Upgrade/Clean install Windows 8 RTM/GA in the future

davidvoyage

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Hi,

For your information, I bought my Asus laptop last year that came with Windows 7 Pro.

I'm planning to upgrade to Windows 8 this coming October, however, it seems they require me to provide the windows product key.

I download a software called: "Key Finder" to find my windows key, and to my surprise, it's different from the one (the sticker) at the bottom of my laptop. Later, I found out that the key(from the Key FInder) was actually an OEM key for all Asus laptops.

Now, if I want to upgrade to Windows 8 later, should I provide the OEM product key or the product key from the bottom of my laptop?


One more question, do I have a choice to format my hard disk before installation if I purchase the upgrade version?

Thanks
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
I'm not sure that the answers to your questions are yet available.

However, if Win8 is like 7, an upgrade copy would normally be launched from an installed OS. (Exception: when you're changing from 32 bit to 64 bit, or 64 to 32.) You need a product key only to the extent that you need a previous OS installed to run the upgrade.

A Win7 upgrade license permits you to format the disk during installation. However, an upgrade license won't (officially) install on a blank disk, so you might be in trouble of you formatted the disk, and then interrupted the install process. (You'd definitely have trouble if you formatted the disk with a third-party utility, and tried to install Win8 on it with an upgrade copy.)

Again, this is how it worked with Windows 7. 8 may be different. (One change: Microsoft has stated that it'll be OK to install the release version of 8 over the RP. They didn't officially permit that with the Windows 7 RC and release versions, although it worked just fine.)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Window 8 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    homebuilt
    CPU
    I7-3930k
    Motherboard
    Asus P9X79 Pro
    Memory
    16 GB Gskill DDR3-2133
    Graphics Card(s)
    eVGA GTX 680
    Sound Card
    Soundblaster Zx
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Asus PA246Q
    Screen Resolution
    1920X1200
    Hard Drives
    Corsair Force GT 120GB
    WD Cavair Black 1.5TB
    PSU
    PC Power & cooling Silencer 750
    Case
    Silverstone FT02B-W
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-D14 w/ PWM fans
    Keyboard
    cheap Logitech USB wired
    Mouse
    old 5 button Microsoft USB optical
    Internet Speed
    6Mb cable
From what I have read, to use the Windows 8 Upgrade disk, you must have a qualifying windows version (XP, Vista, W7 or W8 RP) installed on your system. Once it sees the old OS it will let you format and do a clean install during the upgrade process. You do not need the old OS product key during this process.

Jim :cool:
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 HP 64bit, Windows 8.1 Pro w/Media Center 64BIT
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS - Home Built
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X6 1100T
    Motherboard
    ASUS M5A99X EVO
    Memory
    Crucial Balistic DDR-3 1866 CL 9 (8 GB)
    Graphics Card(s)
    MSI R6850 Cyclone IGD5 PE
    Sound Card
    On Chip
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ASUS VE258Q 25" LED with DVI-HDMI-DisplayPort
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Two WD Cavier Black 2TB Sata 6gbs
    WD My Book Essential 2TB USB 3.0
    PSU
    Seasonic X650 80 Plus GOLD Modular
    Case
    Corsair 400R
    Cooling
    Antec Kuhler H2O 620, Two 120mm and four 140mm
    Keyboard
    AVS Gear Blue LED Backlight
    Mouse
    Logitech Marble Mouse USB, Logitech Precision Game Pad
    Internet Speed
    15MB
    Antivirus
    NIS, Malwarebytes Premium 2
    Other Info
    APC UPS ES 750, Netgear WNR3500L Gigabit & Wireless N Router with SamKnows Test Program,
    Motorola SB6120 Gigabit Cable Modem.
    Brother HL-2170W Laser Printer,
    Epson V300 Scanner
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