How to reinstall Windows 8 after a previous upgrade?

dc2000

Member
Messages
69
Location
Portland, OR
I build my own desktop. I first had Windows Vista on it, which I bought on a DVD. I then skipped Windows 7 completely, but later upgraded to Windows 8 when Microsoft had a promotional period for it early in 2012 when it just came out.
Now I'm replacing the motherboard and also swapping the HDD to SSD, and I'm curious. Can I still install Windows 8 as an upgrade like I did before? And if yes, then how?
PS. Technically I'm using it on the same computer.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700 (customized)
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4770 CPU @ 3.40GHz
    Motherboard
    Intel Z87
    Memory
    32 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Haswell on-board, 2 GB VDRAM
    Sound Card
    Haswell on-board
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer / DVI
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    C: Mushkin Scorpion PCle SSD, 222 GB
    D: Samsung SSD 840-series, 238 GB
    E: Samsung SSD 840 eVo, 500 GB
    F: WD (Red) HDD, 2 TB
    PSU
    Dell standard
    Case
    Dell standard
    Cooling
    Dell standard
    Keyboard
    Logitech K120
    Mouse
    Infrared wired mouse from Microsoft
    Internet Speed
    Comcast DSL
    Browser
    Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, IE
    Antivirus
    Windows 8 built-in

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
If you have obtained Windows 8 via upgrade, it shouldn't be a problem.

Either way, you should have a serial number for Windows 8, an installation medium (DVD, USB) and that should be enough. You can always call Microsoft if internet activation fails.

If you don't have an installation key or a DVD please tell us more about how you got the update.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro x64 (6.3.9600)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion Ultrabook 14-b083eg
    CPU
    Intel® Core™ i3-3217U
    Memory
    8 GB DDR3 (2 x 4 GB modules)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel® HD Graphics 4000
    Sound Card
    IDT High-Definition (HD) Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    35.5 cm (14") HD BrightView LED-backlit (1366 x 768)
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
    Hard Drives
    Kingston SSDNow V300 120 - SV300S37A120G (Firmware 505ABBF1)
    Mouse
    Microsoft Wireless Mobile Mouse 1000
    Internet Speed
    Broadband
    Browser
    Microsoft Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    avast! Free Antivirus 2014
    Other Info
    System BIOS Version F.1B (Aug 23, 2013)
Very nice. Thank you! I'll try it.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700 (customized)
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4770 CPU @ 3.40GHz
    Motherboard
    Intel Z87
    Memory
    32 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Haswell on-board, 2 GB VDRAM
    Sound Card
    Haswell on-board
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer / DVI
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    C: Mushkin Scorpion PCle SSD, 222 GB
    D: Samsung SSD 840-series, 238 GB
    E: Samsung SSD 840 eVo, 500 GB
    F: WD (Red) HDD, 2 TB
    PSU
    Dell standard
    Case
    Dell standard
    Cooling
    Dell standard
    Keyboard
    Logitech K120
    Mouse
    Infrared wired mouse from Microsoft
    Internet Speed
    Comcast DSL
    Browser
    Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, IE
    Antivirus
    Windows 8 built-in
If you have obtained Windows 8 via upgrade, it shouldn't be a problem.

Either way, you should have a serial number for Windows 8, an installation medium (DVD, USB) and that should be enough. You can always call Microsoft if internet activation fails.

If you don't have an installation key or a DVD please tell us more about how you got the update.
I got it from a torrent site ...
kidding.

I think it was in Jan. of 2012 when Windows 8 just came out and everyone was bashing it Microsoft had a promo deal that anyone could upgrade to Windows 8 from any previous version for something like $40. I jumped on the wagon and upgraded my Vista, since it was such a good deal.

So I do have an old Vista DVD but do not have Windows 8 upgrade DVD because I think I had to download it, or maybe it came via email. Can't remember now.

So I searched my email and found the product key for Windows 8 upgrade. Is it all that it needs? So the process is pretty much like what Ztruker pointed to, right?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700 (customized)
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4770 CPU @ 3.40GHz
    Motherboard
    Intel Z87
    Memory
    32 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Haswell on-board, 2 GB VDRAM
    Sound Card
    Haswell on-board
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer / DVI
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    C: Mushkin Scorpion PCle SSD, 222 GB
    D: Samsung SSD 840-series, 238 GB
    E: Samsung SSD 840 eVo, 500 GB
    F: WD (Red) HDD, 2 TB
    PSU
    Dell standard
    Case
    Dell standard
    Cooling
    Dell standard
    Keyboard
    Logitech K120
    Mouse
    Infrared wired mouse from Microsoft
    Internet Speed
    Comcast DSL
    Browser
    Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, IE
    Antivirus
    Windows 8 built-in
Yes, basically the next step would be getting a "Windows 8 Upgrade ISO online from Microsoft" I sure hope you don't have to install Vista for that :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro x64 (6.3.9600)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion Ultrabook 14-b083eg
    CPU
    Intel® Core™ i3-3217U
    Memory
    8 GB DDR3 (2 x 4 GB modules)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel® HD Graphics 4000
    Sound Card
    IDT High-Definition (HD) Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    35.5 cm (14") HD BrightView LED-backlit (1366 x 768)
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
    Hard Drives
    Kingston SSDNow V300 120 - SV300S37A120G (Firmware 505ABBF1)
    Mouse
    Microsoft Wireless Mobile Mouse 1000
    Internet Speed
    Broadband
    Browser
    Microsoft Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    avast! Free Antivirus 2014
    Other Info
    System BIOS Version F.1B (Aug 23, 2013)
Yes, basically the next step would be getting a "Windows 8 Upgrade ISO online from Microsoft" I sure hope you don't have to install Vista for that :)
Haha. We'll see...
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700 (customized)
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4770 CPU @ 3.40GHz
    Motherboard
    Intel Z87
    Memory
    32 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Haswell on-board, 2 GB VDRAM
    Sound Card
    Haswell on-board
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer / DVI
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    C: Mushkin Scorpion PCle SSD, 222 GB
    D: Samsung SSD 840-series, 238 GB
    E: Samsung SSD 840 eVo, 500 GB
    F: WD (Red) HDD, 2 TB
    PSU
    Dell standard
    Case
    Dell standard
    Cooling
    Dell standard
    Keyboard
    Logitech K120
    Mouse
    Infrared wired mouse from Microsoft
    Internet Speed
    Comcast DSL
    Browser
    Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, IE
    Antivirus
    Windows 8 built-in

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
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