Additional Clarification.
What I meant is install Win8 fresh install-no extra programs, then click on the setup exe file in the "$Windows.~BT"
folder to install 8.1 , without having to download again?
Gave up on that idea.
The free Win8.1 upgrade from store, was really a piece of cake.
Just that after a year, my hard drive is full of garbage.
Would be nice to make a clean fresh Win8.1 pro 64 Media Center image, which is yet to be completed.
Did what others did, kind of. Well, had a lot of time on my hands. Wasn't so automatic!
1. Upgrade 8.1 from store.
2. Make Macrium image for safety.
3. Do the download and burn 8-8.1 upgrade iso from MS with original Win8 Pro key.
4. Reset to factory settings, using the 8.1 iso upgrade media disc, when it says missing files required.
5. Activate fresh 8.1 Pro 64 with original Win8 Pro key. Yahoo, everything good.
6. Make another Macrium image for safety.
7. Install Win 8 Pro Media Center key, yes it accepts.
Problem, now it wants to be activated, but wont accept any keys.
I try "Windows 8.1 product key finder". System won't accept that key either.
It says grace time expired. Rotten luck. I remembered now that the key was free to use until end of Jan 2013.
Close, but no cigar.
8. Put last good image back.
Has anybody else figured a legal way to get Media Center back on a clean install? Free