Clean Install with Windows 8 Upgrade

How to Do a Clean Install with Windows 8 Upgrade

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This tutorial will show you how to do a clean install with a Windows 8 upgrade copy on an empty drive (HDD/SSD).

Windows 8 System Requirements
Windows 8 works great on the same hardware that powers Windows 7.

Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster

RAM: 1 gigabyte (GB) (32-bit) or 2 GB (64-bit)

Hard disk space: 16 GB (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit)

Graphics card: MicrosoftDirectX 9 graphics device or higher

Additional requirements to use certain features:

• To use touch, you need a tablet or a monitor that supports multitouch.
• To access the Windows Store and to download and run apps, you need an active Internet connection and a screen resolution of at least 1024 x 768.
• To snap apps, you need a screen resolution of at least 1366 x 768.

Here's How:

1. If you haven't already, you will need to either purchase a Windows 8 Upgrade from a retailer, or use the Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant to purchase and download a Windows 8.1 ISO file online from Microsoft to create a bootable USB/DVD with.


2. Do a clean install or clean install with UEFI with your Windows 8 upgrade USB/DVD, and enter your Windows 8 product key number during installation.
NOTE: You can do the clean install using either a local account or Microsoft account. It doesn't matter.

   Warning

You will only be able to enter a Windows 8 or Windows 8 Pro product key.

You will not be able to enter a Window Media Center Pack or Windows 8 Pro Pack product key. These are considered to be an upgrade key and can't be used to install Windows 8. These can only be added after Windows 8 is installed, then use Add Features to upgrade to the Window Media Center Pack or Windows 8 Pro Pack.

3. When the clean install is finished, if you check in System, you will see that your Windows 8 upgrade may not be activated yet.





4. Do step 5 or 6 below for how you would like to activate the Windows 8 upgrade.


5. Activate by Refreshing the Windows 8 Upgrade

A) Refresh Windows 8, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: You would use OPTION TWO at this link. Be sure to keep your Windows 8 installation DVD in the drive or Windows 8 installation USB connected.




6. Activate Windows 8 Upgrade using a BAT File Download

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .bat file below, and save it to your desktop.


Activate_Windows_Upgrade_after_Clean_Install.bat





B) Right click or press and hold on the downloaded .bat file, and click/tap on Run as administrator.

C) If prompted, click/tap on Run and Yes (UAC).
NOTE: If you like, you can stop getting the Run prompt by unblocking the downloaded .bat file.

D) You will now notice a command prompt quickly open and close while applying the changes to your registry.

E) Click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)




E) Restart the computer to apply, and go to step 7 below.


7. When finshed, if you check in System, you will see that your Windows 8 upgrade is now activated with the product key you entered in step 2 above.




8. You have just finished doing a clean install with an upgrade copy of Windows 8.


That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

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• How to Do a Clean Install of Windows 8 or Windows 8.1
• How to Clean Install Windows on a MSATA (SSD) Drive
• How to Install Windows 8 Using "Unified Extensible Firmware Interface" (UEFI)
• How to Upgrade from Windows 8, Windows 7, Vista, or XP to Windows 8 or 8.1
• How to Downgrade Windows 8 to Windows 7
• How to Download and Run the "Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant"
• How to Create or Download a Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 ISO
• How to Install Windows 8 on VirtualBox
• How to Install Windows 8 on VMware Player
• How to Do a Dual Boot Installation with Windows 8 and Windows 7 or Vista
• How to Create a Windows 8 VHD at Boot to Dual Boot with Windows 7 or Vista
• How to Change the Product Key Number in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Find Your Windows 8 Product Key Number
• How to Activate Windows 8 and 8.1 by Phone
• How to Do a Repair Install of Windows 8 without Losing Anything

 

[Erayes]

Hey I am building a new computer and I thought I would be able to install the student edition on a new drive. I am wondering if I should follow this guide and if so use option 1 or two? I just bought it of the Microsoft store and I have a product key.

Thanks

 

[Brink]

Hello Erayes, and welcome to Eight Forums.

Is this for Windows 8 or 8.1?

If Windows 8, then you could use the steps in this tutorial to do so.

If Windows 8.1, then you should be able to just do a normal clean install below.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2299-clean-install-windows-8-a.html

 

[Erayes]

Hello Erayes, and welcome to Eight Forums.

Is this for Windows 8 or 8.1?

If Windows 8, then you could use the steps in this tutorial to do so.

If Windows 8.1, then you should be able to just do a normal clean install below.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2299-clean-install-windows-8-a.html

Hello Brink and thanks for the quick reply. I am installing Windows 8.1 but it states that it is only an upgrade for windows 7. I have also been told that I cannot install it on a clean drive. Here is the link to the offer - Windows 8.1 Pro - Microsoft Store Canada Online Store.


Thank you very much for your help.

 

[Brink]

That's only if you wanted to upgrade your current Windows instead of a clean install.

It's a full version, so you can do a clean install if you like.

 

[Erayes]

That's only if you wanted to upgrade your current Windows instead of a clean install.

It's a full version, so you can do a clean install if you like.

Wow really thanks. However when I look at my orders it only shows a button to install and downloads windowssteupbox. So to install I just download the windows 8.1 ISO, use the usb tool and boot from the usb?

 

[Brink]

Correct.

 

[Erayes]

Correct.

Wait I can't find the Windows 8.1 ISO download anywhere. Are you sure it available for download?

Thanks

 

[Brink]

When using the Windows 8.1 Upgrade Assistant, see if you could do step 19 below to get the ISO.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/11885-windows-8-upgrade-assistant-download-run.html

If not, then see if you may be able to get the ISO using this below instead with your product key.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/18309-windows-8-windows-8-1-iso-download-create.html

 

[Erayes]

Ok I will try this out tomorrow and get back to you. Do I put the upgrade assistant on my new computer with a usb or on my old computer?

Again thank you so much for your help.

 

[Brink]

Personally, I would see if you may be able to use OPTION TWO to download the ISO directly on your existing computer to then be able to create a USB with.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/18309-windows-8-windows-8-1-iso-download-create.html

 

[Erayes]

Personally, I would see if you may be able to use OPTION TWO to download the ISO directly on your existing computer to then be able to create a USB with.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/18309-windows-8-windows-8-1-iso-download-create.html

No luck on option two it says it must be run from a windows 7 computer. I also can't run the assistant file, however I do have a windows 8 laptop so I could try using that.

 

[Erayes]

When I run the setupbox on my windows 8 laptop it asks me for a product key, should I enter it?

 

[Erayes]

Personally, I would see if you may be able to use OPTION TWO to download the ISO directly on your existing computer to then be able to create a USB with.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/18309-windows-8-windows-8-1-iso-download-create.html

Also how do I tell if my key is an OEM key.

Thanks Brink.

 

[Erayes]

WOW IT WORKED! Thank you so very much Brink for all your help.

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome.

You don't have an OEM product key. From what you posted that you purchased, it's a student copy, which is the same as "retail".

 

[RobotV6]

Can I use this method to do a clean install with whatever Key I get from either of these purchases
Win8.1Pro
Win8 Pro


I want to do a clean install on a totally blank fresh-out-the-box SSD. I'd be using DVD with the ISO in the DVDrom.

 

[Ztruker]

All I have is Windows 8.0 Pro ISO. Can it be used to install and active a Laptop that came with Windows 8.0 Core? If so, is there a tutorial for it?

 

[Brink]

Hey Rich,

If it's a "retail" Windows 8 Pro ISO file, then yes it can be used to install core or Pro. The product key you enter during the installation is what determines if core or Pro gets installed.

Windows 8 installs like an upgrade copy, and Windows 8.1 installs like a full copy.

You can use this tutorial to do so though.

 

[Ztruker]

The laptop came with 8.0 Core X64. I used a TechSoup (Microsoft Volume Licensing Service Center) 8.0 Pro X64 to clean install with. It picked up the key from BIOS (embedded) but won't activate. I don't remember the exact failure message though. I'll ask the owner to try again and write it down then send it to me.

 

[Ztruker]

This is the error he is getting:

Error code: 0x8007007B
Error Description: The filename, directory name, or volume label syntax is incorrect

Could this be caused by the install being done from a TechSoup (Microsoft Volume Licensing Service Center) 8.0 Pro X64 downloaded ISO?

The only key he has is the one embedded in BIOS.