How to download the Windows 8.1 ISO

[budmonster]

After spending whole night, it came to nothing for me, I have tried reset after upgrade through the Store, then I tried to do a clean install, failed again, both attempt resulted in an evaluation copy installed( Build No: 9600)

I got the same thing at first:

But I clicked on the Activate tab here:


And I entered my Windows 8 Pro key and it worked.

 

[lnoton]

if you have the OEM version of windows 8 you need to wait for these versions of the windows 8.1 ISO to go up on msdn:

Windows 8.1 (multiple editions) (x64) - DVD (English)
Windows 8.1 (multiple editions) (x86) - DVD (English)


OEM keys work with multiple edition iso, however Microsoft has yet to provide the 8.1 iso.

is that any good if you don't have an msdn subscription?

 

[brummyfan]

After spending whole night, it came to nothing for me, I have tried reset after upgrade through the Store, then I tried to do a clean install, failed again, both attempt resulted in an evaluation copy installed( Build No: 9600)

I got the same thing at first: View attachment 29653

But I clicked on the Activate tab here:
View attachment 29654

And I entered my Windows 8 Pro key and it worked.
View attachment 29655

Thanks, I'll give that a try and see, good find & well done.

 

[mahtin]

I've had a few users ask whether Microsoft plans to make Media (.ISO) updates available to the general public for Windows 8.1. The answer is no.

Mary Jo Foley

 

[bkr32]

well simply put my i am unable to update via store already have everything up to date and i see the only solution to be getting an iso since this will allow me to upgrade and since the end result of this method is getting an iso i would very much appreciate any one uploading 8.1 pro 64bit

 

[SIW2]

What language is it?

 

[SIW2]

Dearie me. MS had better get themselves figured out fast, or things will keep slipping away from them. It is another symptom of the difficulties they have.

I've had a few users ask whether Microsoft plans to make Media (.ISO) updates available to the general public for Windows 8.1. The answer is no.

Mary Jo Foley

 

[alphanumeric]

if you have the OEM version of windows 8 you need to wait for these versions of the windows 8.1 ISO to go up on msdn:

Windows 8.1 (multiple editions) (x64) - DVD (English)
Windows 8.1 (multiple editions) (x86) - DVD (English)


OEM keys work with multiple edition iso, however Microsoft has yet to provide the 8.1 iso.

Those are already up on TechNet but they are dated 9/9/2013, they are the RTM versions. They won't accept a Windows 8 key for installation, only for activation. I haven't tried using an OEM key, only Retail. There are new Enterprise and VL license editions dated 10/17/2013, but that is only because you can't update those versions through the store. You have to have the install media to actually install final release version.

 

[SIW2]

It looks like the final (GA) version was finished on 30/9/13.

 

[SIW2]

I don't know how to d/l a different language iso, it keeps insisting on en-gb. Changing locale settings doesn't seem to help.

What is everyone else getting?

 

[alphanumeric]

It looks like the final (GA) version was finished on 30/9/13.

I have TechNet so I haven't bothered trying this trick out. I've been watching with keen interest though. If you can spare a minute I have a question or two to ask.
It looks like the install media you end up with is Core or Pro, not multi? Depending on the key you enter to download yes?
Is there actually anything added that isn't in the TechNet ISO, such as the rollup update?
I do have a Windows 7 PC to try this out on but I'm just wondering if I should bother. If I didn't have TechNet I would have already bit the bullet and done it.

 

[mahtin]

I don't know how to d/l a different language iso, it keeps insisting on en-gb. Changing locale settings doesn't seem to help.

What is everyone else getting?

Even after downloading a US English Language Pack I still get this.



Edit; US English is the display language, so you could try Lang Pack d/l. It's over 200 mb, if I remember right.

 

[mick823]

The first post on this thread explains how.

A simple summary:

Download both the install win 8 AND install win 8.1 from http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/w...oduct-key-only

Run windows8setup.exe, put in your win 8.0 key. As soon as it says "estimating", click the red X at top rt to close it.

Then run windowsSetupbox.exe, you don't need to enter anything, it will immediately start to d/l 8.1 which gives the option to create an iso.

Many thanks to you and the OP for the clear instructions. I have a Gateway Mini that won't run apps no matter how you try to tweak it (registry hacks..........external monitor). I am at 65% download as we speak and if my original product key works for installation I will be a happy camper.

 

[mahtin]

Well, I'll be buffered; it worked for me too.

Let me brand myself an idiot, but yes, you need to download both and do the win8 first, hitting that white x on the red background when it starts estimating.

Now the good bit: when you double click the win 8.1 .exe, instead of that "can't connect" that I have been seeing for 24 hours, the little so-and-so just starts doing the download. Yes! Doh.

 

[lnoton]

They cannot seriously be expecting OEM owners that bought a PC (ok I built mine) to have to always reinstall 8, do all the upgrades and then upgrade to 8.1 via the app store. Can they?

They are doing nothing but making it take 2hrs longer to do a reinstall. This must be a mistake.

 

[bagavan]

I downloaded an made an iso and saved it on my external HDD. How do I delete the downloaded 8.1 on my disk?

 

[mosharino]

Well, I'll be buffered; it worked for me too.

Let me brand myself an idiot, but yes, you need to download both and do the win8 first, hitting that white x on the red background when it starts estimating.

Now the good bit: when you double click the win 8.1 .exe, instead of that "can't connect" that I have been seeing for 24 hours, the little so-and-so just starts doing the download. Yes! Doh.

Glad it's working for you!

Hope my instructions are clear enough for everyone to follow !! :-D

 

[mosharino]

The first post on this thread explains how.

A simple summary:

Download both the install win 8 AND install win 8.1 from http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/w...oduct-key-only

Run windows8setup.exe, put in your win 8.0 key. As soon as it says "estimating", click the red X at top rt to close it.

Then run windowsSetupbox.exe, you don't need to enter anything, it will immediately start to d/l 8.1 which gives the option to create an iso.

Many thanks to you and the OP for the clear instructions. I have a Gateway Mini that won't run apps no matter how you try to tweak it (registry hacks..........external monitor). I am at 65% download as we speak and if my original product key works for installation I will be a happy camper.

You will most likely need one of those generic keys I heard a lot about for the install. Then you can change the product key (using yours) after install and then activate it. This thread has instructions how.

 

[mahtin]

Well, I'll be buffered; it worked for me too.

Let me brand myself an idiot, but yes, you need to download both and do the win8 first, hitting that white x on the red background when it starts estimating.

Now the good bit: when you double click the win 8.1 .exe, instead of that "can't connect" that I have been seeing for 24 hours, the little so-and-so just starts doing the download. Yes! Doh.

Glad it's working for you!

Hope my instructions are clear enough for everyone to follow !! :-D

Thank you very much, let's hope everyone else is less caffeine-challenged than me...

 

[lnoton]

The first post on this thread explains how.

A simple summary:

Download both the install win 8 AND install win 8.1 from http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/w...oduct-key-only

Run windows8setup.exe, put in your win 8.0 key. As soon as it says "estimating", click the red X at top rt to close it.

Then run windowsSetupbox.exe, you don't need to enter anything, it will immediately start to d/l 8.1 which gives the option to create an iso.

Many thanks to you and the OP for the clear instructions. I have a Gateway Mini that won't run apps no matter how you try to tweak it (registry hacks..........external monitor). I am at 65% download as we speak and if my original product key works for installation I will be a happy camper.

You will most likely need one of those generic keys I heard a lot about for the install. Then you can change the product key (using yours) after install and then activate it. This thread has instructions how.

This seems to only work for those with Retail keys...and not OEM :-( Such a shame