Solved Can I use Windows 8 Pro upgrade on XP machine?

Hazel123

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Hi. I have an Asus Eee PC 904HA (10") which is in very nice condition. It previously had XP on it. I have put a new hard drive in it and wondered if I can do a clean install with Windows 8 Pro Upgrade disc. I purchased the Windows 8 Pro from a private ebay seller who had never used it and I am sure it is genuine.

I'm aware you can do a clean install with an upgrade disc, but not sure how. Also as it is the 'pro' version, will this work/be allowed when the machine only had a licence for standard XP?

Thank you!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
    Computer type
    Laptop
I could be wrong..... I was once. :cry:

But I doubt there is any direct route from XP to 8 as an upgrade (and I'm hoping that you're talking about Windows 8.1 and not the old Windows 8.0.) Windows 8.1 is a truly GREAT OS, but Windows 8.0, , , NOT SO MUCH!

Putting a new OS on a fresh/clean hard drive would not be considered as an upgrade.... it's just a Clean Install. XP doesn't enter into the equation at all. So forget XP!

So if you already know how to do a clean install with an Upgrade disk, Go for it! I don't! So I can't help you there, but I sure can wish you the very best of Luck.

Cheers Mate!
TechnoMage :cool:
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win-8.1/Pro/64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer X-1200
    CPU
    AMD 2 Core
    Motherboard
    Acer
    Memory
    Crucial, 4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDEA GeForce 9200
    Sound Card
    On Board
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24" Acer
    Hard Drives
    Sandisk, SSD 500GB
    PSU
    Acer
    Case
    SFF Slimline
    Keyboard
    emachines 101 key
    Mouse
    Logitech Wireless
    Internet Speed
    5 Meg
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    Using Classic Shell on Win-8.1 /pro/64
there is nothing wrong with 8.0, it is considered by many to be simply windows 7 sp2 with a new skin, yes u can upgrade to 8.1 from it if you desire
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8.0 Vanilla
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
Thanks! I've read the clean install instructions with upgrade media on here now. What I don't understand is how the Windows 8 upgrade media will recognise that the machine has had Windows on it before, if it's a new hard drive.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
    Computer type
    Laptop
It won't!
Unless, the original OS left some information in your BIOS that points to the original OS.
Personally, I've clean installed OS's on many PC's, both desktops and Laptops, and never had it kick back on me, because of a former OS.
Why don't you try the install and then come back and let us know how you made out?

You're just wasting time here..... get to work! :)

:cool:
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win-8.1/Pro/64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer X-1200
    CPU
    AMD 2 Core
    Motherboard
    Acer
    Memory
    Crucial, 4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDEA GeForce 9200
    Sound Card
    On Board
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24" Acer
    Hard Drives
    Sandisk, SSD 500GB
    PSU
    Acer
    Case
    SFF Slimline
    Keyboard
    emachines 101 key
    Mouse
    Logitech Wireless
    Internet Speed
    5 Meg
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    Using Classic Shell on Win-8.1 /pro/64
I believe in order to upgrade from Windows XP to 8.1 you have to have Windows XP installed on the disk and activated. You will end up with a clean install but it will look for XP and make sure it's activated before the installation of 8.1 begins. If XP is not installed or activated Windows 8.1 will not activate. Just follow the directions in this guide and you will end up with a clean install.

Upgrade to Windows 8.1 from Windows Vista or Windows XP - Windows Help
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
You can clean install with upgrade media, the fact that it's a new harddrive just means you need to do #5 or #6 here,

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/13375-clean-install-windows-8-upgrade.html

To let windows see a previous installation by refreshing or tricking it with the .bat file. (#6 in the linked tutorial)

The same theory was done on W7 using double installs, the first just to show windows a previous installation or the much more convenient and simple .bat file. (#6 in the linked tutorial)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 10 Pro x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self Built
    CPU
    Intel I5-2500K @3.3GHz
    Motherboard
    Asrock P67 Extreme4
    Memory
    16GB G.Skill Ripjaws X (4x4GB)
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA GeForce 750 Ti SC 2GB
    Sound Card
    ASUS Xonar DG 5.1 Channels 24-bit 96KHz PCI Interface Sound Card
    Monitor(s) Displays
    auria eq2367
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    250GB Samsung 850 EVO SSD
    1TB WD Blue
    1TB Hitachi
    PSU
    SeaSonic X 650W 80 Plus Gold
    Case
    Corsair Obsidian 750D
    Cooling
    Corsair H60, Three 140mm case fans
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless Keyboard K520
    Mouse
    Logitech Wireless Mouse M310
    Internet Speed
    Wave Broadband ~ 100 dn 5 up
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    Defender, Malwarebytes Premium
    Other Info
    Laptop specs: HP g7-1365dx /
    CPU: AMD A6-3420M APU with Radeon(tm) HD Graphics /
    RAM: Crucial 8Gb (2x4Gb) /
    SSD: Crucial M4-CT128M4SSD2 ATA Device/ FW 000F /
    GFX: AMD Radeon HD 6520G /
    OS: Windows 10 Pro x64
Thanks very much! Yes I've done the double install thing with Windows 7. I don't really fancy reinstalling XP just to put W8 on it so one of those other options sounds good. Our son is more in the app world than I am so he'll like Windows 8 :)

So does option 5 - refresh - kind of do a double install?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
    Computer type
    Laptop
It won't!
Unless, the original OS left some information in your BIOS that points to the original OS.
Personally, I've clean installed OS's on many PC's, both desktops and Laptops, and never had it kick back on me, because of a former OS.
Why don't you try the install and then come back and let us know how you made out?

You're just wasting time here..... get to work! :)

:cool:

Will do - the W8 disc hasn't arrived in the post yet :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
    Computer type
    Laptop
Thanks very much! Yes I've done the double install thing with Windows 7. I don't really fancy reinstalling XP just to put W8 on it so one of those other options sounds good. Our son is more in the app world than I am so he'll like Windows 8 :)

So does option 5 - refresh - kind of do a double install?

You're welcome, yeah the option 5 is similar to that, it's like a repair install. (Which is actually just an upgrade install)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 10 Pro x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self Built
    CPU
    Intel I5-2500K @3.3GHz
    Motherboard
    Asrock P67 Extreme4
    Memory
    16GB G.Skill Ripjaws X (4x4GB)
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA GeForce 750 Ti SC 2GB
    Sound Card
    ASUS Xonar DG 5.1 Channels 24-bit 96KHz PCI Interface Sound Card
    Monitor(s) Displays
    auria eq2367
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    250GB Samsung 850 EVO SSD
    1TB WD Blue
    1TB Hitachi
    PSU
    SeaSonic X 650W 80 Plus Gold
    Case
    Corsair Obsidian 750D
    Cooling
    Corsair H60, Three 140mm case fans
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless Keyboard K520
    Mouse
    Logitech Wireless Mouse M310
    Internet Speed
    Wave Broadband ~ 100 dn 5 up
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    Defender, Malwarebytes Premium
    Other Info
    Laptop specs: HP g7-1365dx /
    CPU: AMD A6-3420M APU with Radeon(tm) HD Graphics /
    RAM: Crucial 8Gb (2x4Gb) /
    SSD: Crucial M4-CT128M4SSD2 ATA Device/ FW 000F /
    GFX: AMD Radeon HD 6520G /
    OS: Windows 10 Pro x64
Yes you can upgrade from Windows XP Professional to Windows 8 Professional (but I think it has to be the x86 version). Then you can upgrade to Windows 8.1. But yes, follow the previous post to do a clean update with an upgrade CD-ROM.

I'm also disappointed with those that dismiss Windows 8 (the original release) as garbage. If you're just using the Explorer portion of Windows (the same way you used Windows 7), and install Classic Shell (a must as far as I'm concerned), there is virtually no lacking features from Windows 8.1. All of the improvements in the latter are relegated to the Metro environment, not the Explorer environment.

Also, there is no GWX and there are no telemetry updates. And if you are about to say, "Yeah but Jody: Windows 8 is out of support", then you can safely ignore that (at least with the x64 build). I have installed two months of Windows Server 2012 updates on to Windows 8, and it works with aplomb. So even that's covered.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 x64 Professional
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP xw8600 Workstation
    CPU
    Two Intel Xeon Core2 Quad 3.2 GHz Processors
    Motherboard
    Proprietary
    Memory
    16 GB DDR2 800 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVidia Quadro FX 3800 PCI-E
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung SyncMaster 213T 21" 4x3 Flat Screen
    Screen Resolution
    1600x1200
    Hard Drives
    Two Seagate Cheetah 300 GB SAS Disks
    PSU
    Proprietary
    Case
    HP xw8600 Workstation Case
    Cooling
    Two CPU Fans and a Larger Case Fan
    Keyboard
    PS/2 Keyboard
    Mouse
    Logitech USB Optical Mouse
    Internet Speed
    7 mbps
    Browser
    Firefox ESR 102
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    Two LSI 3000 SAS Adapters
Activation issue

Ok so my disc arrived (fully packaged) and is installed. Activation says it is not activated because the product key is installed on another PC. Hmm. The seller said the produce was unused. Anyway - I have emailed the seller to ask if the Windows 8 is installed on another laptop and if so can they de-activate it. Meanwhile I have done 'refresh your PC' as per the Clean Install with Upgrade tutorial. It's refreshing now.

It looks like a genuine Windows 8 product with both 32bit and 64bit discs in cardboard covers, inside a box which has a card inside with the product key on. I double checked I had entered the product key correctly.

If refreshing the PC doesn't cause activation then I am not sure whether to try the Bat code if there is a chance that the disc either isn't genuine or is actually installed on another PC.

Only other issue is the screen resolution on the 10" netbook - does anyone know if Windows updates fixes this or do I need to find a driver? Thanks.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
    Computer type
    Laptop
Ok so it is refreshed and still not activated. It says "This product key is already being used on another PC. Try a different key or buy a new one."

Under Activation Details it says Error Code 0xC004C008

Ebay seller has replied that it hasn't been used before and I need to activate over the phone. What do you think? Should I activate over the phone or try the Bat file?

Ok. I have activated by phone :) Do I need to keep that great big string of long numbers forever now?
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
    Computer type
    Laptop
Ok. I have activated by phone :)

:thumb:

Do I need to keep that great big string of long numbers forever now?

If you are talking about the numbers you entered in this window,

21362d1367727998t-activate-windows-8-phone-activate_w8_by_phone-2.jpg

No, you don't have keep those.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 10 Pro x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self Built
    CPU
    Intel I5-2500K @3.3GHz
    Motherboard
    Asrock P67 Extreme4
    Memory
    16GB G.Skill Ripjaws X (4x4GB)
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA GeForce 750 Ti SC 2GB
    Sound Card
    ASUS Xonar DG 5.1 Channels 24-bit 96KHz PCI Interface Sound Card
    Monitor(s) Displays
    auria eq2367
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    250GB Samsung 850 EVO SSD
    1TB WD Blue
    1TB Hitachi
    PSU
    SeaSonic X 650W 80 Plus Gold
    Case
    Corsair Obsidian 750D
    Cooling
    Corsair H60, Three 140mm case fans
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless Keyboard K520
    Mouse
    Logitech Wireless Mouse M310
    Internet Speed
    Wave Broadband ~ 100 dn 5 up
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    Defender, Malwarebytes Premium
    Other Info
    Laptop specs: HP g7-1365dx /
    CPU: AMD A6-3420M APU with Radeon(tm) HD Graphics /
    RAM: Crucial 8Gb (2x4Gb) /
    SSD: Crucial M4-CT128M4SSD2 ATA Device/ FW 000F /
    GFX: AMD Radeon HD 6520G /
    OS: Windows 10 Pro x64
Thanks! Ok so it is working nicely and Windows downloaded all the necessary drivers - no exclamation marks - giving me a resolution of 1024 x 600. Which apparently means I can't use the apps. Having read around a bit there is supposed to be a registry fix to change that - but I believe there is then an issue with upgrading to 8.1 on this machine. Having read around a bit more, Windows 10 is supposed to work better on this machine than Windows 8 and accepts the 1024 x 600 resolution. But to upgrade to Windows 10 I need to upgrade to Windows 8.1 first and from what I have seen, this isn't possible.

So can you upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 8 or do you need 8.1 installed first? Of course I should have checked out more before deciding to install Windows 8 on it, but had read that it runs on this machine. Maybe those articles were pre 8.1.

Any suggestions?

I'm starting a new topic on that as have 8 installed.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
    Computer type
    Laptop
Just came across this. You would be hard pressed to get any real performance out of our hardware config w/ win 8.1 installed. All software needs hardware to run from.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    toshiba
    CPU
    i3
    Memory
    6Gb
    Browser
    Firefox, Comodo
    Antivirus
    Avast
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