Can you use the Windows Pro upgrade to install Windows 8 on a new HDD?

Not without a registry hack, or a previous copy of Windows already installed on the hard drive.
 

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.
Not without a registry hack, or a previous copy of Windows already installed on the hard drive.

and I take it that windows 8 RT doesnt count??
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 pro
    CPU
    i7 920 @2.67Ghz
    Motherboard
    MSI x58m
    Memory
    8Gb Corsair XMS3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Sapphire HD5870
    Hard Drives
    1x Samsung 830 128Gb
    3x Samsung 500Gb
    Cooling
    Coolermaster 212 Hyper Evo
Yes, you can not upgrade RTM but RP, CP are fine.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire E1-571
    CPU
    i5-3230m
    Motherboard
    Acer Type-2
    Memory
    8GB DDR3 1333MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD 4000
    Sound Card
    High Definiton Audio Device
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Generic
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 850 Pro 256GB
    PSU
    Generic
    Keyboard
    QWERTY
    Mouse
    ELANTECH Touchpad
    Internet Speed
    12.68Mbps
    Browser
    IE11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender

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

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 pro
    CPU
    i7 920 @2.67Ghz
    Motherboard
    MSI x58m
    Memory
    8Gb Corsair XMS3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Sapphire HD5870
    Hard Drives
    1x Samsung 830 128Gb
    3x Samsung 500Gb
    Cooling
    Coolermaster 212 Hyper Evo
You can install the upgrade with no prior OS installed. When you download the upgrade, pick the option to "save nothing" and then when the download finishes pick the option "install from new media". Take the iso and burn it to a DVD, boot from the DVD and install.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Homebuilt special
    CPU
    i3
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte
    Memory
    4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GTS250
    Sound Card
    onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 24"
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1200
    Hard Drives
    big ones
    PSU
    lots of power
    Case
    Antec
    Cooling
    Intel
    Keyboard
    Microsoft
    Mouse
    Logitech
    Internet Speed
    smokin
    Browser
    IE, Chrome
    Antivirus
    Microsoft
are we SURE about this path? have some tried and activated oK? reason I ask is simple: I have a few people I've done work for, for whom I had installed RP or CP and I had assumed they would have to move back to their original os: xp, vista, whatever, then do an upgrade. If not, sure saves some work!


You can install the upgrade with no prior OS installed. When you download the upgrade, pick the option to "save nothing" and then when the download finishes pick the option "install from new media". Take the iso and burn it to a DVD, boot from the DVD and install.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8.1, Win 10P, Win7-all, RIP XPP, 'droid 2.2, 2.3,4.x, 5..IOS,
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    many: E5440, 430 G1, E45, G4-1117DX, X120E, DC7600, X83VB-X2, NC10, Droids, Galaxy,
    CPU
    too many
    Motherboard
    ditto
    Memory
    ditto
    Graphics Card(s)
    ditto
    Internet Speed
    30mbps
are we SURE about this path? have some tried and activated oK? reason I ask is simple: I have a few people I've done work for, for whom I had installed RP or CP and I had assumed they would have to move back to their original os: xp, vista, whatever, then do an upgrade. If not, sure saves some work!


You can install the upgrade with no prior OS installed. When you download the upgrade, pick the option to "save nothing" and then when the download finishes pick the option "install from new media". Take the iso and burn it to a DVD, boot from the DVD and install.

It looks like for me at least, I have to re-install 7 first.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    .
    System Manufacturer/Model
    .
are we SURE about this path? have some tried and activated oK? reason I ask is simple: I have a few people I've done work for, for whom I had installed RP or CP and I had assumed they would have to move back to their original os: xp, vista, whatever, then do an upgrade. If not, sure saves some work!


You can install the upgrade with no prior OS installed. When you download the upgrade, pick the option to "save nothing" and then when the download finishes pick the option "install from new media". Take the iso and burn it to a DVD, boot from the DVD and install.

It looks like for me at least, I have to re-install 7 first.

something odd... i have the enterprise RTM on my lab mule and when I run the "upgrade" tool, it does not show me eligible for the 40 buck download.... I'm a second-class citizen :geek:
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8.1, Win 10P, Win7-all, RIP XPP, 'droid 2.2, 2.3,4.x, 5..IOS,
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    many: E5440, 430 G1, E45, G4-1117DX, X120E, DC7600, X83VB-X2, NC10, Droids, Galaxy,
    CPU
    too many
    Motherboard
    ditto
    Memory
    ditto
    Graphics Card(s)
    ditto
    Internet Speed
    30mbps
I started the download with Windows 7 64 bit. Got the option to choose how to upgrade, picked save nothing. After download I picked install from new media. Burned the iso file on DVD, booted from the DVD with a clean hard drive and it installed, entered my product key at the start of the install, Activation happened sometime during install. Easy
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Homebuilt special
    CPU
    i3
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte
    Memory
    4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GTS250
    Sound Card
    onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 24"
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1200
    Hard Drives
    big ones
    PSU
    lots of power
    Case
    Antec
    Cooling
    Intel
    Keyboard
    Microsoft
    Mouse
    Logitech
    Internet Speed
    smokin
    Browser
    IE, Chrome
    Antivirus
    Microsoft
super!
that's what we'll do then.

I started the download with Windows 7 64 bit. Got the option to choose how to upgrade, picked save nothing. After download I picked install from new media. Burned the iso file on DVD, booted from the DVD with a clean hard drive and it installed, entered my product key at the start of the install, Activation happened sometime during install. Easy
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8.1, Win 10P, Win7-all, RIP XPP, 'droid 2.2, 2.3,4.x, 5..IOS,
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    many: E5440, 430 G1, E45, G4-1117DX, X120E, DC7600, X83VB-X2, NC10, Droids, Galaxy,
    CPU
    too many
    Motherboard
    ditto
    Memory
    ditto
    Graphics Card(s)
    ditto
    Internet Speed
    30mbps
are we SURE about this path? have some tried and activated oK? reason I ask is simple: I have a few people I've done work for, for whom I had installed RP or CP and I had assumed they would have to move back to their original os: xp, vista, whatever, then do an upgrade. If not, sure saves some work!

It looks like for me at least, I have to re-install 7 first.

something odd... i have the enterprise RTM on my lab mule and when I run the "upgrade" tool, it does not show me eligible for the 40 buck download.... I'm a second-class citizen :geek:

The Upgrade Assistant won't allow you buy the upgrade from a machine running Win8 Enterprise Evaluation.

However, I was able to purchase it on another PC. The confirmation email included a link that allowed me to download the upgrade on the Win8 machine.

I was able to do a clean install of Win8 Pro over the Enterprise Eval copy, and activate it. (That's not supposed to work.) (In case you're concerned that I commited casual piracy, I didn't: my qualifying OS is Win7 Pro System Builder.)
 

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
(In case you're concerned that I commited casual piracy, I didn't: my qualifying OS is Win7 Pro System Builder.)


The problem is you install it on another PC than the one that qualify and from witch you download it, if not you just teach someone how to do it,
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 enterprise x64
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Pc-Quebec / Area 66
    CPU
    i7-3960X Extreme Edition
    Motherboard
    Rampage IV Extreme
    Memory
    Gskill 4x4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    4 x HD 7970
    Sound Card
    onboard
    Screen Resolution
    2560*1600
    Hard Drives
    C:\Intel series 520 SSD , 250 GB
    D:\ WD 750 black with Intel 40gb SSD cache Intel RST
    E:\ WD 2TB Black
    PSU
    Corsair AX 1200
    Case
    TT Mozart TX
    Cooling
    Water Cooled
    Keyboard
    Logitech G-15
    Other Info
    Windows 8 VM is install on his own SSD.
(In case you're concerned that I commited casual piracy, I didn't: my qualifying OS is Win7 Pro System Builder.)


The problem is you install it on another PC than the one that qualify and from witch you download it, if not you just teach someone how to do it,

I'm not sure that I understand what you post.

You can only activate the Win8 upgrade if you install it on a PC with a qualifying OS.

It's perfectly legit to install the upgrade on any qualifying PC, if you stay within the rules. (One license key per PC. An OS that qualifies for the upgrade must be present.)

The Upgrade Assistant is a lot more restrictive than I think it should be. For example: it's legit to use an upgrade license to switch from a 32 bit version to 64 bit Win8. (A clean install is required.) If the OS you're running the Assistant from is 32 bit, I know of no way to use it to download the 64 bit version. Pfui.
 

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
I started the download with Windows 7 64 bit. Got the option to choose how to upgrade, picked save nothing. After download I picked install from new media. Burned the iso file on DVD, booted from the DVD with a clean hard drive and it installed, entered my product key at the start of the install, Activation happened sometime during install. Easy

This is exactly what I did and worked no problems for me...
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 pro
    CPU
    i7 920 @2.67Ghz
    Motherboard
    MSI x58m
    Memory
    8Gb Corsair XMS3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Sapphire HD5870
    Hard Drives
    1x Samsung 830 128Gb
    3x Samsung 500Gb
    Cooling
    Coolermaster 212 Hyper Evo
I started the download with Windows 7 64 bit. Got the option to choose how to upgrade, picked save nothing. After download I picked install from new media. Burned the iso file on DVD, booted from the DVD with a clean hard drive and it installed, entered my product key at the start of the install, Activation happened sometime during install. Easy

It worked for me as well. Although I partitioned my hard drive, it was still blank and booted from burned ISO which installed flawlessly.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom build
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X 4 965 BE
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-MA790X-DS4
    Memory
    G-Skill 8 GB PC 8500
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD XFX HD Radeon 6790D
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2l Samsung SyncMaster S20B300
    Screen Resolution
    1600 X 900
    Hard Drives
    Seagate Barracuda 320 GB w/OS
    Seagate Barracuda 1 TB data storage
    PSU
    Ultra X4 750 watt fully modular
    Case
    Thermaltake OverSeer RX 1 fulltower
    Cooling
    Cooler Master Hyper212 120mm
    Keyboard
    Logitech G510
    Mouse
    Razor DeathAdder 3.5
Back
Top