download Windows * without Upgrade Assistant

1Engineer

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I need to purchase and download Windows 8 but with a differenet computer than the one that it will be installed. I do NOT want to run Upgrade Assistant. Is there a link to purchase an download with running this extra program?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows XP, Vista, 7
I just called Microsoft and was told that I had to run the Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant program on each computer and download it to that specific computer when Windows 8 upgrade is purchased. That is what the lady at Microsoft said.

This is just stupid. Microsoft going out of their way to take somehting very simple and make it complicated and burdensome. Will they ever learn?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows XP, Vista, 7
Hello 1Engineer,

I'm not sure what you have against using the "Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant". You can only purchase and download the ISO without installing if you like.

It will not deactivate the key on the computer you run it on. You only need to make sure that the PC you run it on is the same 32-bit or 64-bit as the PC you plan on installing it on for the ISO download to be the same 32-bit or 64-bit.

When you get to step 17 in "Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant" in the tutorial below, you could do step 19 to "Install by creating media" to get the ISO without installing. Afterwards, just delete the hidden "%C:\Users\(user-name)\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WebSetup" and "C:\ESD" folders to free up your HDD space from the installation files.


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


If you really do not want to use the "Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant", then you will need to go to any online or brick & mortar retailer to purchase Windows 8. It will verify that you have a qualifying OS before letting you install it as well as "Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant" does.


Hope this helps, :)
Shawn
 

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    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Hello 1Engineer,

I'm not sure what you have against using the "Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant". You can only purchase and download the ISO without installing if you like.

It will not deactivate the key on the computer you run it on. You only need to make sure that the PC you run it on is the same 32-bit or 64-bit as the PC you plan on installing it on for the ISO download to be the same 32-bit or 64-bit.

As an engineer, function is everything. Running the Upgrade Assistant on computer A is a useless waste of time if the software is going to be installed on computer B. Microsoft had a good opportunity to make this very simple and they blew it. There are also many reports of people having problems when they attempt to buy more than one RTU for Windows 8 using the Upgrade Assistant on a single computer. I have not tried this today but plan to before the deadline.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows XP, Vista, 7
Are you able to run it on computer B?

The main point is that you have a qualifying OS key that you will no longer be using while the Windows 8 is installed and activated. If not, then you need to purchase a "System Builder" copy of Windows 8 instead of an upgrade copy to meet the EULA.

If you do, then you should not have an issue with purchasing and downloading on computer A to install on computer B since you are allowed to do so by the EULA so long as the above is true. :)

http://www.eightforums.com/general-discussion/10837-windows-8-eula.html#post129442

What about upgrading the software?
The software covered by this agreement is an upgrade to your existing operating system software, so the upgrade replaces the original software that you are upgrading. You do not retain any rights to the original software after you have upgraded and you may not continue to use it or transfer it in any way. This agreement governs your rights to use the upgrade software and replaces the agreement for the software from which you upgraded. After you complete your upgrade, additional software will be required to playback or record certain types of media, including DVDs.

Can I transfer the software to another computer or user?
You may transfer the software to another computer that belongs to you. You may also transfer the software (together with the license) to a computer owned by someone else if a) you are the first licensed user of the software and b) the new user agrees to the terms of this agreement. To make that transfer, you must transfer the original media, the certificate of authenticity, the product key and the proof of purchase directly to that other person, without retaining any copies of the software. You may use the backup copy we allow you to make or the media that the software came on to transfer the software. Anytime you transfer the software to a new computer, you must remove the software from the prior computer. You may not transfer the software to share licenses between computers. You may transfer Get Genuine Windows software, Pro Pack or Media Center Pack software only together with the licensed computer.
 

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"
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    2560x1440
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    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
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    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
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    Thermaltake Core P3
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    Corsair Hydro H115i
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    Logitech wireless K800
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    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
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    Internet Explorer 11
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    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
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    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
Thanks Brink, I am sure your response will help some people though it does not apply to my question. I understand I can burn the ISO and install on another computer. My point is that the program that must be run before the purchase is a waste of time if the install is on another computer becasue it is not truly verifying anything of value.

The transfer you reference in the EULA applies to activated installs. Downloading on one computer and installing on another is not covered in the EULA because the download computer is not considered an End User because it had no install.

In order to be consistent, Microsoft shoudl mail COA to the buyers so they can place the stickers on the computers. Without these COA, there will be problems later.


PS
Called Microsoft again this morning and was told that the downloaded ISO is unique to the computer on which it was downloaded and will fail activation if used on another computer instead of the one that it was downloaded on. The lady said that many people have tried this and it did not work so they sell them the $70 disks instead.:huh: She said that they will give a credit of the $40 download toward the purchase of the $70 disk and instruction manual.


Wow, Microsoft really went out of their way to make this not simple.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows XP, Vista, 7
1Engineer said:
The transfer you reference in the EULA applies to activated installs. Downloading on one computer and installing on another is not covered in the EULA because the download computer is not considered an End User because it had no install.


Brink said:
then you need to purchase a "System Builder" copy of Windows 8 instead of an upgrade copy to meet the EULA.


1Engineer said:
In order to be consistent, Microsoft shoudl mail COA to the buyers so they can place the stickers on the computers. Without these COA, there will be problems later.

The email is the COA.
 

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  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
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    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4
Yep, Microsoft made it to where you can't get or use an "upgrade" if you don't have a qualifying OS for the upgrade as it should be. You can blame this on the people that abused this when Microsoft made is simple from previous Windows.

As I and Ray posted above, you will need to purchase a "System Builder" copy instead if you don't have a qualify OS for the upgrade copy.


The COA stickers were done away with due to pirates copying the product keys from display models in retail stores. As Ray posted above, your purchase confirmation email is your COA 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
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    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
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    Thermaltake Core P3
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    Corsair Hydro H115i
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    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 1Engineer,

I'm not sure what you have against using the "Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant". You can only purchase and download the ISO without installing if you like.

It will not deactivate the key on the computer you run it on. You only need to make sure that the PC you run it on is the same 32-bit or 64-bit as the PC you plan on installing it on for the ISO download to be the same 32-bit or 64-bit.

As an engineer, function is everything. Running the Upgrade Assistant on computer A is a useless waste of time if the software is going to be installed on computer B. Microsoft had a good opportunity to make this very simple and they blew it. There are also many reports of people having problems when they attempt to buy more than one RTU for Windows 8 using the Upgrade Assistant on a single computer. I have not tried this today but plan to before the deadline.

As a Microsoft Engineer, I can tell you that we did this on purpose, for two reasons:

1. There are a lot of folks who just want to click a few buttons and have it do the work so when they come back after a period of time, it is done.
2. The level of abuse is higher than we'd like, much higher.

In order to find a balance between the two, this is what we came up with.

Thanks,
Johnathan Lyman
A Guy That Works For MS

(what I say is of my own volition and does not reflect anything my employer thinks, says or does).
 
Last edited:

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System One

  • OS
    Windows 8, Windows 7
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    HP Z210
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Well I downloaded my 32bit install cd on my buddy's computer becouse I needed 32bit disk but had 64 bit windows, after that I installed windows 8 to my mothers computer and my brothers computer using that same disk.
So not so unigue disk as you said, I did run that upgrade tool on every computer and buy keys for every computer.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8 pro mce
I must admit that I'm rather hoping that the ISOs aren't totally tied to the computer. I have more than one computer and legally upgraded them with a separate product key for each, but I'm not sure I kept track of which ISO was which...
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1, 10
Hello David,

You can use the downloaded 32-bit or 64-bit ISO file to install on any computer. What matters is the product key since that is your purchased license.
 

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 1Engineer,
As a Microsoft Engineer, I can tell you that we did this on purpose, for two reasons:

1. There are a lot of folks who just want to click a few buttons and have it do the work so when they come back after a period of time, it is done.
2. The level of abuse is higher than we'd like, much higher.

In order to find a balance between the two, this is what we came up with.

Thanks,
Johnathan Lyman
A Guy That Works For MS

(what I say is of my own volition and does not reflect anything my employer thinks, says or does).

Jonathan, that all sounds good except for one HUGE contradiction by Microsoft. Bill Gates himself said in an interview that Microsoft was aware of the piracy in the Asia and did not plan to hamper it because establishing the China market was more important. So here is the buff with the rest of the world and especially people in the USA. Microsoft values Chinese users more than Americans. It is the same treatment Americans get from pharmaceutical companies when Americans pay 3 times more for a medicine than people in other countries. That is not fair and provides fuel to the pirates and a clean conscience to Americans who feel like they are being picked on buy Microsoft.

I know this is above your level but Microsoft is not clean at all in this. There is probably more piracy in China in a week than the USA all year. They do not worry about Windows Updates because they use their own update servers so Microsoft cannot block them.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows XP, Vista, 7
OPINION: Bill Gates also said we would never need more than 64K of ram (or something like that). He was good at running a company, but bad at dealing with the market. To say that Microsoft values Chinese folks more than Americans is an odd statement at best. Until Microsoft can devise a way to put a leash on the ass-backwards crap that goes on in that country in terms of software pirating, they are better left to fight battles where they can make some headway. I believe people in China pirate because they can and they've built their own economy around it so why stop now? If you've spent millions upon millions of your own dollars to develop something (software, drugs, or otherwise), what are you going to do to make that money back plus a profit for your company? I'll leave it at that because you're heading down a political road and this isn't the place for that.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8, Windows 7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Z210
    Internet Speed
    25mbps
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