Windows 8 install on fresh drive

melabones36000

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Location
Pittsburgh, PA
I was wondering if I were to use the Windows 8 disc to install windows 8 onto a new SSD drive would my Windows 8 upgrade key work on the SSD drive or does it only work on a drive that previously had Windows 7 installed on?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Hewlett-Packard p6754y
    CPU
    AMD Athlon II X4 640 Processor, 3000 Mhz, 4 Core
    Motherboard
    FOXCONN N-Alvorix-RS880-uATX (Alvorix)
    Memory
    2X 4GB Kingston Memory (Upgraded)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia Geforce GTX 660TI PCI Express x16 graphics
    Sound Card
    Nvidia High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    VIZIO HDTV
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    Hitachi 1TB (Main)
    Western Digital C 1TB (Backup)
    PSU
    Corsair GS 700
    Case
    Cooler Master HAF 922
    Cooling
    1 x 120mm rear fan, 1 x 200mm front fan, 1 x 200mm top fan, CPU fan
    Keyboard
    HP Standard Keyboard
    Mouse
    Logitech Wireless Mouse
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2013
The Windows 8 upgrade process requires the recognition of an installed OS of XPSP3 or higher. A blank SSD does not meet that upgrade requirement.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro X64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo IdeaCenter K450
    CPU
    Intel Quad Core i7-4770 @ 3.4Ghz
    Motherboard
    Lenovo
    Memory
    16.0GB PC3-12800 DDR3 SDRAM 1600 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Integrated HD Graphics
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP h2207
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050@59Hz
    Hard Drives
    250GB Samsung EVO SATA-3 SSD;
    2TB Seagate ST2000DM001 SATA-2;
    1.5TB Seagate ST3150041AS SATA
    PSU
    500W
    Keyboard
    Wired USB
    Mouse
    Wired USB
    Internet Speed
    3GB Up, 30GB Down
    Browser
    SeaMonkey
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender; MBAM Pro
    Other Info
    UEFI/GPT
    PLDS DVD-RW DH16AERSH
So is there a way to copy my operating system from my HDD to an SSD
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Hewlett-Packard p6754y
    CPU
    AMD Athlon II X4 640 Processor, 3000 Mhz, 4 Core
    Motherboard
    FOXCONN N-Alvorix-RS880-uATX (Alvorix)
    Memory
    2X 4GB Kingston Memory (Upgraded)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia Geforce GTX 660TI PCI Express x16 graphics
    Sound Card
    Nvidia High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    VIZIO HDTV
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    Hitachi 1TB (Main)
    Western Digital C 1TB (Backup)
    PSU
    Corsair GS 700
    Case
    Cooler Master HAF 922
    Cooling
    1 x 120mm rear fan, 1 x 200mm front fan, 1 x 200mm top fan, CPU fan
    Keyboard
    HP Standard Keyboard
    Mouse
    Logitech Wireless Mouse
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2013

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
Brink's instructions work, I've used them. No qualifying OS needed.

Acronis True Image 2013 has a good Clone tool.
Macrium Reflect Free also has one.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro X64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo IdeaCenter K450
    CPU
    Intel Quad Core i7-4770 @ 3.4Ghz
    Motherboard
    Lenovo
    Memory
    16.0GB PC3-12800 DDR3 SDRAM 1600 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Integrated HD Graphics
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP h2207
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050@59Hz
    Hard Drives
    250GB Samsung EVO SATA-3 SSD;
    2TB Seagate ST2000DM001 SATA-2;
    1.5TB Seagate ST3150041AS SATA
    PSU
    500W
    Keyboard
    Wired USB
    Mouse
    Wired USB
    Internet Speed
    3GB Up, 30GB Down
    Browser
    SeaMonkey
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender; MBAM Pro
    Other Info
    UEFI/GPT
    PLDS DVD-RW DH16AERSH
Here's the Windows 8 EULA extracted directly from Brink's tutorial that you linked to:

Windows 8 EULA

What about upgrading the software?
The software covered by this agreement is an upgrade to your existing operating system (XP SP3, Vista, or Windows 7) 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.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
So what if my HDD drive died on me and I had no backup but I purchased the Windows 8 backup discs when I purchased the upgrade from windows store they wouldn't allow me to use the disc on a new drive and use my upgrade key I'd pretty much have to purchase a new retail key?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Hewlett-Packard p6754y
    CPU
    AMD Athlon II X4 640 Processor, 3000 Mhz, 4 Core
    Motherboard
    FOXCONN N-Alvorix-RS880-uATX (Alvorix)
    Memory
    2X 4GB Kingston Memory (Upgraded)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia Geforce GTX 660TI PCI Express x16 graphics
    Sound Card
    Nvidia High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    VIZIO HDTV
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    Hitachi 1TB (Main)
    Western Digital C 1TB (Backup)
    PSU
    Corsair GS 700
    Case
    Cooler Master HAF 922
    Cooling
    1 x 120mm rear fan, 1 x 200mm front fan, 1 x 200mm top fan, CPU fan
    Keyboard
    HP Standard Keyboard
    Mouse
    Logitech Wireless Mouse
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2013
Brink's instructions work, I've used them. No qualifying OS needed.

Acronis True Image 2013 has a good Clone tool.
Macrium Reflect Free also has one.

Hi Ztruker,

Yes, I read Brink's tutorial thoroughly and I guess I owe you an apology (and a rep). However, I am sure that methodology is in violation of the Microsoft EULA agreement (cited in the tutorial); therefore, I would never use it personally. Sorry Brink.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
On my final followup note, here's the way I (generally) did the same thing the OPs trying to do; however, there are some restrictions to this method but I will not go into details because I just had a root canal at the dentist today and I think I'm heading for another root canal in this thread:

1-Created a system image of my Win 7 HD and stored in on my external drive.
2-Installed my new SSD
3-Restored my Win 7 image to the SSD
4-Upgraded to Win 8 Pro
5-Right back in and did a Win 8 clean install (erased all existing partitions)
6-Checked SSD alignment OK and verified TRIM was active

Cheers to all!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
Clean install works just fine for me on clean ssd…
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 7 & Win 8
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd.
    CPU
    AMD Athlon II X2 245
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-MA785GM-US2H
    Memory
    4096 MB DDR2-SDRAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    On bord
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