How do I download 8.1 from vista with product key

jl123

New Member
Messages
8
Hi there,

I currently have windows vista and have purchased a 8.1 PRO product key.

I understand that I can not upgrade straight from vista so am looking to have a fresh install, burning the ISO to CD.

The problem i am having is trying to get an ISO for 8.1 PRO.

I have found this page on microsoft's websbite: Upgrade Windows with only a product key - Windows Help which should give me what I am after.

Unfortunately I can not use the 8.1 version straight from vista, and when I try the 8.0 installer (which does work on vista), it doesn't accept my 8.1 product key.

Can anybody suggest a way to get the ISO (without using torrent sites) or to transfer my 8.1 product key to a 8.0 key?

Thanks in advance.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Vista
Where did you purchase the product key from? My understanding was when you purchased the product you was given a .exe from Microsoft which would download the files. That being said, I believe; and will stand corrected if I am wrong that if you do legally own a product key for windows 8.1, presuming you download the correct version, you would break no laws in using a torrent.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 X64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    Intel Celeron B800
    Motherboard
    Asus X202EP
    Memory
    4GB DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD Graphics
    Hard Drives
    500GB
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    AVG
    Other Info
    My little workhorse, underpowered and slightly dinged these days but it has never let me down.
The reason I didn't want to use a torrent is due to the risk of it being infected with malware.

theog, these two links provide suggestions that I have already tried and attempted to explain in my original post.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Vista
redlynch, I purchased it from a college website with offered a download, which (unsurprisingly) was not available to be run from vista.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Vista

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 X64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    Intel Celeron B800
    Motherboard
    Asus X202EP
    Memory
    4GB DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD Graphics
    Hard Drives
    500GB
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    AVG
    Other Info
    My little workhorse, underpowered and slightly dinged these days but it has never let me down.
That is the file that is from the page I originally mentioned.

It doesn't let me run it due to being on vista.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Vista
redlynch, I purchased it from a college website with offered a download, which (unsurprisingly) was not available to be run from vista.

1) Backup your DATA.

2) Download from your college website
Than

To clean install:
1) Clean the HD Drive, using Step one in this tutorial:
SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation - Windows 7 Help Forums
than
[DEL]2a) Clean install with the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Disk.[/DEL]

2b) http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2299-clean-install-windows-8-a.html

[DEL]2c) http://www.eightforums.com/tutorial...e-firmware-interface-install-windows-8-a.html[/DEL]
 

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
That is the file that is from the page I originally mentioned.

It doesn't let me run it due to being on vista.

My bad, have you tried contacting Microsoft and explaining your situation? They may, after you have proved proof of ownership, offer you a direct download to the ISO file.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 X64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    Intel Celeron B800
    Motherboard
    Asus X202EP
    Memory
    4GB DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD Graphics
    Hard Drives
    500GB
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    AVG
    Other Info
    My little workhorse, underpowered and slightly dinged these days but it has never let me down.
The download from college is the same as the one redlynch posted. Only thing they really did for me was give me a product key.

I can't perform step 2b) as I don't have the install on a CD/DVD yet.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Vista
That is the file that is from the page I originally mentioned.

It doesn't let me run it due to being on vista.

My bad, have you tried contacting Microsoft and explaining your situation? They may, after you have proved proof of ownership, offer you a direct download to the ISO file.

Would need to use the college, Microsoft account to download, college has the ISO.
 

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
The download from college is the same as the one redlynch posted. Only thing they really did for me was give me a product key.

[DEL]I can't perform step 2b) as I don't have the install on a CD/DVD yet[/DEL].

You need a Retail product key to download, you have a VL 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
The only other quick fix that I can suggest is using another machine running 7/8/8.1 and use the tutorial I linked you from CNet to download and create the media.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 X64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    Intel Celeron B800
    Motherboard
    Asus X202EP
    Memory
    4GB DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD Graphics
    Hard Drives
    500GB
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    AVG
    Other Info
    My little workhorse, underpowered and slightly dinged these days but it has never let me down.
Were you actually able to download the 8.1 files from the Microsoft site you linked to? If yes, use the option to create a bootable USB thumb drive. Then boot from that and do a clean install. I know you said the "setup file" wouldn't work, I'm just not sure if you mean the setup file to do the download or the actual windows 8.1 install setup file.
 

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
I could download the setup file, but when trying to open it, it get a message about it won't work from vista.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Vista
I could download the setup file, but when trying to open it, it get a message about it won't work from vista.

OK, thanks, I just wanted to confirm that was the case. I don't have a solution at this time, but now I'm sure I know what's going on.
 

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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