Do i need to buy a new copy of windows 8.1?

[papagrande]

So my laptop stopped working and I'm now planning on building a new PC. So i was wondering can i use my copy of windows 8.1 from my laptop and install it on my future PC? Somehow? Or do i need to spend more money.. Thanks in advance!

 

[popeye]

Did you ever extract the key from the laptop? Will definitely need that. Look here at post #4: http://www.eightforums.com/installation-setup/63462-windows-oem-reinstall.html

 

[Phone Man]

Your laptop key is an OEM key and is locked to your laptop. You will need to buy a new key for you new PC.

Jim

 

[TairikuOkami]

When you upgrade to 10, you will have a full version, which you can legally use on any computer.
Windows 10 should come out in a few months, you can use pretty stable testing version till then.

 

[alphanumeric]

Factory OEM install or bought yourself Retail install?

 

[Rocky]

From another thread, this is good information;
http://personaluselicense.windows.com/en-US/default.aspx

 

[Phone Man]

When you upgrade to 10, you will have a full version, which you can legally use on any computer.
Windows 10 should come out in a few months, you can use pretty stable testing version till then.

Where did you get that information? MS has not released the details on the upgrade.

Jim

 

[alphanumeric]

When you upgrade to 10, you will have a full version, which you can legally use on any computer.
Windows 10 should come out in a few months, you can use pretty stable testing version till then.

Where did you get that information? MS has not released the details on the upgrade.


Jim

Yeah, that's stretching things a bit isn't it. It isn't going to be a free upgrade from the preview either, not as far as I know anyway. I'd also like to see where you got that info from.

 

[DeaconFrost]

As far as I know, you definitely won't be able to upgrade from one of the preview builds. You would need a licensed version to do so.

That being said, you can pick up Windows 8.1 for $100. Not only will that give you a good OS for now, but will also mean you'll get Windows 10 for free later this year. Assuming your laptop has the OEM version installed....meaning it came with the laptop, you won't be able to reuse that license on another computer.

 

[TairikuOkami]

When you upgrade to 10, you will have a full version, which you can legally use on any computer.
Windows 10 should come out in a few months, you can use pretty stable testing version till then.

Where did you get that information? MS has not released the details on the upgrade.

Jim

Upgrade always turns into a full version once activated. It is in EULA.
I have bought Windows 8 Upgrade and it is transferable to any computer.

 

[DeaconFrost]

Upgrade always turns into a full version once activated. It is in EULA.
I have bought Windows 8 Upgrade and it is transferable to any computer.

That isn't the issue in question. The issue is that you can't upgrade to Windows 10 (final) from a preview build of Windows 10.

 

[TairikuOkami]

Upgrade always turns into a full version once activated. It is in EULA.
I have bought Windows 8 Upgrade and it is transferable to any computer.

That isn't the issue in question. The issue is that you can't upgrade to Windows 10 (final) from a preview build of Windows 10.

I never suggested that. I said to use the preview version and once RTM is out, upgrade from 8.1 and since upgrading does not require Windows to be actually running, problem solved and money saved.

 

[DeaconFrost]

Since it seems as though the previous license will need to be installed first, how would that work in this situation?

 

[alphanumeric]

IMHO it's all guess work at this stage. Even so, I would be very surprised if this free upgrade was transferable to another PC. Free is going to come with restrictions, IMHO.

 

[Rocky]

IMHO it's all guess work at this stage. Even so, I would be very surprised if this free upgrade was transferable to another PC. Free is going to come with restrictions, IMHO.

I think that you may be right.