Clean Install with Windows 8 Upgrade

How to Do a Clean Install with Windows 8 Upgrade

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This tutorial will show you how to do a clean install with a Windows 8 upgrade copy on an empty drive (HDD/SSD).

Windows 8 System Requirements
Windows 8 works great on the same hardware that powers Windows 7.

Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster

RAM: 1 gigabyte (GB) (32-bit) or 2 GB (64-bit)

Hard disk space: 16 GB (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit)

Graphics card: MicrosoftDirectX 9 graphics device or higher

Additional requirements to use certain features:

• To use touch, you need a tablet or a monitor that supports multitouch.
• To access the Windows Store and to download and run apps, you need an active Internet connection and a screen resolution of at least 1024 x 768.
• To snap apps, you need a screen resolution of at least 1366 x 768.

Here's How:

1. If you haven't already, you will need to either purchase a Windows 8 Upgrade from a retailer, or use the Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant to purchase and download a Windows 8.1 ISO file online from Microsoft to create a bootable USB/DVD with.


2. Do a clean install or clean install with UEFI with your Windows 8 upgrade USB/DVD, and enter your Windows 8 product key number during installation.
NOTE: You can do the clean install using either a local account or Microsoft account. It doesn't matter.

   Warning

You will only be able to enter a Windows 8 or Windows 8 Pro product key.

You will not be able to enter a Window Media Center Pack or Windows 8 Pro Pack product key. These are considered to be an upgrade key and can't be used to install Windows 8. These can only be added after Windows 8 is installed, then use Add Features to upgrade to the Window Media Center Pack or Windows 8 Pro Pack.

3. When the clean install is finished, if you check in System, you will see that your Windows 8 upgrade may not be activated yet.





4. Do step 5 or 6 below for how you would like to activate the Windows 8 upgrade.


5. Activate by Refreshing the Windows 8 Upgrade

A) Refresh Windows 8, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: You would use OPTION TWO at this link. Be sure to keep your Windows 8 installation DVD in the drive or Windows 8 installation USB connected.




6. Activate Windows 8 Upgrade using a BAT File Download

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .bat file below, and save it to your desktop.


Activate_Windows_Upgrade_after_Clean_Install.bat





B) Right click or press and hold on the downloaded .bat file, and click/tap on Run as administrator.

C) If prompted, click/tap on Run and Yes (UAC).
NOTE: If you like, you can stop getting the Run prompt by unblocking the downloaded .bat file.

D) You will now notice a command prompt quickly open and close while applying the changes to your registry.

E) Click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)




E) Restart the computer to apply, and go to step 7 below.


7. When finshed, if you check in System, you will see that your Windows 8 upgrade is now activated with the product key you entered in step 2 above.




8. You have just finished doing a clean install with an upgrade copy of Windows 8.


That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

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• How to Do a Clean Install of Windows 8 or Windows 8.1
• How to Clean Install Windows on a MSATA (SSD) Drive
• How to Install Windows 8 Using "Unified Extensible Firmware Interface" (UEFI)
• How to Upgrade from Windows 8, Windows 7, Vista, or XP to Windows 8 or 8.1
• How to Downgrade Windows 8 to Windows 7
• How to Download and Run the "Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant"
• How to Create or Download a Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 ISO
• How to Install Windows 8 on VirtualBox
• How to Install Windows 8 on VMware Player
• How to Do a Dual Boot Installation with Windows 8 and Windows 7 or Vista
• How to Create a Windows 8 VHD at Boot to Dual Boot with Windows 7 or Vista
• How to Change the Product Key Number in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Find Your Windows 8 Product Key Number
• How to Activate Windows 8 and 8.1 by Phone
• How to Do a Repair Install of Windows 8 without Losing Anything

 

[genet]

Error 0x8007232b or 0x8007007B occurs when you try to activate Windows

Error: 0x8007007B

"The file name, directory name, or volume label syntax is incorrect”

This issue may occur if the following conditions are true:

• You use volume-licensed media to install one of the following operating systems:

• Windows 8

How to clean install Windows 8.1 if you have an OEM computer with UEFI firmware (BIOS) embedded Windows 8 product key?

 

[Ztruker]

The ISO I used is a MAK ISO, so that is the reason for the failure?

I'm trying to install 8.0, not 8.1 but will give 8.1 a try Tuesday. If that works all is well, otherwise I'll have to try and locate a 8.0 Core download somewhere and go with that.

Thanks.

 

[Brink]

The ISO I used is a MAK ISO, so that is the reason for the failure?

I'm trying to install 8.0, not 8.1 but will give 8.1 a try Tuesday. If that works all is well, otherwise I'll have to try and locate a 8.0 Core download somewhere and go with that.

Thanks.

Yeah, it stinks that you can't directly download a retail ISO from Microsoft with an OEM key.

 

[Ztruker]

I found a good 8.0 ISO download so I'll give that a try. If no joy then I'll follow the tutorial genet linked to.

Thanks Shawn and genet.

 

[Superfly]

The laptop came with 8.0 Core X64. I used a TechSoup (Microsoft Volume Licensing Service Center) 8.0 Pro X64 to clean install with. It picked up the key from BIOS (embedded) but won't activate. I don't remember the exact failure message though. I'll ask the owner to try again and write it down then send it to me.

Volume licence install media have a built-in installation key... thus one never needs to install a VL version with a generic key...It can however be activated with the embedded key (provided it's the same SKU of course)

 

[Ztruker]

It's not a VLK, it's a MAK (Multiple Activation Key?) from TechSoup. It required a key to install with the other times I've used it. This is the first computer I used that ISO to install on that had an embedded key.

I wonder if I change the key to the embedded one if it will activate?? Hmm, worth trying. Maybe it didn't read the embedded key but used a VLK???

 

[Superfly]

Yup, MAK keys are used to activate VL installations. The VL install media is different from the retail version ( see MSDN download page for the different ISO's)

If it previously needed a key to install then it must be a retail version... The difference is that after install there is no "Add features" option on a VL installation.

BTW.. Windows 8.0 MAK keys do not work on windows 8.1.

 

[Ztruker]

The laptop came with Windows 8.0 Core so it's a OEM 8.0. I wonder if it's SL (Single Language) and if so, would that cause problems as well.

Why does MS make this so hard?

 

[Superfly]

Why does MS make this so hard?

That, my friend, we will never know...

I agree that you should check the key first.. then the hash of the ISO (just to be sure) .. then proceed.

 

[Ztruker]

I'll report back once I get this working. Thanks for all the help.

 

[Ztruker]

Got it working today. The fix for me was to download a good Windows 8.0 Core iso to install with. Went right in, picked up the key from BIOS and auto activated on the first boot after install.

 

[Brink]

 

[MohavePC]

This is a Great Tutorial Brink, Who'd of thought it could be so simple You are indeed the best.

 

[Brink]

I'm glad you like it Herb.

 

[MohavePC]

I'm glad you like it Herb.

Well it just helped a friend whom had no clue after a replaced failed 1tb HDD. He is a little uptight about upgrading vs doing a clean install. After I convinced him to do a clean install he calls back and is upset (understandably so) that it wouldn't activate. I did not know he was using an upgrade disk and key. This tutorial saved my bacon as it were. Thanks for your hard work.

 

[daniellouwrens]

Can I use a 8.1 disk to clean install

Hi

I have my W8 disk with product key, and a W8.1 disk I burned from the 8.1 iso on the MS site.

Can I use the 8.1 disk with mu 8 key


Thanks

Daniel

 

[Brink]

Hello Daniel,

If you got the ISO using OPTION ONE below, then yes.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/18309-windows-8-windows-8-1-iso-download-create.html

 

[jds63]

Hopefully be waiting for this one in Ten Forums renamed " Clean install with Windows 10 free upgrade"