How to download the Windows 8.1 ISO

[mosharino]

Hi all,

I thought i'd share something i discovered quite by accident.

This will allow you to download the official Windows 8.1 ISO from Microsoft. This post is about a using a Windows 8 Key to get a hold of Windows 8.1.

What you do with it there after is up to you.

Note that Windows 8 to Windows 8.1 is done (as far as i know) via the Windows App Store. This i find annoying as i like many of you like to perform clean installs.

My senario went like this...

I upgrade my Windows 8 to 8.1 via the store, i did this thinking that i could 'Reset' my PC and thus get a clean install while maintaining the activation etc.

That did not go to plan. I received an error after clicking on the 'Reset' informing me that there are missing files, please insert media (or something like that).

Well guess what... i don't have the media.

So i go download the Windows 8.1 Setup and try, to no avail, to enter my Windows 8 product key.

Follow these steps to download the Windows 8.1 ISO.


(See OPTION ONE here for more details: How to Create or Download a Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 ISO)

1. Click on the Microsoft link below for your location to click on both the Install Windows 8 and Install Windows 8.1 buttons there to get both the Windows8-Setup.exe (Windows 8) and WindowsSetupBox.exe (Windows 8.1) files.
   
   US: Upgrade Windows with only a product key - Microsoft Windows Help
   
   UK: Upgrading Windows with only a product key - Microsoft Windows Help​
2. Run the Windows 8 setup and enter your retail Windows 8 key, click next and when it begins downloading, STOP it! Exit setup.
3. Now run the the Windows 8.1 setup. It will produce and error. Exit and then run Windows 8.1 setup again.
4. It should now be downloading the Windows 8.1 ISO. Afterwards you can save it as an ISO or create the USB media immediately.

You can use this to 'Reset' your PC by booting into setup and choosing repair my PC. Follow the on screen prompts for resetting your PC.


Hope this helps.

Tom

 

[DavidY]

That looks like a useful trick!

 

[gary1193]

Thanks now downloading

 

[gerdgoebel]

Thank you very much for sharing.
I just had to go through a new Win 8 install then downloading patches to finally see 8.1 in the store. What a waste of time that was.

 

[mosharino]

You're all welcome.

I assume that this 'glitch' will eventually be closed.

Remember thought that your Windows 8 key won't work for a clean install. (Although i've not personally tried it).

I've only used this media to 'Reset' PC. (Which is in essence a clean install).

 

[Clint]

I think I'll try it.

 

[gerdgoebel]

I reloaded Win 8.1 with the newly downloaded ISO doing a clean install. For the installation I used a generic key from the MS web-site. After the installation I activated Win 8.1 with my Win 8 product key without a problem. I am all set and happy with this much faster clean install.

 

[mahanddeem]

I reloaded Win 8.1 with the newly downloaded ISO doing a clean install. For the installation I used a generic key from the MS web-site. After the installation I activated Win 8.1 with my Win 8 product key without a problem. I am all set and happy with this much faster clean install.

Please can you tell what does this mean generic key? Do you mean the preview key? Can you share that generic key? I have my windows 8 key but like the others say I can't use it to clean install 8.1

 

[mosharino]

I reloaded Win 8.1 with the newly downloaded ISO doing a clean install. For the installation I used a generic key from the MS web-site. After the installation I activated Win 8.1 with my Win 8 product key without a problem. I am all set and happy with this much faster clean install.

Cool!

Glad it worked out for you!

 

[mahanddeem]

Useless trick.

This trick doesn't allow current Win8 key owners to download 8.1 ISO so I can't see where the trick is !

 

[mosharino]

Useless trick.

This trick doesn't allow current Win8 key owners to download 8.1 ISO so I can't see where the trick is !

I'm a 'current windows 8 user', and this 'useless trick' worked for me.

Did you follow the instructions as laid out in my first post?

 

[kaieivindm]

Thanks for sharing!

Will try when I get home from the office.

 

[mahanddeem]

Useless trick.

This trick doesn't allow current Win8 key owners to download 8.1 ISO so I can't see where the trick is !

I'm a 'current windows 8 user', and this 'useless trick' worked for me.

Did you follow the instructions as laid out in my first post?

WAIT !!
My bad ! I am sorry, it works !!! the additional link at the end of your post explains things in a wrong way, but your method works !
Thanks man and sorry again..

Now the problem would be how to clean install 8.1 with my 8 key !

 

[mosharino]

Useless trick.

This trick doesn't allow current Win8 key owners to download 8.1 ISO so I can't see where the trick is !

I'm a 'current windows 8 user', and this 'useless trick' worked for me.

Did you follow the instructions as laid out in my first post?

WAIT !!
My bad ! I am sorry, it works !!! the additional link at the end of your post explains things in a wrong way, but your method works !
Thanks man and sorry again..

Now the problem would be how to clean install 8.1 with my 8 key !

That link at the end was not my doing. SO i can understand the confusion.

Glad it worked.

 

[alphanumeric]

I reloaded Win 8.1 with the newly downloaded ISO doing a clean install. For the installation I used a generic key from the MS web-site. After the installation I activated Win 8.1 with my Win 8 product key without a problem. I am all set and happy with this much faster clean install.

Please can you tell what does this mean generic key? Do you mean the preview key? Can you share that generic key? I have my windows 8 key but like the others say I can't use it to clean install 8.1

When the ISO's were given to the big OEM's they also got install codes that would let you install but wouldn't activate. Once installed you can enter a Windows 8 code and activate with it. Assuming its a legal 8 code that is. The ISO images and the generic install codes were leaked. There is one for core and one for Pro. They were posted in a thread. I can't find that thread though. The 8.1 ISO's will not let you install with a Windows 8.0 Product code.

 

[mahanddeem]

You used this?
XHQ8N-C3MCJ-RQXB6-WCHYG-C9WKB

 

[mahanddeem]

...............

 

[alphanumeric]

There is a Pro key and a Core key? The one you use to install has to match the 8 key your going to activate with.

 

[gerdgoebel]

For me that trick worked just fine, and I was a current Win 8 owner. The trick was to you need to start the Win 8 download first. Once the download has started you cancel the download, then you click on the install 8.1 and it now starts downloading the 8.1 ISO.

Regarding the "generic" key, I found on the internet, that we can't use our Win 8 key for a clean install of Win 8.1. So for the clean install you need an "installation key" which you can obtain on the MS web-site. I copied my ISO onto a USB stick, started the installation, entered the generic key, finished the installation without a problem, then activated with my Win 8 product key without a problem.

 

[gerdgoebel]

do an internet search for Windows 8.1 generic key and you should get enough hits listing keys you need for the installation