Clean Install - Windows 8

How to Do a Clean Install of Windows 8 or Windows 8.1


This tutorial will show you how to do a clean install of Windows 8 (ex: System Builder copy) or Windows 8.1 on your PC.


Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 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.

warning   Warning
If you want to install Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 using UEFI instead of BIOS, then see this below first.

How to Install Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 using "Unified Extensible Firmware Interface" (UEFI)

If you wanted to do a clean install with Windows 8 upgrade media, then see the tutorial below first.

How to Do a Clean Install with Windows 8 Upgrade





Here's How:

1. Boot the computer from your Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 installation DVD or USB flash drive.



2. Select your language preferences, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)


Step1.png


3. Click/tap on the Install Now button to start the installation. (see screenshot below)


Step2.jpg

4. Enter your product key that matches the installed edition of Windows, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)

Note   Note
The product key you enter must match what you are installing, or it will not work.

If this is an OEM computer that came with Windows 8 or 8.1 preinstalled, then your product key is stored in the UEFI/BIOS firmware chip and will be automatically detected instead.


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 8/8.1. These can only be added after Windows 8/8.1 is installed, then use Add Features to upgrade to the Window Media Center Pack or Windows 8 Pro Pack.

If you have a retail Windows 8 product key and want to clean install Windows 8, then see How to Do a Clean Install with Windows 8 Upgrade instead.

If you have a retail Windows 8 product key and want to clean install Windows 8.1 or Windows 8.1 Update, then you would need to enter a generic key below to install unactivated with, and change the product key later on in step 22 below to activate with your Windows 8 key.

If you have a retail Windows 8.1 product key and want to clean install Windows 8.1 or Windows 8.1 Update, then you are good.

If you have an OEM Windows 8 product key and want to clean install Windows 8.1 or Windows 8.1 Update, then you would need to enter a generic key below to install unactivated with, and change the product key later on in step 22 below to activate with your OEM Windows 8 COA product key.

If you want to clean install Windows 8 Enterprise, Windows 8.1 Enterprise, or Windows 8.1 Update Enterprise, then you would need to change the product key later on in step 22 below to activate since Enterprise editions do not ask to enter a key at this step.

Generic keys to install with:

  • Windows 8 (core): FB4WR-32NVD-4RW79-XQFWH-CYQG3
  • Windows 8 Pro: XKY4K-2NRWR-8F6P2-448RF-CRYQH
  • Windows 8 Pro with Media Center: RR3BN-3YY9P-9D7FC-7J4YF-QGJXW
  • Windows 8.1 (core): 334NH-RXG76-64THK-C7CKG-D3VPT
  • Windows 8.1 (core single language): Y9NXP-XT8MV-PT9TG-97CT3-9D6TC
  • Windows 8.1 Pro: XHQ8N-C3MCJ-RQXB6-WCHYG-C9WKB
  • Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center: GBFNG-2X3TC-8R27F-RMKYB-JK7QT
  • Windows 8.1 Enterprise: MNDGV-M6PKV-DV4DR-CYY8X-2YRXH OR FHQNR-XYXYC-8PMHT-TV4PH-DRQ3H

KMS setup keys (8/8.1): Appendix A: KMS Client Setup Keys



Product_Key.jpg

5. Check the I accept the license terms box, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)

step4.jpg


6. Click/tap on the Custom: Install Windows only (advanced) option. (see screenshot below)


Step5.jpg



7. Select the hard drive or partition that you want to install Windows 8 on, and click/tap on the Drive Options (advanced) link. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: If the hard drive or partition that you have selected is shown as unallocated, then you can just click on the Next button instead and go to step 8 since it is already empty.



Step6.jpg


8. Select a hard drive or partiton that you want to do a clean install of Windows 8 on, do one of the options for how you want to install Windows 8 to that drive or partition in the yellow TIP box below, then click/tap on the Next button when finished. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: If your hard drive is not displayed and it's either a SATA drive or in a RAID setup, then you need to connect a USB key or DVD disc with the RAID or SATA drivers on it, click on Load Driver, select the folder on the USB key or DVD that contains the RAID or SATA drivers to install them. Afterwards, your RAID drives will be available to select from to install Windows 8 on.

Tip   Tip
Drive options (advanced)


If you only have one partition for a disk # (hard drive) listed that you wanted to install Windows 8 on, then select the disk # and click on the Delete option if not grayed out to make it unallocated space.

If you have more than one partition for a disk # (hard drive) listed and want to install Windows 8 on only one of the partitions and keep the other partitions with that disk #, then only select the partition that you want to install Windows 8 on the Format option.

If you have more than one partition for a disk # (hard drive) listed and want to get rid of all of them to make that disk # one single partition drive again, then select a partition with that disk # and click on the Delete option for each partition with the same disk # until there is only one "unallocated space" with that disk # left as in the screenshot below.

To shrink an existing partition to create another partition to install Windows 8 on instead, select the partition that you want to shrink and click on the Extend option. Type in how much in MB (1 GB = 1024 MB) that you want to shrink it by. Now select the new extended partition.



Note   Note
The 350 MB System Reserved partition is used for the Boot Manager code, BCD (Boot Configuration Database), System Recovery Options (Windows RE), and start up files for BitLocker (if turned on).

If you want to have (recommended) the 350 MB System Reserved partition in addition to the Windows 8 C: partition on a HDD or SSD after installation, then you would need to make sure that all partitions on the drive have been deleted until it is only unallocated space. Next, select the unallocated drive to install Windows 8 on. If there are no partitions on the disk, you will get the 350 MB System Reserved.

If you do not want to have the 350 MB System Reserved partition and only the Windows 8 C: partition on a HDD or SSD after installation, then select a formatted partition or drive to install Windows 8 on. If there are any partitions on the disk, you won't get the 350 MB System Reserved.





Step7.jpg


9. The installation of Windows 8 will now begin. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: During the installation process, your screen may flash and computer will restart a few times.


Step8.jpg

10. When you get to this point, type in a computer/PC name (ex: Brink-PC) that you want for this PC, then click/tap on the Next button. (see screenshot below)


Step9.jpg


11. Select either the Use express settings or Customize button depending on how you want to set these settings. (see screenshot below)

A) If you select Use express settings, then go to step 16 below.

B) If you select Customize, then continue on to step 12 below.


Step9B.jpg



12. Select the share settings you would like. (see screenshot below)


Custom-1.jpg

Windows_8.1_Share.jpg

13. Select the Windows Update and IE security settings that you want, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshots below)


custom-2.jpg

Windows_8.1_Updates.jpg

14. Select the settings that you want, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshots below)


Custom-4.jpg

Windows_8.1_solutions.jpg


15. Select the settings that you want, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshots below)


Custom-3.jpg

Windows_8.1_Info.jpg


16. Do either step 17 or step 18 below depending on if your would like to sign in to Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 with either a local account or Microsoft account. (see screenshots below)

Note   Note
If you are not connected to the internet during installation, you will default to step 18C to set up a local account.

You will still be able to add or switch to a Microsoft account later after Windows is installed if you like when you are connected to the internet.



Step10.jpg

Windows_8_1_Microsoft_account.jpg



17. If you want to Sign in to Windows 8 or 8.1 with a Microsoft Account

Note   Note
Microsoft account:

  • You use your email address and password to sign in to Windows 8.
  • When you sign in with a Microsoft account, your PC is connected to the cloud.
  • Your friends’ contact info and statuses are automatically up to date from your Hotmail, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and other accounts.
  • You can get to and share your photos, documents, and other files from SkyDrive, Facebook, Flickr, and other accounts without signing in to each one.
  • Your personal settings are synced to any PC running Windows 8 that you sign in to, including your themes, language preferences, browser favorites, and apps.
  • You can get apps in the Windows Store and use them on any PC running Windows 8 that you sign in to.
  • Easily reacquire your Metro style apps on multiple Windows 8 PCs. The app’s settings and last-used state persist across all your Windows 8 PCs.
  • You can associate the most commonly used Windows settings to your user account. In this way, the saved settings are available when you sign in to your account on any Windows 8 PC. So your PC will be set up just the way you are used to.
  • You can also save time with sign-in credentials, because now the same credentials are available for the different apps and websites you use and you can easily get back into them without having to enter credentials every time.
  • You can automatically sign in to apps and services that use Windows Live ID for authentication.




A) Type in your email address, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below step 16)
NOTE: If you do not have a Windows Live ID email address and would like to use one, then click/tap on Sign up for a new email address link to get one.

B) Enter the password for the email address, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshots below and below step 16)
NOTE: If you do not have a Windows Live ID email address and would like to use one, then click /tap on Sign up for a Microsoft account link to get one.


Live-1.jpgother-1.jpg


C) For Windows 8, enter security verification info if you like, click/tap on Next, and go to step 17G below. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: If you are setting up an email address, then you may have a few additional screens to fill out as well.


Live-2.jpg




D) In Windows 8.1, you can use two-step verification to add this PC as a "trusted device", and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)



code-1.jpg

Enter the received security code, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)

code-2.jpg

E) In Windows 8.1, select how to set up your PC, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshots below)



  • [*=1]If you select a listed PC name that you sign in to with the same Microsoft account, then your settings and apps from that PC will be synced (copied) to this PC. Afterwards, go to step 17G below.


  • [*=1]If you selectset this up as a new PC instead, then this PC will be set up as new PC without your settings and apps synced from another PC as above. Afterwards, continue on to step 17F below.
Windows_8.1_clean_install_setup-1.jpg

Windows_8.1_clean_install_setup-2.jpg


F) Select to either "Don't use SkyDrive" or "Use SkyDrive". (see screenshot below)

SkyDrive.jpg



G) Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 will now prepare your PC for your Microsoft account.

H) Go to step 19 below.



18. If you want to Sign in to Windows 8 or 8.1 with a Local Account

Note   Note
Local account:

  • You use a user name (and password if you want one) to sign in to Windows 8 just like it was in Vista and Windows 7.
  • A local user account gives you access to only the PC it's on. You will need a separate user account created on each PC you use.
  • None of your settings will be synced between the PCs you use, and you won't get the benefits of connecting your PC to the cloud.



A) For Windows 8.1, click/tap on the Create a new account link. (see bottom screenshot below and below step 16)


Local_Account_A.png


Click/tap on the Sign in without a Microsoft account link, and go to step 18C below. (see screenshot below)

Local_Account_B.png

B) For Windows 8, click/tap on the Sign in without a Microsoft account link. (see top screenshot below step 16)



Click/tap on the Local account button, and go to step 18C below. (see screenshot below)


Step11.jpg



C) Type in user name, password, and password hint for your user account (administrator type), and click/tap on Finish. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: Your user name must be different than the computer name you entered at step 10 above.




Step12.jpg


D) Windows 8 or 8.1 will now prepare your PC for your local administrator user account.


E) Continue on to step 19.



19. When installation is finished, welcome to Windows 8 or Windows 8.1. (see screenshot below)



Windows8.jpg




20. It is highly recommened that you create a password reset disk for your user account just in case you forget it later. You will be able to use it to reset your user account password.

21. Install any needed drivers for your devices, and update your WEI score.

22. If you have an Enterprise edition or needed to use a generic key to install with from step 4 above, then you will now need to change the product key to enter your key and activate it.

Tip   Tip
If you need to first find your OEM product key that is embedded in the UEFI firmware chip, then OPTION FIVE in the tutorial below can help show you what it is to enter in step 22.

How to Find Your Windows 8 and 8.1 Product Key Number





That's it,
Shawn



 

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Last edited by a moderator:
It comes included with a set of generic drivers, and can get them through Windows Update sometimes. It's best to install the latest device drivers from their manufacturer's support site though.

Hi Brink

Just wanted to get back to you and let you know what I have discovered.

It seems that Windows 8 does install successfully but I am not able to view it on my monitor. It does appear to be a video problem. I guess it is time that I join everyone in the 21st century. I have a test bench in the basement where I assemble systems. I am still using a Sony 19 inch CRT monitor. On a lark I hooked the box up to an LCD monitor and had no problems with the OS installation. It was not connected to the internet and the installation was flawless. I have repeated this more than once, so I am confident, at least in my case, the issue has been resolved.

Perhaps it is time to retire this CRT monitor.

Thanks to everyone for their input. I appreciate it.

Tony V
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8 pro x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    home built
    CPU
    I7-3770K
    Motherboard
    ga-z77x-ud3h
    Memory
    2X 8G Sport DDR3-1600
    Graphics Card(s)
    onboard
Hello Tony,

Thank you for posting back with your results.

Yeah, I suppose that old CRT is official obsolete now. ;)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
So here is my question. I have a Lenovo W530 with a Windows 8 license in the bios and I can install Windows 8 from an ISO and then install the updates and then 8.1 and then all the updates and then more updates. I have an 8.1 with Update1 ISO and wonder how to get the install completed given this scenerio with the 8.1w/update ISO or will this one always require the install from the 8.0 ISO and then all that updating?

I have the Key pulled off the bios and am going to go ahead when I get 5 minutes to breathe and try to use this updated ISO. I hope I explained the situation well enough.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Tablet
    System Manufacturer/Model
    MS Surface Pro 2
    CPU
    I5 4200U
    Motherboard
    Tablet
    Memory
    4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    128GB SSD
    Case
    VaporMg
    Cooling
    Interal Fans / Haswell
    Keyboard
    Microsooft Touch / back lighted.
    Mouse
    USB MS Ergo4000
    Internet Speed
    Cable 15Mbps
    Browser
    IE 11
    Antivirus
    Bit Defender
Hello Machistmo,

You could use the 8.1 Update ISO, but you will need to install using a generic key (step 4) at first. When the Windows installation is finished, you would then need to change your product key to your OEM COA key to activate. It's all in the tutorial steps though. :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
I must have missed it as did one of my co-workers. Then again we are doing this inbetween regular work. So anything is possible. We did not see the Step 22 as containing the needed information. You have to pull the key off the bios first. Because none of the machines we get shipped have keys they are all contained in the BIOS. So after using the ISO(UPDATED) when the pull was run, it pulled the Generic Key entered previously not the BIOS key. All the machines come pre-downgraded but have Windows 8 licenses.

So anyway... Is the a sure fire direct way to get the key from the BIOS no matter what product key is installed? Again this is a side project and only being done in the 5 minute chunks of time we have to devote to it.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Tablet
    System Manufacturer/Model
    MS Surface Pro 2
    CPU
    I5 4200U
    Motherboard
    Tablet
    Memory
    4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    128GB SSD
    Case
    VaporMg
    Cooling
    Interal Fans / Haswell
    Keyboard
    Microsooft Touch / back lighted.
    Mouse
    USB MS Ergo4000
    Internet Speed
    Cable 15Mbps
    Browser
    IE 11
    Antivirus
    Bit Defender

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
It a unique set of circumstances, I understand. It's just like MS to overly complicate. So I still dont like that they decided to make 8.1 not accept the 8 keys. I know there are reasons for everything, I just dont like it. It appears that all these Keyfinders just pull from whatever is installed and not from the encrypted BIOS file, is that right? Anyway thanks for your time, it is always appreciated.

Leave it to an insurance company to try to get us excited about it being Wednesday.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Tablet
    System Manufacturer/Model
    MS Surface Pro 2
    CPU
    I5 4200U
    Motherboard
    Tablet
    Memory
    4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    128GB SSD
    Case
    VaporMg
    Cooling
    Interal Fans / Haswell
    Keyboard
    Microsooft Touch / back lighted.
    Mouse
    USB MS Ergo4000
    Internet Speed
    Cable 15Mbps
    Browser
    IE 11
    Antivirus
    Bit Defender
Yeah, they'll only pull whatever key that Windows is currently activated with.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Are the ISOs no longer available?

Hey Casey,

If you have a retail product key, you can still download a Windows 8.1 w/Update ISO. :)

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

Hey Brink,

Well I don't have a key yet but, I was just hoping to have a hard copy just my W7 & XP only to remember that M$ decided to do away with hard copies & ISOs :cry: I guess I'll just have to wait lol. Thanks though man. ;)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 64-bit
You're welcome.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Looking for help installing retail version of 8.1.
Gigabyte GA-78LMT motherboard
4gb of ram
Seagate 500gb sata HDD ( new, but was used on an older machine using windows XP until i could get other components)

Tried to install 8.1 and i get to the screen about drive partitions. The warning message i get says the partition is not big enough. The install is not seeing the entire disk size. I would normally just format the drive at about this time during the installation of older windows software, but it will not let me click format from the options. It will not let me do anything at this point. Can I use the DISKPART to clean the drive to continue the installation?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    xp
Looking for help installing retail version of 8.1.
Gigabyte GA-78LMT motherboard
4gb of ram
Seagate 500gb sata HDD ( new, but was used on an older machine using windows XP until i could get other components)

Tried to install 8.1 and i get to the screen about drive partitions. The warning message i get says the partition is not big enough. The install is not seeing the entire disk size. I would normally just format the drive at about this time during the installation of older windows software, but it will not let me click format from the options. It will not let me do anything at this point. Can I use the DISKPART to clean the drive to continue the installation?

You can try this tool. WD Support / Downloads / Other Products / Data Lifeguard Diagnostic for Windows It writes zeros to first last million sectors and deletes the full partition table. After running this tool, you'll have to re-initialize the disk. If you need help re-initializing the disk, let us know.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 64-bit

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
I have a Win 8 retail disc and a recent 8.1 burned one from the online iso file. Do the generic keys refer to the original disc version or the one being used for the install? Thanks,
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8.1 Pro x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    DIY
    CPU
    i5 4690K
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-Z97X-UD5H-BK3 (rev. 1.2) UEFI Bios
    Memory
    16 GB (4x4)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Sapphire Ultimate HD7750
    Sound Card
    JCAT USB
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell U2412M
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1200
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 850 Pro 256 GB SSD
    Seagate 3TB, 2TB & 1TB HDDs
    PSU
    Seasonic x650 PSU
    Case
    Cooler Master Elite 335
    Cooling
    Prolimatech Megahalems Rev. C cooler, 3 Nexus Silent Fans
    Keyboard
    IBM Model M
    Mouse
    Bornd Wireless Mouse
    Internet Speed
    60+ mbps claimed
    Antivirus
    Comodo CIS, MBAM Pro
    Other Info
    PS Audio Directstream dac, Quad 12L powered speakers, Core Audio Tech Kora LPS, JCAT USB card, Uptone Regen USB

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Hello Brink, thank you very much for all the outstanding walk throughs and tutorials. I was hoping I could verify a few things with you before I went ahead and started the whole process of doing a clean install on my laptop. Unfortunately I don't have the capability to send you private messages on this forum. Is there a way I can message you other than through these threads? assuming you wouldn't mind answering a few questions.

Thank you again for all this awesome info,

- Joey
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8.1
Hello Joey, and welcome to Eight Forums.

Please go ahead and post your questions here, and I'll be happy to see what I can do to help. :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
well I have gone through a lot of you instructions and I think I understand what to do, but I do not have much experience with this kind of computer work. I recently received a Samsung Avit book 4 with a lot of bloatware and I wanted to do a clean install of 8.1

I don't have 8.1 Pro and I'm pretty sure the OS didn't come on a disk so its OEM, it came with Windows 8 (standard) not 8.1 btw. So I wanted to use a bootable usb with UEFI to install 8.1 then activate using my product key as you have outlined in many threads.

However I was planning on factory resetting the system now and copying the current partitions just in case I messed things up, because the article says that the disk needs to be completely partition free. You clearly state that you cannot make a sector by sector copy of GPT disks, but can make a copy of sector by sector copy of contents of ESP.

1. Is it possible to/How can I clone, or make an exact copy of my current system and place it on an external hard drive without messing the data up. Aside from my C: drive, I have 5! other partitions and I'm not sure what contains what. There's a healthy: a EFI system partition , and 4!! recovery partitions; some only half a GB some 20GBs

2. I also wanted to confirm that even though I already recovered my encrypted product key, do I still need to enter a generic key upon installation, and activated later with my OEM key?

I have other questions but hopefully you can direct me to a solution for these questions first.

Thank again!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8.1
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