Where can I get a Windows 8.1 Professional 64 bit ISO?

Hello,

I purchased Windows 8.1 Professional 64 bit from the Microsoft Store. When I try to download it, I get the dreaded "we can't connect to the internet right now" error. This happens regardless of which computer I am on or which OS I use. Many other people have had this problem and it looks like it has something to do with the product key being rejected by the activation server, rather than anything inherently wrong with your internet connection. Microsoft support has been less than helpful. They said my product key was fine and then spent two hours on my computer remotely and were unable to solve the problem.

So, I have a valid product key, but no way of getting Windows onto my computer because I cannot download it and have no disk. All of the solutions that I have seen so far for obtaining a Windows 8.1 ISO image assume that you have a Windows 8 product key. I just have the Windows 8.1 product key since I am going from Windows 7 to Windows 8.1, so the well known "trick" for obtaining a Windows 8.1 ISO file does me no good.

I assume that since this is such a common problem, there are ISO files of Windows 8.1 64 bit professional floating around out there on the internet, even though Microsoft will not release them officially, that one could use to make a bootable USB drive from which to install Windows and then use their valid product key to activate it. If anybody knows of a copy of such an ISO file that others have used and can vouch for, I would be very grateful if someone could hook me up with the file. I would prefer to not have to resort to torrent sites like Pirate Bay.

Thanks

Hello Mr4528, and welcome to Eight Forums.

If you have not already, you might see if the method in OPTION TWO of the tutorial below to download a Windows 8.1 ISO with your Windows 8.1 product key may work for you.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Brink said:

Hello Mr4528, and welcome to Eight Forums.

If you have not already, you might see if the method in OPTION TWO of the tutorial below to download a Windows 8.1 ISO with your Windows 8.1 product key may work for you.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Click to expand...

Thank you. However, any solution that is dependent on me using the downloader such as the one available at the Microsoft store or the one on that site that you go to to install Windows 8.1 with just a product key will not work. I type the key into the initial screen that checks the key and it says "your key checks out," but then when I click next I get the "we can't connect to the internet error."

My only recourse at this point is to find a good Samaritan who already has a Windows 8.1 Pro 64 bit ISO file and would be willing to let me download it so I can make a bootable usb drive. I simply cannot access the file as a download from Microsoft.

I bought Win 8 pro 64bit on DVD and used the method floating around here to obtain an ISO. I used one of the generic keys to install and then after setting everything up I went to change the windows key on the system screen. It wouldn't accept my original retail key so I had to do the phone Microsoft for activation thing... It worked and I've had no problems since

burtie said:

I bought Win 8 pro 64bit on DVD and used the method floating around here to obtain an ISO. I used one of the generic keys to install and then after setting everything up I went to change the windows key on the system screen. It wouldn't accept my original retail key so I had to do the phone Microsoft for activation thing... It worked and I've had no problems since

Click to expand...

Thanks. If I had a DVD I'd be all set. That's the problem. Because I purchased it online as a download, I have a valid key, but no software. It is not letting me download the product, so there is nothing to install in order to do the phone activation.

Maybe this:

See here: How to Create a Recovery USB Flash Drive in Windows 8 and 8.1

Option Three shows you how to create an ISO using the ESD-ISO tools after you did a store upgrade.

Worked for me when I upgrade Win 8 Pro to Win 8.1 Pro.

Ztruker said:

Maybe this:

See here: How to Create a Recovery USB Flash Drive in Windows 8 and 8.1

Option Three shows you how to create an ISO using the ESD-ISO tools after you did a store upgrade.

Worked for me when I upgrade Win 8 Pro to Win 8.1 Pro.

Click to expand...

I never did an upgrade. I'm still running Windows 7 because I cannot get the Windows 8.1 software. I have a product key but no software. I cannot download it.

I am dead in the water until I can get my hands on some installation media. All of the solutions proposed thus far for getting an ISO assume that you have already been able to download Windows 8 or 8.1 to your computer already.

I have a key but no software.

Try using the link in your email from the MS Store.

theog said:

Try using the link in your email from the MS Store.

Click to expand...

The link in the email from the MS store just takes me back to the same page on the MS store that I would have gone to if I accessed the MS store with my account directly.

It still makes me run that program called windowssetupbox.exe in order to try to download the software. That is what is giving me the "can't connect" message after I enter the product key.

Is there a way to download a copy of the Windows 8.1 ISO without having to go through the windowssetupbox.exe program that runs on your computer when you try to download it from Microsoft?

You can order a back up DVD from the link in email also.

Not legally.

If you like, you should also be able to order a Windows 8.1 DVD from the purchase confirmation email you got as well.

Here's the link from mine:

"To always have the software as physical backup media at hand, order your personal backup DVD now. "

EDIT: Looks like we are thinking alike again Ray. LOL