dont understand the part that says that I cant use it if the pc comes with oem xp or vista ?? why ?

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Click to expand...

​1. If Win8 activated on virtual, then it is being used.

2. Yes, I said "if it was an upgrade to an OEM preinstalled XP or Vista, then you won't be able to use it." Is such a case, the upgrade was machine specific--meaning that the upgrade medium cannot be used on another machine in a EULA-consistent way.