Solved Has right to install Windows 8 Pro Upgrade expired?

sunnyside

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Some 12 months ago, I purchased 3 copies of Windows 8 Pro Upgrade and a recovery DVD from Microsoft. I upgraded a PC running Vista Home Premium to Windows 8 Pro with no problems whatsoever. However, I was less than impressed withe the OS and the other two copies have remained unused.

Recently, that PC upgraded to Windows 8.1. I was immediately pleased with the result and decided to upgrade another PC. At first, I tried to download 8.1 using the Windows 8 key. It would not work. (I didn't really expect it would!) So I inserted the 32bit DVD while running on Vista, and proceeded to upgrade. Key was accepted OK. Installation seemed to go OK, until the "Devices" setup, PC rebooted after which "Installation unsuccessful...restoring to previous OS" was displayed.

I tried again, this time installing Windows 8 only...no personal settings, etc. Exactly the same thing happened.

I read that a clean install could be effected with the DVD, so I rebooted from the DVD and proceeded with the install which seemed to proceed OK until the reboot after "Devices" setup. Briefly I saw the new Windows 8 blue icon, then that disappeared and nothing more happened.

I tried to repair using the DVD. It found problems it could not fix!

I made a point of uninstalling AVG prior to attempting upgrade and have read your installation guides. The thing I find surprising is the fact that this PC is very similar, if not identical, to the one that upgraded so easily 12 months ago. I wondered if the right to use the Upgrade Windows 8 Pro had expired. Any suggestions would be very much appreciated.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Vista Home Premium 32bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self built
    CPU
    Pentium D 940
    Motherboard
    GA-81945P
    Memory
    4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gigabyte 9500GT
    Browser
    IE9
    Antivirus
    AVG Internet Security2013
I wondered if the right to use the Upgrade Windows 8 Pro had expired.
NO.

At first, I tried to download 8.1 using the Windows 8 key. It would not work.

Take a look at those posts for more info.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/18309-windows-8-windows-8-1-iso-download-create.html

How to download Windows 8.1 ISO with a Windows 8 key.
http://www.eightforums.com/installation-setup/33164-how-download-windows-8-1-iso.html

http://www.eightforums.com/installa...retail-windows-8-1-windows-8-product-key.html
 

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 for the reply theog. I had seen these links previously, but assumed they applied to the "basic" versions of Windows 8 or 8.1, not the Pro version.

My initial idea was to upgrade to 8 Pro with the DVD I have, then go to the Store to upgrade to 8.1 Pro (before I had loaded anything else). However, as explained I cannot get the damn thing to accept the install of 8 Pro.

Will try the link to download 8.1. ( I had heard I must use either a UK or US IP address to do this. Can you advise if this is correct?)

Again, many thanks.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Vista Home Premium 32bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self built
    CPU
    Pentium D 940
    Motherboard
    GA-81945P
    Memory
    4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gigabyte 9500GT
    Browser
    IE9
    Antivirus
    AVG Internet Security2013
Will try the link to download 8.1. ( I had heard I must use either a UK or US IP address to do this. Can you advise if this is correct?)

It doesn't matter what is download link (for example: United States, United Kingdom or German), because Windows8-Setup.exe or WindowsSetupBox.exe file is always same.

en-us English (United States) Upgrade Windows with only a product key - Microsoft Windows Help
en-gb English (United Kingdom) Upgrading Windows with only a product key - Microsoft Windows Help
en-au English (Australia) Upgrade Windows with only a product key - Microsoft Windows Help
de-de German Aktualisieren von Windows nur mit einem Product Key - Hilfe zu Microsoft Windows
fr-fr French Mettre à niveau Windows uniquement à l?aide d?une clé de produit - Aide de Microsoft Windows
it-it Italian Eseguire l'aggiornamento a Windows con il solo codice Product Key - Guida di Microsoft Windows
etc.
 
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My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo G580
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-3230M
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD Graphics 4000
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, standard user account
    Other Info
    UEFI firmware (BIOS) embedded Windows 8 product key.
Thanks a lot genet. I am most interested to see the Australia link there. Will have some time to try this tomorrow. Will report back here after I have had another try. Again, thankyou.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Vista Home Premium 32bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self built
    CPU
    Pentium D 940
    Motherboard
    GA-81945P
    Memory
    4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gigabyte 9500GT
    Browser
    IE9
    Antivirus
    AVG Internet Security2013
It might be a driver issue (in which case 8.1 may not be any better for you).

May be too late to suggest this, but did you run the 8.0 Upgrade Assistant?

Also some PCs need a BIOS update before they can run Windows 8 -might be worth checking the manufacturer's website?

Another trick which worked for me on one PC is to change the settings during Setup which offers to download drivers and updates for you, so that it does not download them. In my case the drivers it tried to download caused Blue Screens of Death, and I had to hunt around the manufacturer's website to find a better driver to install manually.

Edit: to answer your original question... for people upgrading from Vista or XP, Microsoft actually recommend that people upgrade to Windows 8.0 first, and then upgrade to 8.1, and (in the UK at least) we can still buy Windows 8.0 for that purpose from Microsoft's own Store. So it's extremely unlikely in my view that your original upgrade has expired.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1, 10
Thanks DavidY. I had considered that drivers, or lack thereof, could be the problem. Prior to the upgrade attempts, I checked Device Manager, and everything seemed to be up to date. After the upgrade has commenced, I don't see an opportunity to load drivers, if necessary, until installation has completed. I don't get that far.

The link I used clearky marked "Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant" took me to the Windows 8.1 Upgrade Assistant. That's when I found I could not use the Windows 8 key to download 8.1.

I am still intrigued why this has become such a "major production" when my previous upgrade, on an almost identical PC, went so smoothly.

I will give it one more try tomorrow using the Australia-specific link to download Windows8-Setup.exe and WindowsSetupBox.exe and see how we go. If successful, fine, If not, will abort the upgrade attempt and may...I say MAY, after careful consideration...use an upgrade key to bring one of my Windows 7 64 bit PCs up to 8.1. But I certainly wont be rushing into that.

Oh, by the way, I did check BIOS. My MB has the latest on board. Thanks again for your help.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Vista Home Premium 32bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self built
    CPU
    Pentium D 940
    Motherboard
    GA-81945P
    Memory
    4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gigabyte 9500GT
    Browser
    IE9
    Antivirus
    AVG Internet Security2013
I think the Windows 8 Upgrade assistant should be on this page (below the one for 8.1):
Upgrade Assistant: FAQ - Microsoft Windows Help

Another thing to try is disabling things in the BIOS, in order to get it to install, and then install the drivers manually.

For instance this Forum user had to disable Bluetooth and/or WiFi drivers to get Windows 8.1 to install:
http://www.eightforums.com/installa...rtm-installation-fails-dell-xps-1340-a-4.html
http://www.eightforums.com/drivers-...t-bt-working-windows-8-1-dell-xps-1340-a.html

What's the make and model of PC?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1, 10
Theog...I don't think it's a hardware problem as the machine with which I am having the problems is identical, hardware-wise, to the one I successfully upgraded 12 months ago. I built the two myself, using identical parts, back in 2007. The only big difference, software-wise, is the fact I did not have AVG Internet Security 2013 nor a TP-Link WiFi adapter installed at that time. With this one, I did uninstall AVG, but not the TP-Link Software. Could be worth doing before my re-attempt...also uninstall Malwarebytes and SuperAntiSpyware while at it!

I have much work to do....will report back later in the day.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Vista Home Premium 32bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self built
    CPU
    Pentium D 940
    Motherboard
    GA-81945P
    Memory
    4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gigabyte 9500GT
    Browser
    IE9
    Antivirus
    AVG Internet Security2013
Hi folks. Success at last! I uninstalled all spyware and malware, a number of apps I have not used in ages and printer and wifi drivers...then ran the Windows 8 DVD again. It loaded immediately, no worries. I went to the Store to download the 8.1 upgrade and it was not to be found there! Installed the available 77 updates for Windows 8 and immediately was able to download and install 8.1, which now seems to be running fine.

Now to reload the various apps and drivers! Thanks a lot for your suggestions.

PS (A few days later). Just to advise all is well. I am not absolutely sure which item, among the several I uninstalled, was responsible for the belated success, but I strongly believe it was the driver for the TP-Link wireless adapter. All other apps and drivers I was able to reinstall immediately after the successful loading of 8.1 but I could not install the wifi driver. Had to download new 8/8.1 compatible driver from TP-Link. Thanks for all your help.
 
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My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Vista Home Premium 32bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self built
    CPU
    Pentium D 940
    Motherboard
    GA-81945P
    Memory
    4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gigabyte 9500GT
    Browser
    IE9
    Antivirus
    AVG Internet Security2013
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