How to download the Windows 8.1 ISO

[neelakantanr]

i have now checked the file setupact.log in the websetup; quite a long file; the final few lines are presented below:

2013-10-22 09:09:50, Info CONX GetIEVersion: Internet Explorer registry value = 9.10.9200.16721, return value = 9
2013-10-22 09:09:50, Info CONX ConX::Setup::Web::CWebSetupApp::GetAppState: [ 1 ]
2013-10-22 09:09:50, Info CONX App Running Mode: [ Late Entry ]
2013-10-22 09:10:19, Info CONX CPidGenHelper::ValidateProductKey: Start validating prodcut key
2013-10-22 09:10:19, Info CONX CPidGenHelper::ValidateProductKey: Read to call PidGenX
2013-10-22 09:10:19, Info CONX CPidGenHelper::ValidateProductKey: PidGenX was successfully called
2013-10-22 09:10:19, Info CONX CPidGenHelper::ValidateProductKey: Product key was successfully validated.
2013-10-22 09:10:19, Info CONX Edition = Professional
2013-10-22 09:10:19, Info CONX Base Eula Type = Retail
2013-10-22 09:10:19, Info CONX CWizardPageProductKeyPresenter::ValidateProductKey: Product key was successfully validated.
2013-10-22 09:10:19, Info CONX CWizardPageProductKeyPresenter::ValidateProductKey: Product EditionID = Professional
2013-10-22 09:10:22, Info CONX Setting selected edition info
2013-10-22 09:10:22, Info CONX Disposition [ CREATE_NEW ]
2013-10-22 09:10:22, Info CONX Endpoint [ https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=299830 ]
2013-10-22 09:10:22, Info CONX WizardPage PAGEID_GET_OFFERS_PROGRESS is activated: PAGEID = 5
2013-10-22 09:10:22, Info CONX ConX::Setup::Web::COnlineStore::WaitForWebCallToComplete: Waiting ...
2013-10-22 09:10:25, Info CONX Country Code [ IN ]
2013-10-22 09:10:25, Info CONX WebStore Opened.
2013-10-22 09:10:25, Info CONX Retrieving Offer for [ Professional ]
2013-10-22 09:10:26, Error CONX ConX::Setup::Web::COnlineStore::GetOfferForEdition: failed! [Error: 0x803d0013.]
2013-10-22 09:10:26, Error CONX ConX::Setup::Web::COnlineStore::GetOfferForEditionAsync:failed! [Error: 0x803d0013]
2013-10-22 09:10:26, Info CONX ConX::Setup::Web::COnlineStore::WaitForWebCallToComplete: Done!
2013-10-22 09:10:26, Info CONX WizardPage PageReviewLateEntry is activated: PAGEID = 8
2013-10-22 09:10:26, Error CONX ConX::Setup::Web::CWizardPageReviewLateEntryPresenter::OnShow: WebStore API failure [Error: 0x803d0013.]
2013-10-22 09:10:26, Warning CONX ConX::Setup::Web::CWizardPageReviewLateEntry::LoadFromPresenter: Could not get BoxArt. Using default icon.
2013-10-22 09:10:26, Info CONX WizardPage Message (MessageType = 5) is activated: PAGEID = 28
2013-10-22 09:10:31, Info CONX ConX::Setup::Web::CWebSetupApp::InitInstance: User opted out of diagnostic data upload.
2013-10-22 09:10:31, Info CONX ConX::Setup::Web::COnlineStore::CloseStore
2013-10-22 09:10:31, Info CONX ConX::Setup::Web::COnlineStore::WaitForWebCallToComplete: Waiting ...
2013-10-22 09:10:31, Info CONX ConX::Setup::Web::COnlineStore::WaitForWebCallToComplete: Done!
2013-10-22 09:10:31, Info [0x090009] PANTHR CBlackboard::Close: c:\users\nitya\appdata\local\microsoft\websetup\panther\installinfo.


So it appears that the webstore after identifying the key, edition and location failed to open the retail copy for downloading from IN (india) server;

i am ready to pass the key to a trusted person here, who can download and mail me my copy; is it possible? because the setup log mentions the Laptop id (LenovoWin8 and the processor correctly); so any copy downloaded elsewhere by a co-operating person, may be different?

neelakantan

 

[jds63]

I just completed clean install using the ISO. I was able to swap key and activate using my Pro Upgrade key. I have not decided if I am going to install Media Center yet on this box. Thanks again to the OP and contributors to this thread.

Good to know an upgrade key worked,thanks for input of your install.

 

[HOODY]

Just got done with my D/L too, made the ISO, and am copying it now to DVD, I'll "burn" it after I save it.

btw: when it got done making the ISO in the key box was MY W8 key, so the same key I got from MS for my W8 pro x64 is obviously going to be the same key I would use to install it.

I probably won't need it, but I'm glad to have the ISO in hand now.

One thing I noticed though, the ESD folder that was on with W8 was removed and replaced with the ESD folder with the now W8.1 install files, that folder can also be turned into a ISO with the program ESDtoISO. I know that it WAS 8 because I did another ISO of the contents.

I'm not too clear on this folder, once I have the ISO, and I burn the disk, is this folder still required to stay on HD? and on another thought should I replace it with the old ESD of W8? this is something I'm not too clear on, in my view once the ISO is made and saved, and the ISO is burned to a normal install disk I don't see any reason to keep the folder, its just that that folder was on disk for W8, maybe it was just left there from when I installed W8. Its also strange that when I "updated" 8 to 8.1 Saturday using the store thing that it didn't change the ESD folder than to 8.1.

 

[electrotune1200]

btw: when it got done making the ISO in the key box was MY W8 key, so the same key I got from MS for my W8 pro x64 is obviously going to be the same key I would use to install it.

I probably won't need it, but I'm glad to have the ISO in hand now.

You will still need to use the generic key to install, and your Windows 8 key to activate.

 

[HOODY]

decided to test the DVD, when it opened, it had the blue box with the info, and "Install Windows 8" ?? not windows 8.1 went as far as the next screen that just had the "install box", I assume after that is where it asks for a key.

Anyway I wanted to be sure this WAS 8.1 So checked the setup file, this is what it said in version

VALUE "CompanyName", "Microsoft Corporation"
VALUE "FileDescription", "Windows Installer"
VALUE "FileVersion", "6.3.9600.16384 (winblue_rtm.130821-1623)"
VALUE "InternalName", "Setup"
VALUE "LegalCopyright", "© Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved."
VALUE "OriginalFilename", "SETUP.EXE"
VALUE "ProductName", "Microsoft® Windows® Operating System"
VALUE "ProductVersion", "6.3.9600.16384"

so it does look like the version number for 8.1. funny that the install screen doesn't say "8.1"

 

[renpasa]

I do solve my download problem (no internet connection), very simple by using a different Windows 8 key (i have few of them) at the very beginning of the procedure.
The key i used before was already used for a former activation of 8.1. This caused the problem.
Thankyou everybodi.
Ciao

 

[alphanumeric]

Just got done with my D/L too, made the ISO, and am copying it now to DVD, I'll "burn" it after I save it.

btw: when it got done making the ISO in the key box was MY W8 key, so the same key I got from MS for my W8 pro x64 is obviously going to be the same key I would use to install it.

I probably won't need it, but I'm glad to have the ISO in hand now.

One thing I noticed though, the ESD folder that was on with W8 was removed and replaced with the ESD folder with the now W8.1 install files, that folder can also be turned into a ISO with the program ESDtoISO. I know that it WAS 8 because I did another ISO of the contents.

I'm not too clear on this folder, once I have the ISO, and I burn the disk, is this folder still required to stay on HD? and on another thought should I replace it with the old ESD of W8? this is something I'm not too clear on, in my view once the ISO is made and saved, and the ISO is burned to a normal install disk I don't see any reason to keep the folder, its just that that folder was on disk for W8, maybe it was just left there from when I installed W8. Its also strange that when I "updated" 8 to 8.1 Saturday using the store thing that it didn't change the ESD folder than to 8.1.

If you go back to the site linked to in the first post and click Install 8.1. And then click save instead of run. You should find a WindowsSetupBox.exe file in your downloads folder. Now you can run that file and create another ISO or create a USB thumb drive install disk any time you want. If the ESD folder is there it will skip downloading and go right to the install menu. If your happy with what you've got as far as I know you can delete the ESD folder.

 

[alphanumeric]

I downloaded an made an iso and saved it on my external HDD. How do I delete the downloaded 8.1 on my disk?

If somebody has already answered this then just ignore this post, I'm going though this thread again to answer questions I may have missed or didn't know that answer to at the time.
The downloaded files are in a hidden ESD folder in the route of your Windows partition.. If you set explorer to show hidden files you should see it.

 

[alphanumeric]

I've seen various sizes quoted for the download. Mine was 3.63 GB but others have had considerably smaller downloads, it seems.
Maybe the size of the download varies for certain hardware/software already installed?

I've done three downloads on three different PC's using an 8 Pro key and all three ISO files are the same size 3,208.960 KB. < This would be 8.1 Pro x64 English US.
My guess as to the different files sizes is maybe 32 bit versus 64 bit or the language?

 

[undine]

I would not be able to download the iso file as talked about in this thread at one time, so does anyone know if the download could be stopped and restarted later? Thanks

 

[brummyfan]

I would not be able to download the iso file as talked about in this thread at one time, so does anyone know if the download could be stopped and restarted later? Thanks

Have a look at the post 386 by renpasa and try his method.

 

[gavanid]

Wont download

it's been 2 days now and i still get "Can't Connect at the moment" ???

Is this because i've tried and it failed??
I've deleted all file in Websetup but still wont connect, any ideas pls??

 

[HOODY]

Just got done with my D/L too, made the ISO, and am copying it now to DVD, I'll "burn" it after I save it.

btw: when it got done making the ISO in the key box was MY W8 key, so the same key I got from MS for my W8 pro x64 is obviously going to be the same key I would use to install it.

I probably won't need it, but I'm glad to have the ISO in hand now.

One thing I noticed though, the ESD folder that was on with W8 was removed and replaced with the ESD folder with the now W8.1 install files, that folder can also be turned into a ISO with the program ESDtoISO. I know that it WAS 8 because I did another ISO of the contents.

I'm not too clear on this folder, once I have the ISO, and I burn the disk, is this folder still required to stay on HD? and on another thought should I replace it with the old ESD of W8? this is something I'm not too clear on, in my view once the ISO is made and saved, and the ISO is burned to a normal install disk I don't see any reason to keep the folder, its just that that folder was on disk for W8, maybe it was just left there from when I installed W8. Its also strange that when I "updated" 8 to 8.1 Saturday using the store thing that it didn't change the ESD folder than to 8.1.

If you go back to the site linked to in the first post and click Install 8.1. And then click save instead of run. You should find a WindowsSetupBox.exe file in your downloads folder. Now you can run that file and create another ISO or create a USB thumb drive install disk any time you want. If the ESD folder is there it will skip downloading and go right to the install menu. If your happy with what you've got as far as I know you can delete the ESD folder.

I'm not sure of just what you said here in answering my post, since I have already done the download and made the ISO, saved the "ISO" and "burned" the ISO. That windowssetupbox file is just the file to get to the download site for 8.1. I saved that and the one for w8 to DVD too.

my main question was just about the ESD folder, see my post above as quoted. As far as I can see installing 8 took out my W7 ESD, and now installing 8.1 (from the MS download not the update) took out the W8 ESD and replaced the files with 8.1, I was wondering if that was some sort of required folder. I can't see any other use for it except as an installer, but maybe windows has some need/use for it.

As stated, I HAVE all this now saved to DVD, the original ISO and the burned ISO install disk and the 2 files needed to start the D/L's.

 

[undine]

Post #386= I do solve my download problem (no internet connection), very simple by using a different Windows 8 key (i have few of them) at the very beginning of the procedure.
The key i used before was already used for a former activation of 8.1. This caused the problem.
Thankyou everybodi.
Ciao

I don't understand what this has to do with restarting the download at a later date?

 

[HOODY]

Post #386= I do solve my download problem (no internet connection), very simple by using a different Windows 8 key (i have few of them) at the very beginning of the procedure.
The key i used before was already used for a former activation of 8.1. This caused the problem.
Thankyou everybodi.
Ciao

I don't understand what this has to do with restarting the download at a later date?

lol sometimes things just seem strange.

I know there was/is a "pause" button when D/L, and I'm sure if you loose connection during the D/L it WILL pick back up where it left off. Its the same thing when you start the W8 D/L and close the box at 1%, its why it picks back up when you start the next D/L of 8.1.

 

[undine]

Thanks Hoody, I hope you are right but what I want to do is download maybe one third on one night and then turn off the computer.Then download some more the next night and so on. I believe this can be done with the regular update, but I'm not so sure about the iso file. Thanks all.

 

[HOODY]

Thanks Hoody, I hope you are right but what I want to do is download maybe one third on one night and then turn off the computer.Then download some more the next night and so on. I believe this can be done with the regular update, but I'm not so sure about the iso file. Thanks all.

you have to understand its NOT an ISO file you D/L homes, its the W8.1 ESD folder, that contains the install files, that when D/L 'ed and you start is where you select to either "install now", "save as ISO" or "wait to install later", the D/L adds a desktop icon to do that later too.

Once you save it as ISO, THAN you have to "burn" (make it useable as a W8.1 install DVD) to have a regular DVD install disk.

its why I was asking about that ESD folder, as once you do all that why keep 3g of files on HD? unless the system requires it for some reason.

I don't relay that much on "clean" installs, I make an Image every couple days, so if my system is hosed for some reason and I can't do a good restore point, I can restore my Image AS IT WAS, not just the "clean" OS. But its always good to have the install disks handy too.

 

[renpasa]

Post #386= I do solve my download problem (no internet connection), very simple by using a different Windows 8 key (i have few of them) at the very beginning of the procedure.
The key i used before was already used for a former activation of 8.1. This caused the problem.
Thankyou everybodi.
Ciao

I don't understand what this has to do with restarting the download at a later date?

Nothing to do! I'm sorry but i don't quoted you. I was refering to one of my former post wehre i complain abouto the no connection issue.
Please don' kill me . I am a old man and ..........
Ciao

 

[alphanumeric]

Just got done with my D/L too, made the ISO, and am copying it now to DVD, I'll "burn" it after I save it.

btw: when it got done making the ISO in the key box was MY W8 key, so the same key I got from MS for my W8 pro x64 is obviously going to be the same key I would use to install it.

I probably won't need it, but I'm glad to have the ISO in hand now.

One thing I noticed though, the ESD folder that was on with W8 was removed and replaced with the ESD folder with the now W8.1 install files, that folder can also be turned into a ISO with the program ESDtoISO. I know that it WAS 8 because I did another ISO of the contents.

I'm not too clear on this folder, once I have the ISO, and I burn the disk, is this folder still required to stay on HD? and on another thought should I replace it with the old ESD of W8? this is something I'm not too clear on, in my view once the ISO is made and saved, and the ISO is burned to a normal install disk I don't see any reason to keep the folder, its just that that folder was on disk for W8, maybe it was just left there from when I installed W8. Its also strange that when I "updated" 8 to 8.1 Saturday using the store thing that it didn't change the ESD folder than to 8.1.

If you go back to the site linked to in the first post and click Install 8.1. And then click save instead of run. You should find a WindowsSetupBox.exe file in your downloads folder. Now you can run that file and create another ISO or create a USB thumb drive install disk any time you want. If the ESD folder is there it will skip downloading and go right to the install menu. If your happy with what you've got as far as I know you can delete the ESD folder.

I'm not sure of just what you said here in answering my post, since I have already done the download and made the ISO, saved the "ISO" and "burned" the ISO. That windowssetupbox file is just the file to get to the download site for 8.1. I saved that and the one for w8 to DVD too.

my main question was just about the ESD folder, see my post above as quoted. As far as I can see installing 8 took out my W7 ESD, and now installing 8.1 (from the MS download not the update) took out the W8 ESD and replaced the files with 8.1, I was wondering if that was some sort of required folder. I can't see any other use for it except as an installer, but maybe windows has some need/use for it.

As stated, I HAVE all this now saved to DVD, the original ISO and the burned ISO install disk and the 2 files needed to start the D/L's.

I was just pointing out that you could also make a bootable USB install thumb drive before you delete the files. You don't need to keep them and if your happy with the ISO/DVD you have you can delete them.

 

[SIW2]

Perhaps it uses the ESD contents for a refresh/reset ?

I cbb to boot into 81 and check. If you have the esd on your drive, have a look at reagentc /info and see what it says.

As an aside:
I have never been able to get refresh to work from booted media. Pointless having the option there if it does nothing.