Windows 8 "Standard Edition"?

Ownage

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I recently bought an OEM PC with Windows 8 pre-loaded. Oddly it doesn't have a product key printed on it. I was able to obtain it with BelArc but that is a different story. Anyway the wiki for Windows 8 lists four editions; RT, Windows 8, Windows 8 Pro, Windows 8 Enterprise. When I search Windows 8 on ebay\amazon I can only find Windows 8 Pro retail. What is standard Windows 8? Is that what people got for upgrading Win7->Win8?

Ideally I am looking for a Windows 8 standard ISO. With Windows 7 mydigitalriver had all the legal ISOs. The MDL forums are passing around links for Windows 8 Enterprise 90 day evaluation but I see nothing discussed about the standard edition.

I'm assuming my OEM PC was loaded with the "Standard Edition".

I want an ISO so that I can perform Windows 8 installations for people quickly. With Windows 7 I had every edition on different CDs\USB keys. I would install them fresh without a product key and either use their original or just purchase a key from an online retailer if they were unable to find their original.
 

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Standard install iso contains both consumer editions. Core and Pro.

I think you will have to hunt for it - it should be easy.
 

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"Standard Edition" may be referring to the basic "Windows 8', also know as the "core" edition. Windows 8 pro is a level up to that. The ISO's I've seen on TechNet are referred to as Windows 8 Multi. They contain multiple editions, Windows 8 (core) and Windows 8 Pro. If the PC came with a preinstalled OEM Windows 8 it has an embed product code. It will be detected automatically and the matching edition of Windows 8 will be installed and activated. If it doesn't have an embedded product code you'll be prompted to enter one during the install. The code entered determines which edition is installed. I'm not sure if store bought DVD's work exactly the same or not. I have heard that they will detect an embedded code. With an embedded code there is no need for a COA sticker and no need to actually know what it is. A lot of those code retrieval utilities get it wrong anyway.
 

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1. I recently bought an OEM PC with Windows 8 pre-loaded. Oddly it doesn't have a product key printed on it. I was able to obtain it with BelArc but that is a different story.

2. Anyway the wiki for Windows 8 lists four editions; RT, Windows 8, Windows 8 Pro, Windows 8 Enterprise. When I search Windows 8 on ebay\amazon I can only find Windows 8 Pro retail. What is standard Windows 8? Is that what people got for upgrading Win7->Win8?

3. Ideally I am looking for a Windows 8 standard ISO. With Windows 7 mydigitalriver had all the legal ISOs. The MDL forums are passing around links for Windows 8 Enterprise 90 day evaluation but I see nothing discussed about the standard edition.

4. I'm assuming my OEM PC was loaded with the "Standard Edition".

5. I want an ISO so that I can perform Windows 8 installations for people quickly. With Windows 7 I had every edition on different CDs\USB keys. I would install them fresh without a product key and either use their original or just purchase a key from an online retailer if they were unable to find their original.
1. See alphanumeric's reply.

2. You would only be interested in Window 8 (i.e., core/standard) and Windows 8 Pro.

3. There are no legal, IMO, Win 8 ISO's available for download without paying the price of a product key or a subscripition (i.e., the Technet and MSDN ISO's, which are available by subscription, are for testing and evaluation purposes only--not sure if product key from anywhere but Technet or MSDN will work on their ISO's. Regardless, it certainly is not OK to distribute Technet or MSDN product keys).

Ignoring Technet and MSDN, some believe that getting an ISO from the wild is EULA consistent. I think their arguments are essentially: this practice "should" be legit so I am going to do it regardless. But, nowhere does any MS EULA imply that you have the right to do so (and the software (i.e., an ISO) is not available for download from MS without paying, or having paid, the price of retail software plus key). In this regard, it is easy to argue that what you suggest is EULA breaking on the parts of some. The basic argument against what you want to do is that software and product key are inseparable if conveyed to another. And, in the case of an OEM preinstalled, software, product key, and machine are inseparable if conveyed to another.

For getting for sure legitimate ISO's see:

Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant - Download and Run

Windows 8 Upgrade ISO - Download or Create

4. Check in Control Panel > System; mine says:

"Windows edition

Windows 8 Pro."

5. Not dealing with Win7 here. But, for Win8, you can't just buy a retail product key. You can get one by purchasing a retail disc (which contains both 32 bit and 64 bit DVD's). As alphanumeric says, you won't need to get a product key if the machine being installed on has an embedded product key (from an OEM preinstall Win 8 installation). If an individual is unable to find his product key (not talking about embedded product key), then he/she would have to contact MS for help or get a new one through retail methods.
 
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My personal opinion (just an opinion) is that getting an ISO from the wild is risky, you just don't have a solid way of knowing that it hasn't been tampered with. Using a HASH value works, as long as you know the hash value you compare against is in fact valid.

To me, the only thing that matters is having the license key. I don't subscribe to the concept that the media and the key are tied together and are inseparable. There isn't a difference in the software between MSDN or Technet. The difference is in the license and what you can do with it. I don't encourage people to use/share/distribute MSDN or Technet keys, and I think they should only be used as intended, (Technet is for testing, once you have tested and are ready for day to day use...get a real license key).

With all that said, there aren't official sources to get Windows 8 media. When i purchased my laptop from Dell, I made sure to find and check the option for the reinstall disc (it was an extra $2.xx). But it's a real install disc, not a recovery disk...so it doesn't come with bloatware or anything configured. I have to do the install and config manually.
 

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You're a better man than I if you can actually understand the EULA and all the legal jargon there in. :confused:
That being said, after installing my SSD in my laptop and doing a clean install. It is using the same embedded product code it came with from the factory, and activated the exact same way it originally did. All that's changed is the factory bloat ware is gone. I didn't cheat activation or do anything to circumvent it. Not that anybody said I did, I'm just saying. I tried to do a recovery (factory reset/Windows 8 reset) with the recovery drive I created before the swap and it would not work. If I had bought a retail disk online it would have used the embedded code anyway, not the one that came with the DVD. Unless I was wanting to upgrade to 8 Pro the product code that comes with the DVD would not be needed. That's a lot of money just to get install media. Why buy a second license if you don't need it? But like you said, what option do you have? There is no authorized download links for Windows 8 ISO's. I personally don't think I did anything illegal or immoral.
 

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You're a better man than I if you can actually understand the EULA and all the legal jargon there in. :confused:
That being said, after installing my SSD in my laptop and doing a clean install. It is using the same embedded product code it came with from the factory, and activated the exact same way it originally did. All that's changed is the factory bloat ware is gone. I didn't cheat activation or do anything to circumvent it. Not that anybody said I did, I'm just saying. I tried to do a recovery (factory reset/Windows 8 reset) with the recovery drive I created before the swap and it would not work. If I had bought a retail disk online it would have used the embedded code anyway, not the one that came with the DVD. Unless I was wanting to upgrade to 8 Pro the product code that comes with the DVD would not be needed. That's a lot of money just to get install media. Why buy a second license if you don't need it? But like you said, what option do you have? There is no authorized download links for Windows 8 ISO's. I personally don't think I did anything illegal or immoral.
The retail EULA, perhaps, doesn't provide sufficiently satisfying specificity for some on the main issue here. But, in this regard, I think it is important to distinguish, as does MS, in the retail EULA, between the software, the original media, the product key, and the COA. The EULA does introduce some confusion about the software and the original media. But, I think that the excerpts from the retail EULA given below are sufficient for one to conclude that he/she is not at liberty to allow ISO's to be available from sources other than MS authorized sources. Of course, if ISO's, are not allowed to be available from such other sources, then we could not obtain from the sources.

Still, all things considered, I am not making the judgement that one should or should not obtain an ISO from the sources under sufficiently difficult conditions (especially those not foreseen by MS/the OEM's), although willingness to use such ISO's does support EULA breaking by others IMO. And, you know my position, I think, that I won't buy a new Windows preinstalled machine until MS/the OEM's provide means for costless clean reinstalls--for any desired reason.

Edit: Please read the third snip below first. Don't know why it got posted out of order. And, please completely ignore the fourth snip. I can't seem to delete it.
 

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In my case the Retail EULA does not apply. My original install was OEM and my laptop is still activated with the embedded OEM product code. I'll have to see if I can hunt up that EULA and read it.
 

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    Windows 10 Education 64 Bit
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    AMD Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition Deneb 3.7GHz
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I understand; I was just making the case based on the retail EULA. But, I think that the OEM EULA is more restrictive in some ways. I'll look at it again and get back to you.

Actually, I was trying to support what you said, but may have done a bad job of it. I said "still, all things considered, I am not making the judgement that one should or should not obtain an ISO from the sources under sufficiently difficult conditions (especially those not foreseen by MS/the OEM's), although willingness to use such ISO's does support EULA breaking by others IMO.

i apologize if you though I was pointing a finger at you. Not my intention. I've always have understood your particularly dire circumstances.
 
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Here are the pertinent excerpts from the OEM EULA. They are very similar to those from the retail EULA, except there is more about transfer rights, including the part about the software, etc., and the computer (which would include the product key) all having to be included in the transfer. Otherwise the OEM EULA contains quite a few more provisions.

Edit: I left off part of the pertinent part of the third snip. I corrected this oversight in the fourth snip.
 

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And, you know my position, I think, that I won't buy a new Windows preinstalled machine until MS/the OEM's provide means for costless clean reinstalls--for any desired reason.
That's one of the things that I really liked when I bought this Dell 6430u. For $2.30 (i believe), I was able to add the Windows 8 reinstall media. I'll gladly pony up $2 for the media. I've been able to reinstall from this disc on my Dell numerous times now, with 0 issues. No keys necessary, no activation. Easy as can be.
 

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@Znod Its all cool with me, no I didn't think you were singling me out. I often make "I want to set the record straight" comments knowing a lot of people may read a thread. ;)
I think I see where you're going with this. When you talk software you're referring to the actual media, the CD or DVD. To me the software is the actual installed program. In this case Windows 8. If I gave you my Windows 8 DVD and no product code the software has not actually changed hands or been transferred. You don't have my license. If someone downloads just an ISO of Windows with no product code no software has been transferred from one PC to the next. It's just install media and useless without a license to use it.
 

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  • OS
    Windows 10 Education 64 Bit
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    Asus
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition Deneb 3.7GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS M4N68T-M V2 µATX Motherboard
    Memory
    8GB 4GBx2 Kingston PC10600 DDR3 1333 Memory
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Geforce GT640 2 Gig DDR3 PCIe
    Sound Card
    VIA VT1708s High Definition Audio 8-channel Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    22" LG E2242 1080p and 2 19" I-INC AG191D
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024 - 1920x1080 - 1280x1024
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    Crucial MX100 256 GB SSD and 500 GB WD Blue SATA
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    Thermaltake TR 620
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    Power Up Black ATX Mid-Tower Case
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    Stock heatsink fan
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    Logitech Wireless K350 Wave
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    Internet Speed
    80 Mbps Down 30 Mbps Up
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    HP DVD1040e Lightscribe - External USB2
And, you know my position, I think, that I won't buy a new Windows preinstalled machine until MS/the OEM's provide means for costless clean reinstalls--for any desired reason.

All about doing your homework before buying.

That's one of the things that I really liked when I bought this Dell 6430u. For $2.30 (i believe), I was able to add the Windows 8 reinstall media. I'll gladly pony up $2 for the media. I've been able to reinstall from this disc on my Dell numerous times now, with 0 issues. No keys necessary, no activation. Easy as can be.

Free Fujitsu PC's
 

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In my case the Retail EULA does not apply. My original install was OEM and my laptop is still activated with the embedded OEM product code. I'll have to see if I can hunt up that EULA and read it.

Try looking in C:\Windows\System32\Licenses\neutral
 

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    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4
And, you know my position, I think, that I won't buy a new Windows preinstalled machine until MS/the OEM's provide means for costless clean reinstalls--for any desired reason.
That's one of the things that I really liked when I bought this Dell 6430u. For $2.30 (i believe), I was able to add the Windows 8 reinstall media. I'll gladly pony up $2 for the media. I've been able to reinstall from this disc on my Dell numerous times now, with 0 issues. No keys necessary, no activation. Easy as can be.
Yes, that was a great deal. Is your Dell disc a bloatware-free full-install disc? I think you indicated "yes" before. That's what I would insist on. If that's what you got, then I think that is a rarity from OEM's. I have looked at the Dell site before seeing if I could find a laptop that would fit my requirements, including allowing me to obtain a bloatware-free full-install disc, but have not been able to find this option. Of course, if I called I might get farther.
 
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@Znod Its all cool with me, no I didn't think you were singling me out. I often make "I want to set the record straight" comments knowing a lot of people may read a thread. ;)
I think I see where you're going with this. When you talk software you're referring to the actual media, the CD or DVD. To me the software is the actual installed program. In this case Windows 8. If I gave you my Windows 8 DVD and no product code the software has not actually changed hands or been transferred. You don't have my license. If someone downloads just an ISO of Windows with no product code no software has been transferred from one PC to the next. It's just install media and useless without a license to use it.
I think the point you make is the exact pont some of us disagree on. When I started out on this topic again (using the retail EULA as my point of departure), I said "... I think it is important to distinguish, as does MS, in the retail EULA, between the software, the original media, the product key, and the COA." Similar pertinent distinctions are made in the OEM EULA. When starting to use Win8, we have to agree to the MS EULA (whether the retail or the OEM EULA--ignoring system builder) given the distinctions MS makes. So, given especially the MS distinction between the "software," the "original media," and the "product key" (machine with product key in the case of OEM), I am completely unable to argue, that I am allowed to transfer (more than once) the software (which would include a disc or an ISO IMO) without also transferring the key at the same time. To see the distinctions I mention above, please see the two sets of EULA excerpts I posted earlier. Note that the software (i.e., what's on an ISO) is what's on the original media one way or another).

Admittedly, MS is clumsy, as it always has been, in writing EULA's. But, I think MS's intentions are clear in regard to both the retail and the OEM EULA's.
 
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My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win7 Ult on DIY; Win8 Pro on MBP/Parallels; Win7 Ult on MBP/Boot Camp; Win7 Ult/Win8 Pro on HP
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    DIY Rig; MacBook Pro (MBP)/Parallels/Boot Camp; HP Pavilion dv6500t Laptop
    CPU
    Intel i7-2600K (sometimes OC'd to 4.8 GHz)
    Motherboard
    ASUS P8P67 Deluxe Rev B3
    Memory
    16 GB Corsair Vengeance
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA 570 SC
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Gateway
    Hard Drives
    Dual Boot:
    Win7 Ult RAID 0 on OCZ Revo x2 and
    Win7 Ult RAID 0 on Caviar Black SATA 3's
    PSU
    Cooler Master Silent Pro 1000W
    Case
    Cooler Master 932 HAF
    Cooling
    Zalman CNPS9900MAX-B CPU Fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500
    Mouse
    Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500
    Internet Speed
    20 Mbps Download/2+ Mbps Upload
    Other Info
    Pioneer Blu-ray Burner/DVD Burner
@Znod, at this point I'll agree to disagree and leave it at that. ;)

@ Theog, that leads me to _Default > ProfessionalWMC as I've since upgraded to 8 Pro and then added Media Center. The license file in that folder talks about Windows 8 Pro with Media Center.

In any case I'm not worried about the legality of my system or the procedure I used to install Windows 8 on it. It's legally activated and passes WGA.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Education 64 Bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition Deneb 3.7GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS M4N68T-M V2 µATX Motherboard
    Memory
    8GB 4GBx2 Kingston PC10600 DDR3 1333 Memory
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Geforce GT640 2 Gig DDR3 PCIe
    Sound Card
    VIA VT1708s High Definition Audio 8-channel Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    22" LG E2242 1080p and 2 19" I-INC AG191D
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024 - 1920x1080 - 1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    Crucial MX100 256 GB SSD and 500 GB WD Blue SATA
    PSU
    Thermaltake TR 620
    Case
    Power Up Black ATX Mid-Tower Case
    Cooling
    Stock heatsink fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless K350 Wave
    Mouse
    Logitech M570 Trackball and T650 TouchPad
    Internet Speed
    80 Mbps Down 30 Mbps Up
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    HP DVD1040e Lightscribe - External USB2
@Znod, at this point I'll agree to disagree and leave it at that. ;)

In any case I'm not worried about the legality of my system or the procedure I used to install Windows 8 on it. It's legally activated and passes WGA.
Cool by me. I too am not concerned about what you did. I actually am not overly concerned about any of it. Just trying to get the EULA implications straight. But, certainly, we can disagree on those.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win7 Ult on DIY; Win8 Pro on MBP/Parallels; Win7 Ult on MBP/Boot Camp; Win7 Ult/Win8 Pro on HP
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    DIY Rig; MacBook Pro (MBP)/Parallels/Boot Camp; HP Pavilion dv6500t Laptop
    CPU
    Intel i7-2600K (sometimes OC'd to 4.8 GHz)
    Motherboard
    ASUS P8P67 Deluxe Rev B3
    Memory
    16 GB Corsair Vengeance
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA 570 SC
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Gateway
    Hard Drives
    Dual Boot:
    Win7 Ult RAID 0 on OCZ Revo x2 and
    Win7 Ult RAID 0 on Caviar Black SATA 3's
    PSU
    Cooler Master Silent Pro 1000W
    Case
    Cooler Master 932 HAF
    Cooling
    Zalman CNPS9900MAX-B CPU Fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500
    Mouse
    Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500
    Internet Speed
    20 Mbps Download/2+ Mbps Upload
    Other Info
    Pioneer Blu-ray Burner/DVD Burner
View attachment Licenses.zip

computer preinstalled with Microsoft Windows 8 Pro.

Microsoft OEM said:
Can I downgrade the software? Instead of using the Windows 8 Pro software, you may use one of the following earlier versions: Windows 7 Professional or Windows Vista Business.


Can I transfer the software to another user? You may transfer the software directly to another user, only with the licensed computer. The transfer must include the software, proof of purchase, and, if provided with the computer, an authentic Windows label such as the certificate of authenticity label, including the product key. You may not keep any copies of the software or any earlier version. Before any permitted transfer, the other party must agree that this agreement applies to the transfer and use of the software.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4
Thanks Theog, I'll have a look see at that latter.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Education 64 Bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition Deneb 3.7GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS M4N68T-M V2 µATX Motherboard
    Memory
    8GB 4GBx2 Kingston PC10600 DDR3 1333 Memory
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Geforce GT640 2 Gig DDR3 PCIe
    Sound Card
    VIA VT1708s High Definition Audio 8-channel Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    22" LG E2242 1080p and 2 19" I-INC AG191D
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024 - 1920x1080 - 1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    Crucial MX100 256 GB SSD and 500 GB WD Blue SATA
    PSU
    Thermaltake TR 620
    Case
    Power Up Black ATX Mid-Tower Case
    Cooling
    Stock heatsink fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless K350 Wave
    Mouse
    Logitech M570 Trackball and T650 TouchPad
    Internet Speed
    80 Mbps Down 30 Mbps Up
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    HP DVD1040e Lightscribe - External USB2
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