Upgrading to Windows 8

templar1

New Member
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Hi folks,

Sorry for the noobness, but I'm contemplating upgrading to Windows 8 Standard but don't want an OEM version but a version that is not tied to the motherboard. I've checked Amazon but they all seem OEM. Where can I purchase a retail version? Is this version now known as the Upgrade version, and can the Upgrade version be clean installed over Windows 7?

Thanks.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
Hi folks,

Sorry for the noobness, but I'm contemplating upgrading to Windows 8 Standard but don't want an OEM version but a version that is not tied to the motherboard. I've checked Amazon but they all seem OEM. Where can I purchase a retail version? Is this version now known as the Upgrade version, and can the Upgrade version be clean installed over Windows 7?

Thanks.

IMHO, the Win 8 PRO Upgrade version is your best solution if attempting to upgrade from Win 7 and "yes" you can do a clean install. BTW, that version is a retail version. Good luck.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/13375-clean-install-windows-8-upgrade.html
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel G2020
    Motherboard
    ASRock B75M-DGS R2.0
    Memory
    8GBs @ 1333 MHz
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 840 EVO
    PSU
    400w
    Internet Speed
    57/11
With Windows 8, there is only

1) OEM manufacturer's,

2) Upgrade,

3) OEM/Retail. On sale on Amazon.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4
The OEM version in Windows 8 is not tied to one computer. MS updated the License and added a System Builder Personal Use option. You can transfer it to any computer you own.

Jim :cool:
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 HP 64bit, Windows 8.1 Pro w/Media Center 64BIT
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS - Home Built
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X6 1100T
    Motherboard
    ASUS M5A99X EVO
    Memory
    Crucial Balistic DDR-3 1866 CL 9 (8 GB)
    Graphics Card(s)
    MSI R6850 Cyclone IGD5 PE
    Sound Card
    On Chip
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ASUS VE258Q 25" LED with DVI-HDMI-DisplayPort
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Two WD Cavier Black 2TB Sata 6gbs
    WD My Book Essential 2TB USB 3.0
    PSU
    Seasonic X650 80 Plus GOLD Modular
    Case
    Corsair 400R
    Cooling
    Antec Kuhler H2O 620, Two 120mm and four 140mm
    Keyboard
    AVS Gear Blue LED Backlight
    Mouse
    Logitech Marble Mouse USB, Logitech Precision Game Pad
    Internet Speed
    15MB
    Antivirus
    NIS, Malwarebytes Premium 2
    Other Info
    APC UPS ES 750, Netgear WNR3500L Gigabit & Wireless N Router with SamKnows Test Program,
    Motorola SB6120 Gigabit Cable Modem.
    Brother HL-2170W Laser Printer,
    Epson V300 Scanner
To clarify Phone Man's comments. If you purchase the Windows 8 OEM version yourself, without hardware, then it is not tied to a PC. If you purchase a PC with the OEM version already on it, then it is tied to that PC.
 

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 have Windows 7 OEM at the moment, which came with my purchased PC. What I'm worried about is if I ever choose to upgrade my motherboard in the future I will have to purchase another copy of Windows 8. I take it by your replies that if I purchase an OEM version on Amazon, it is effectively the same as a retail version and it is NOT tied to the motherboard and I will be able to install it on a new motherboard. Would that be correct?

I've checked on Amazon and there are two versions: Upgrade £59.95 http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/...&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=418451687&pf_rd_i=468294

and OEM £109.99
Microsoft Windows 8 Pro 64 bit OEM, FQC-05955: Amazon.co.uk: Software

Obviously the cheaper option would be the Upgrade as I have Windows 7, but then I thought to myself, to install the Upgrade version on a new motherboard/Hardrive/new PC I would probably need an existing Windows 7 installed beforehand, which obviously I could not do as I know that my W7 OEM that I am using at the moment is tied to my existing PC!!! :confused:

Maybe I better go for the more expensive OEM option!
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 HP 64bit, Windows 8.1 Pro w/Media Center 64BIT
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS - Home Built
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X6 1100T
    Motherboard
    ASUS M5A99X EVO
    Memory
    Crucial Balistic DDR-3 1866 CL 9 (8 GB)
    Graphics Card(s)
    MSI R6850 Cyclone IGD5 PE
    Sound Card
    On Chip
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ASUS VE258Q 25" LED with DVI-HDMI-DisplayPort
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Two WD Cavier Black 2TB Sata 6gbs
    WD My Book Essential 2TB USB 3.0
    PSU
    Seasonic X650 80 Plus GOLD Modular
    Case
    Corsair 400R
    Cooling
    Antec Kuhler H2O 620, Two 120mm and four 140mm
    Keyboard
    AVS Gear Blue LED Backlight
    Mouse
    Logitech Marble Mouse USB, Logitech Precision Game Pad
    Internet Speed
    15MB
    Antivirus
    NIS, Malwarebytes Premium 2
    Other Info
    APC UPS ES 750, Netgear WNR3500L Gigabit & Wireless N Router with SamKnows Test Program,
    Motorola SB6120 Gigabit Cable Modem.
    Brother HL-2170W Laser Printer,
    Epson V300 Scanner
You can do a clean install of windows 8 with the Upgrade version but takes an extra procedure to activate.
If you install on a PC with a running version of Windows 7/Vista/XP then as long as the old version is in place on the disk when you start the installer, you shouldn't need to do anything extra to activate.

It's still a clean install because you can wipe the partition from within the installer.

I've done this a few times and it's always activated automatically for me.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1, 10
You can do a clean install of windows 8 with the Upgrade version but takes an extra procedure to activate.
If you install on a PC with a running version of Windows 7/Vista/XP then as long as the old version is in place on the disk when you start the installer, you shouldn't need to do anything extra to activate.

It's still a clean install because you can wipe the partition from within the installer.

I've done this a few times and it's always activated automatically for me.

What the OP wanted to know, If he buys the Upgrade version and in the future need to reinstall to a clean disc. That is what the Tutorial covers.

Jim :cool:
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 HP 64bit, Windows 8.1 Pro w/Media Center 64BIT
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS - Home Built
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X6 1100T
    Motherboard
    ASUS M5A99X EVO
    Memory
    Crucial Balistic DDR-3 1866 CL 9 (8 GB)
    Graphics Card(s)
    MSI R6850 Cyclone IGD5 PE
    Sound Card
    On Chip
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ASUS VE258Q 25" LED with DVI-HDMI-DisplayPort
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Two WD Cavier Black 2TB Sata 6gbs
    WD My Book Essential 2TB USB 3.0
    PSU
    Seasonic X650 80 Plus GOLD Modular
    Case
    Corsair 400R
    Cooling
    Antec Kuhler H2O 620, Two 120mm and four 140mm
    Keyboard
    AVS Gear Blue LED Backlight
    Mouse
    Logitech Marble Mouse USB, Logitech Precision Game Pad
    Internet Speed
    15MB
    Antivirus
    NIS, Malwarebytes Premium 2
    Other Info
    APC UPS ES 750, Netgear WNR3500L Gigabit & Wireless N Router with SamKnows Test Program,
    Motorola SB6120 Gigabit Cable Modem.
    Brother HL-2170W Laser Printer,
    Epson V300 Scanner
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