A few Windows 8.1 upgrade questions....

Nalydyenlo

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Member
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I just upgraded from Windows 8 to 8.1 through the Windows Store app and all seems rosy with it so far. Not a hell of a lot of a difference to be seen, but as support for Win 8 is on a countdown from now on, I thought I'd avail of the free upgrade. Curiously though, if we want to get our hands on a Win 8.1 disk image (.iso) so we can do a clean install rather than just upgrade our existing Win 8 installation, its not free - we are expected to pay the full whack! This means that owners of win8 who've upgraded for free have no other way of doing a fresh install of win8.1 other than re-installing win8 and downloading the free update again through the store app. Is the win8.1 upgrade going to remain in the app store forever? Like many PC users, I like to do a fresh install of the OS from time to time and with all previous versions of Windows, I could do this with just an ISO and my product key for activation. Now, it depends on the online availability of the upgrade in the future - which isn't guaranteed. Any suggestions?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8

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
Doesn't seem like I'm gonna find it. I can't access my old e-mail account. All I've got now is my win 8 wmc upgrade key which I'm told can't even be used to re-install and activate win 8! System imaging, it seems is the only way I can 're-install' win 8 or win 8.1 now if I need to. The downside to that is that it makes the backup hardware dependent - like if I change my graphics card and then try to restore from an image it will break the activation (I'm told).
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8
There are key finders that will read it out of the registry for you. That won't help If you've upgraded to Media Center though as that's the code that will be retrieved. And yes the Media Center key will only work in "Add Features". You can't install with it.
 
Last edited:

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
Doesn't seem like I'm gonna find it. I can't access my old e-mail account. All I've got now is my win 8 wmc upgrade key which I'm told can't even be used to re-install and activate win 8! System imaging, it seems is the only way I can 're-install' win 8 or win 8.1 now if I need to. The downside to that is that it makes the backup hardware dependent - like if I change my graphics card and then try to restore from an image it will break the activation (I'm told).

You can swap some hardware without triggering activation. I've swapped video cards without having to reactivate. Swapping a lot of components in a short time frame will trigger it. Swapping a major component like your motherboard will too.
 

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
Have successfully cleanly reinstalled W8.1 using a W8 ISO.
Just bootup from the dvd.
During the reinstallation you get the choice of installing either W8 or W8.1.
This is done without going to the store.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
Have successfully cleanly reinstalled W8.1 using a W8 ISO.
Just bootup from the dvd.
During the reinstallation you get the choice of installing either W8 or W8.1.
This is done without going to the store.

Ah, you can't install 8.1 with an 8.0 ISO? And you don't get an 8 or 8.1 choice, not with official Microsoft Install Media. Your ISO must be a modified all in one type disk.
 

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
Have successfully cleanly reinstalled W8.1 using a W8 ISO.
Just bootup from the dvd.
During the reinstallation you get the choice of installing either W8 or W8.1.
This is done without going to the store.

Ah, you can't install 8.1 with an 8.0 ISO? And you don't get an 8 or 8.1 choice, not with official Microsoft Install Media. Your ISO must be a modified all in one type disk.

As stated CLEAN REINSTALLATION W8.1...with a standard ISO purchased through special offer on internet from Microsoft for £25 inc Media.
This of course answers the original question posed by Nalydyelo.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
Have successfully cleanly reinstalled W8.1 using a W8 ISO.
Just bootup from the dvd.
During the reinstallation you get the choice of installing either W8 or W8.1.
This is done without going to the store.

I can hardly believe you. Did you really do this? Reinstall W8.1 using a W8 ISO? I didn't think that would be possible. Did you use your W8 key to activate it?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8
Have successfully cleanly reinstalled W8.1 using a W8 ISO.
Just bootup from the dvd.
During the reinstallation you get the choice of installing either W8 or W8.1.
This is done without going to the store.

I can hardly believe you. Did you really do this? Reinstall W8.1 using a W8 ISO? I didn't think that would be possible. Did you use your W8 key to activate it?

I originally had an SSD with W8.1 and Ubuntu both installed on it.
Decided to install a second SSD with just W8.1 on it using Easeus Todo to clone. then disconnected the original SSD.
Trying to get it to boot up was not possible...have a feeling W8.1 suppresses MBR cloneing.
After trying all W8.1 safety measures without success loaded the ISO to reinstall
Obviously the ISO recognised I had W8.1 installed and as already stated gave a choice between W8 and W8.1
IMPORTANT THE CHOICE BETWEEN W8 AND W8.1 IS ON THE SCREEN ONLY MOMENTARILY.
If you miss this W8 will need a massive download of updates before you can reinstall W8.1 again.
The W8 activation key is entered near the beginning of the process.
Having now successfully installed W8.1 on my new SSD.
Wiped clean my old SSD and reinstalled Ubuntu leaving me with two separate systems on two different discs but both booting up using Windows thanks to Easybcd.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
Have successfully cleanly reinstalled W8.1 using a W8 ISO.
Just bootup from the dvd.
During the reinstallation you get the choice of installing either W8 or W8.1.
This is done without going to the store.

I can hardly believe you. Did you really do this? Reinstall W8.1 using a W8 ISO? I didn't think that would be possible. Did you use your W8 key to activate it?

I originally had an SSD with W8.1 and Ubuntu both installed on it.
Decided to install a second SSD with just W8.1 on it using Easeus Todo to clone. then disconnected the original SSD.
Trying to get it to boot up was not possible...have a feeling W8.1 suppresses MBR cloneing.
After trying all W8.1 safety measures without success loaded the ISO to reinstall
Obviously the ISO recognised I had W8.1 installed and as already stated gave a choice between W8 and W8.1
IMPORTANT THE CHOICE BETWEEN W8 AND W8.1 IS ON THE SCREEN ONLY MOMENTARILY.
If you miss this W8 will need a massive download of updates before you can reinstall W8.1 again.
The W8 activation key is entered near the beginning of the process.
Having now successfully installed W8.1 on my new SSD.
Wiped clean my old SSD and reinstalled Ubuntu leaving me with two separate systems on two different discs but both booting up using Windows thanks to Easybcd.

I don't believe that is official authorized Microsoft install media. The current ISO's on TechNet for Windows 8 will not install Windows 8.1. Windows 8.1 was released after that and is a separate ISO image. Also Windows 8.1 ISO's will not install Windows 8.0. Besides, what would be the point of giving you that option? Microsoft wants everybody on 8.1 anyway. I've done many installs of 8.0 and 8.1 and never ever saw any such option as you describe.
 

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
A Genuine Microsoft Windows 8.1 DVD, will not install with a Windows 8 product key.
 

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
I can hardly believe you. Did you really do this? Reinstall W8.1 using a W8 ISO? I didn't think that would be possible. Did you use your W8 key to activate it?

I originally had an SSD with W8.1 and Ubuntu both installed on it.
Decided to install a second SSD with just W8.1 on it using Easeus Todo to clone. then disconnected the original SSD.
Trying to get it to boot up was not possible...have a feeling W8.1 suppresses MBR cloneing.
After trying all W8.1 safety measures without success loaded the ISO to reinstall
Obviously the ISO recognised I had W8.1 installed and as already stated gave a choice between W8 and W8.1
IMPORTANT THE CHOICE BETWEEN W8 AND W8.1 IS ON THE SCREEN ONLY MOMENTARILY.
If you miss this W8 will need a massive download of updates before you can reinstall W8.1 again.
The W8 activation key is entered near the beginning of the process.
Having now successfully installed W8.1 on my new SSD.
Wiped clean my old SSD and reinstalled Ubuntu leaving me with two separate systems on two different discs but both booting up using Windows thanks to Easybcd.

I don't believe that is official authorized Microsoft install media. The current ISO's on TechNet for Windows 8 will not install Windows 8.1. Windows 8.1 was released after that and is a separate ISO image. Also Windows 8.1 ISO's will not install Windows 8.0. Besides, what would be the point of giving you that option? Microsoft wants everybody on 8.1 anyway. I've done many installs of 8.0 and 8.1 and never ever saw any such option as you describe.

You are insinuating that I am not being truthful, very sad!!!!
It is not an installation....IT IS A REINSTALLATION.....I already had W8.1 which was faulty as described.
I can only assume because it was a W8 ISO and I had W8.1 installed that it gave me the option.
As for suggesting my ISO is not an authorised version.....absolute rubbish.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
IT IS A REINSTALLATION

When reinstalling, you clean the HDD first.

You do a Repair install from the desktop.
 

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
I originally had an SSD with W8.1 and Ubuntu both installed on it.
Decided to install a second SSD with just W8.1 on it using Easeus Todo to clone. then disconnected the original SSD.
Trying to get it to boot up was not possible...have a feeling W8.1 suppresses MBR cloneing.
After trying all W8.1 safety measures without success loaded the ISO to reinstall
Obviously the ISO recognised I had W8.1 installed and as already stated gave a choice between W8 and W8.1
IMPORTANT THE CHOICE BETWEEN W8 AND W8.1 IS ON THE SCREEN ONLY MOMENTARILY.
If you miss this W8 will need a massive download of updates before you can reinstall W8.1 again.
The W8 activation key is entered near the beginning of the process.
Having now successfully installed W8.1 on my new SSD.
Wiped clean my old SSD and reinstalled Ubuntu leaving me with two separate systems on two different discs but both booting up using Windows thanks to Easybcd.

I don't believe that is official authorized Microsoft install media. The current ISO's on TechNet for Windows 8 will not install Windows 8.1. Windows 8.1 was released after that and is a separate ISO image. Also Windows 8.1 ISO's will not install Windows 8.0. Besides, what would be the point of giving you that option? Microsoft wants everybody on 8.1 anyway. I've done many installs of 8.0 and 8.1 and never ever saw any such option as you describe.

You are insinuating that I am not being truthful, very sad!!!!
It is not an installation....IT IS A REINSTALLATION.....I already had W8.1 which was faulty as described.
I can only assume because it was a W8 ISO and I had W8.1 installed that it gave me the option.
As for suggesting my ISO is not an authorised version.....absolute rubbish.

The official Microsoft Windows 8.0 ISO's do not have any Windows 8.1 code/files on them. You cannot reinstall Windows 8.1 with a Windows 8.0 ISO. Think about it for a second. There was no Windows 8.1 when the Windows 8.0 ISO images were finalized. There is no Windows 8.1 code of any kind on those DVD's. I have a TechNet SUB and the latest images released by Microsoft. They do not do what you state.
 

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
IT IS A REINSTALLATION

When reinstalling, you clean the HDD first.

You do a Repair install from the desktop.

An SSD not an HDD and no I did not clean before.
Already stated could not be done using a repair method.....IE- Safety Measures
You are asking questions when all the information you require is contained in my postings on this thread.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
You can not upgrade to Windows 8.1 using a Windows 8 Product key.

Upgrade from the desktop.

UP8-1-001.PNG


Clean install.

UP8-1-002.PNG
 

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
You cannot reinstall, install or repair Windows 8.1 with an official Microsoft Windows 8.0 ISO/DVD.
 

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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