Solved Can't get DVD ISO to work with both Home and Professional

[Gilgamesh]

I keep getting asked by family and friends to help with their PCs (you know how that feels ) and when I ask about their installation media I just get blank looks. So I thought I would look at creating/using my own media.

I have been using VMs for testing these, so much better than playing with someone's PC

I have ISOs for both 8.0 and 8.1 which I downloaded using http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/18309-windows-8-windows-8-1-iso-download-create.html. The licence key I used for the download was my legitimate one that I purchased from Microsoft (so it wasn't OEM), it is actually an upgrade key from Windows 7 for Win 8 Pro. I can install these ISOs no problem but they always install the Pro version and I never get an option for installing Home.

I tried putting a ei.cfg file in the \sources directory containing
[EditionID]
[Channel]
Retail
[VL]
0
But this just allows me to install without the key. I tried putting both "Core" and "Home" in as an EditionID but the install process fails saying "The product key entered does no match any of the Windows images available for installation. Enter a different product key"

If I try using the downloaded iso without the ei.cfg file but instead use the generic key for Home I get the same message.

So I'm pretty sure the downloads I got from MS just contain Pro. Is this right or is there a special way of making Home available? Based upon what I have seen in the forums I would also probably need "Home Single Language" to be available as well (if possible).

In case it makes any difference the ISOs I have always set their language to English (United Kingdom) during the install.

Thank You

 

[alphanumeric]

Those downloads are not multiple editions like the store bought DVD's are. I tested this myself, if you use a Pro key for the download, what you get can only install Pro, if you use a Core key its Core only. I do believe I actually posted it in that thread. I can understand you not wanting to read the whole thread, its a long one so you wouldn't have seen it. Based on what I discovered what you have will only install Pro. My TechNet/MSDN ISO's are multi edition and will install Core or Pro based on the key entered. My Windows 8.0 ISO's will read and use the OEM embedded key in my laptops BIOS and install Core automatically with no prompt to enter a key during install.

 

[Gilgamesh]

Thank you, I must have missed that part
So what are my options for getting it through legitimate MS approved channels (that way I'll know it will be safe).
Ones I can think of

• Use a friends Home lic key to download the home versions for them (not too keen on this, it doesn't seem right)
• Get an MSDN subscription to download it (that will hurt the wallet)
• Purchase a new retail version

Are there any others?

 

[alphanumeric]

Thank you, I must have missed that part
So what are my options for getting it through legitimate MS approved channels (that way I'll know it will be safe).
Ones I can think of

• Use a friends Home lic key to download the home versions for them (not too keen on this, it doesn't seem right)
• Get an MSDN subscription to download it (that will hurt the wallet)
• Purchase a new retail version

Are there any others?

It's not mentioned anywhere on the site in that download link. If it is I missed it too. The download size is what got me wondering so I did some tests using a core key and a Pro key and compared what I got. Two different downloads. I'd have to read though the thread again to see what I did but there is a file you can look at and see what is what. One said Core the other said Pro. As far as I know the code used to do the download is not tied to or embedded in the download. You could get your friend to download using their core key and make you an ISO file. Then use your product keys for the install. He or she will get the exact same files you would if you used a Core key on your PC. EDIT: assuming they have the same language version you do.

The actual TechNet ISO is as follows.
Windows 8.1 (multiple editions) (x64) - DVD (English)
File Name: en_windows_8_1_x64_dvd_2707217.iso
Languages: English
SHA1: BC2F7FF5C91C9F0F8676E39E703085C65072139B

You could hunt one up on bit torrent and then check the hash code (as listed above) to make sure it hasn't been modified or altered. < This would be my last resort.

 

[genet]

edit:

- How to download and clean install Windows 8.1 if you have an OEM computer with UEFI firmware (BIOS) embedded Windows 8/8.1 product key. -> link

- How to download and clean install Windows 8.1 if you don't have an OEM computer that came with Windows 8/8.1 preinstalled. -> link

 

[Gilgamesh]

While I know how to torrent; I would not use it for any software, even if hash tags matched. Hackers are smart ****** and may figure out a way to corrupt it and still maintain the hash tags (unlikely but the possibility is there).
So it looks like purchasing a new retail version is the way to go, at least that way I'll also have a new licence I could use on my VMs.

 

[alphanumeric]

While I know how to torrent; I would not use it for any software, even if hash tags matched. Hackers are smart ****** and may figure out a way to corrupt it and still maintain the hash tags (unlikely but the possibility is there).
So it looks like purchasing a new retail version is the way to go, at least that way I'll also have a new licence I could use on my VMs.

Right on, It's not something I would like to do either but if I hadn't mentioned it somebody else would have.