- Messages
- 3,658
- Location
- Westland, MI
So, I have purchased some computers from Dell and they have Windows 8.0 Professional from the OEM. So, it was very easy for me to use my MSDN media, reinstall Windows 8.0, and it simply detected and used my Windows 8 embedded BIOS key. From there, I would make any adjustments needed, run sysprep, and grab an image. This allowed me to use that image on any of the Dell's that I purchased with Windows 8 and all was great.
Then, along comes the free upgrade to Windows 8.1. I took one of my Dell's, and laid down a clean windows 8.0 image. Then I ran the Store "free" upgrade to Windows 8.1. All was well. I then cleaned up the temporary files and whatnot and tried to run Sysprep only to be greeted with an error that said, "I'm sorry, I cannot validate your OS installation". Did some research and found that you aren't supposed to run Sysprep on a machine that you ran an "upgrade". Instead, you are supposed to install from scratch.
Ok, let's do that. Grabbed the 8.1 ISO from MSDN, put it onto an installable USB key, started the install and it now prompts me for a key. It won't detect or use the embedded 8.0 key that is on the box. So, I cannot actually clean install Windows 8.1 with the embedded OEM key, even though I can freely upgrade to 8.1.
I'm not going to take my new Dell computers, lay down the clean 8.0 image and then upgrade each of them manually via the store to Windows 8.1. This takes way too long.
I'm not going to use my MSDN keys to install onto these machines, because I don't want them to activate these keys. They aren't the legit keys for these machines. These machines have legit OEM Windows 8 keys and 8.1 is a free upgrade to 8.0, so it seems like these legit keys would work. I paid dell to have a valid OEM license on the computer, that is what I want to use.
Does anybody know of a way to get 8.1 Pro to install clean, on a machine with an embedded 8.0 Pro key. This post is in no way shape or form trying to perform any type of piracy.
Then, along comes the free upgrade to Windows 8.1. I took one of my Dell's, and laid down a clean windows 8.0 image. Then I ran the Store "free" upgrade to Windows 8.1. All was well. I then cleaned up the temporary files and whatnot and tried to run Sysprep only to be greeted with an error that said, "I'm sorry, I cannot validate your OS installation". Did some research and found that you aren't supposed to run Sysprep on a machine that you ran an "upgrade". Instead, you are supposed to install from scratch.
Ok, let's do that. Grabbed the 8.1 ISO from MSDN, put it onto an installable USB key, started the install and it now prompts me for a key. It won't detect or use the embedded 8.0 key that is on the box. So, I cannot actually clean install Windows 8.1 with the embedded OEM key, even though I can freely upgrade to 8.1.
I'm not going to take my new Dell computers, lay down the clean 8.0 image and then upgrade each of them manually via the store to Windows 8.1. This takes way too long.
I'm not going to use my MSDN keys to install onto these machines, because I don't want them to activate these keys. They aren't the legit keys for these machines. These machines have legit OEM Windows 8 keys and 8.1 is a free upgrade to 8.0, so it seems like these legit keys would work. I paid dell to have a valid OEM license on the computer, that is what I want to use.
Does anybody know of a way to get 8.1 Pro to install clean, on a machine with an embedded 8.0 Pro key. This post is in no way shape or form trying to perform any type of piracy.
My Computer
System One
-
- OS
- Windows 7
- System Manufacturer/Model
- Self-Built in July 2009
- CPU
- Intel Q9550 2.83Ghz OC'd to 3.40Ghz
- Motherboard
- Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R rev. 1.1, F12 BIOS
- Memory
- 8GB G.Skill PI DDR2-800, 4-4-4-12 timings
- Graphics Card(s)
- EVGA 1280MB Nvidia GeForce GTX570
- Sound Card
- Realtek ALC899A 8 channel onboard audio
- Monitor(s) Displays
- 23" Acer x233H
- Screen Resolution
- 1920x1080
- Hard Drives
- Intel X25-M 80GB Gen 2 SSD
Western Digital 1TB Caviar Black, 32MB cache. WD1001FALS
- PSU
- Corsair 620HX modular
- Case
- Antec P182
- Cooling
- stock
- Keyboard
- ABS M1 Mechanical
- Mouse
- Logitech G9 Laser Mouse
- Internet Speed
- 15/2 cable modem
- Other Info
- Windows and Linux enthusiast. Logitech G35 Headset.