Solved Cannot buy Windows 8 after using 90 day Windows 8 Evaluati

[alpinekid61]

jimbo45 Windows 8 Enterprise evaluation edition is simply just that - a time limited evaluation edition. It Doesn't qualify for an upgrade -- simple -- end of (line, end of story).
A person would think that Microsoft would inform people that once the Windows 8 Enterprise evaluation was installed, that it could not be upgraded.
But I guess Microsoft thought that would be too easy.
As far as I am concerned, this part of the thread is SOLVED.

 

[lilbudro]

Ive been trying to upgrade my desktop, running Vista Business N 64bit edition to Win 8 Pro. But get stuck on the "Windows 8 isn't available for download" screen.. I don't have a compatible mode for XP service pack 3, but have one for XP service pack 2. However the Upgrade Assistant will not launch in that mode. I've tried swapping my location to Puerto Rico and back to USA to see if that would help.. but I'm running out of ideas.

 

[HippsieGypsie]

Hello there. You're absolutely correct that the EE edition is time limited and is not an OS that qualifies for upgrade. They were explicit in explaining that before downloading. However, they did allow one to use it again for another 90 day cycle. I don't remember how that was performed. I'm not sure if they allow that any longer.

The only edition that the MS online store offers is the upgrade whether Windows 8 or Windows 8 Pro. One must have a qualifying OS to upgrade to whether it be through Upgrade Assistant or fresh install. One cannot use the qualifying OS any longer otherwise it is in violation of the EULA.

I ended up buying the 64 bit Windows 8 Professional OEM System Builder edition on another online store for $105 U.S. MS online store does not offer the System Builder editions. I'm going to dual boot with 7 and this is legal under the EULA of that edition. This was confirmed by MS in online chatting with a rep and his supervisor. It's also confirmed on package when I received it. A stand alone installation situation is legal also.

Hope that helps.

 

[alpinekid61]

Ive been trying to upgrade my desktop, running Vista Business N 64bit edition to Win 8 Pro. But get stuck on the "Windows 8 isn't available for download" screen.. I don't have a compatible mode for XP service pack 3, but have one for XP service pack 2. However the Upgrade Assistant will not launch in that mode. I've tried swapping my location to Puerto Rico and back to USA to see if that would help.. but I'm running out of ideas.

I had Vista 32-bit and would not upgrade to windows 8 eather. I quit banging my head and bought Win 8 Pro on my laptop and am putting in the old Enterprise Eval (Vista) machine. I have been told in other posts that Enterprise Eval could not be upgraded.
Read other post because someone stated how to buy on a different machine.

 

[pewe]

I had Vista 32-bit and would not upgrade to windows 8 eather. I quit banging my head and bought Win 8 Pro on my laptop and am putting in the old Enterprise Eval (Vista) machine. I have been told in other posts that Enterprise Eval could not be upgraded.
Read other post because someone stated how to buy on a different machine.

Buying on another PC is easy - just go to MS site and purchase - but don't download.
Then use the purchased key and follow the instructions here to download on your PC.

 

[lilbudro]

"just go to MS site and purchase - but don't download." - Is there a way to do that with out using the Upgrade Assistant ?
I already have Win8 Pro 64bit on a USB drive.. I just need to buy a key for my desktop.

 

[pewe]

- Is there a way to do that with out using the Upgrade Assistant ?

You need to run the Upgrade Assistant on the PC you are buying the key on - see steps 1 -14 here

 

[alpinekid61]

This did not work for me. Do not understand why.

I got the same message on the enterprise version of Windows 8. I actually had to right click on the upgrade assistant and go into properties and change the compatability mode to Windows XP sp 3.

Restart the upgrade assistant and then it allowed me to buy it and the upgrade seem to go fine then.

Hope this helps

 

[Wenda]

jimbo45 Windows 8 Enterprise evaluation edition is simply just that - a time limited evaluation edition. It Doesn't qualify for an upgrade -- simple -- end of (line, end of story).
A person would think that Microsoft would inform people that once the Windows 8 Enterprise evaluation was installed, that it could not be upgraded.
But I guess Microsoft thought that would be too easy.
As far as I am concerned, this part of the thread is SOLVED.

They do, on their page where you select to download, from memory. I used the Enterprise RTM trial, which I
liked BTW, and it was made quite clear that it could not be upgraded.

Wenda.


Edit: As I have a slow internet and since MS decided that 8 'wasn't available' in my area, I went and bought the physical
disks from a store. Cost me A$69.95, and I got both 32 and 64 bit. They are, however, not separate licences, and cannot
both be used at once without buying a second key.

 

[alpinekid61]

jimbo45 Windows 8 Enterprise evaluation edition is simply just that - a time limited evaluation edition. It Doesn't qualify for an upgrade -- simple -- end of (line, end of story).
A person would think that Microsoft would inform people that once the Windows 8 Enterprise evaluation was installed, that it could not be upgraded.
But I guess Microsoft thought that would be too easy.
As far as I am concerned, this part of the thread is SOLVED.

They do, on their page where you select to download, from memory. I used the Enterprise RTM trial, which I
liked BTW, and it was made quite clear that it could not be upgraded.

Wenda.


Edit: As I have a slow internet and since MS decided that 8 'wasn't available' in my area, I went and bought the physical
disks from a store. Cost me A$69.95, and I got both 32 and 64 bit. They are, however, not separate licences, and cannot
both be used at once without buying a second key.

Microsoft most likely did state what you have in Red, but I did not read the fine print, I would still be reading. Just downloaded and installed. Bought me a Key and installed, everything is working. Now have to learn it. Good thing this is not going to be my main machine.