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Official Microsoft ISO/Media Creation Tool
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Hmm, I wonder if my Windows 8.0 TechNet keys will work for this download? I don't really feel like reinstalling to find out though. I'll just have to try and remember to test it out next time I do a reinstall on one of my PC's. Or wait for somebody else to test it. 
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I just did a clean install of 8.1 Pro on my ASUS laptop. It has a Windows 8.0 Core OEM embedded key. I added a PID.txt file to the sources folder of my install thumb drive with one of my TechNet 8.0 Pro keys. That key was used to install 8.1 Pro. Activated just fine too. No prompt to enter a key. 
I just did a clean install of 8.1 Pro on my ASUS laptop. It has a Windows 8.0 Core OEM embedded key. I added a PID.txt file to the sources folder of my install thumb drive with one of my TechNet 8.0 Pro keys. That key was used to install 8.1 Pro. Activated just fine too. No prompt to enter a key.
That is very good to hear alpha
, if it works by adding features then pid.txt should've definitely worked nonetheless, isn't it?
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I just did a clean install of 8.1 Pro on my ASUS laptop. It has a Windows 8.0 Core OEM embedded key. I added a PID.txt file to the sources folder of my install thumb drive with one of my TechNet 8.0 Pro keys. That key was used to install 8.1 Pro. Activated just fine too. No prompt to enter a key.
That is very good to hear alpha
I didn't have to use a PID.txt, it just speeds things up and saves me from having to type it in. If I had left it out I would have been prompted to enter a key manually. I have a custom install thumb drive for each PC. I just edited it and replaced the 8.1 key with an 8.0 key. I keep a list of what keys I used and what PC they were used on. I do the same thing with my office TechNet/MSDN keys. Saves me from getting any activation issues.
@alpha With this new media creation tool, it automatically detects key on installation in oem lap, right? So downloading and installing win 8.1 update pro to a win 8 core oem lap won't activate the key, isn't it? Hence we need either add features to windows or pid.txt with this kind of installation? Or will it notify to enter pro key while installing?
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This download is separate Core and Pro versions. My OEM key is for Core, installing Pro I would assume it would have just ignored it and prompted me to enter a key. I probably shouldn't have used the PID.txt file, old habits. I wasn't using add features, I was installing Pro directly. It can be confusing. If I hadn't added the PID.txt it would have prompted me for a key. To continue I would have had to enter a Pro key.
Thanks alpha, yeah it was a bit confusing , got it cleared now
So it is like this, the core and pro versions are available separately.
Even if you have OEM Win 8/8.1 core pre-installed, when Win 8.1 Pro is selected during the download & install using media creation tool - you simply have to either enter pro activation key during installation or create a pid.txt file with pro key, in the installation sources' folder & continue with install, right?
So it is like this, the core and pro versions are available separately.
Even if you have OEM Win 8/8.1 core pre-installed, when Win 8.1 Pro is selected during the download & install using media creation tool - you simply have to either enter pro activation key during installation or create a pid.txt file with pro key, in the installation sources' folder & continue with install, right?
Yes.
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Like he said, yes. :thumb:
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This method works perfectly genet , My previous Win 8.1 Pro x64 installation was an upgrade from a 2 yr old Win 7 Ultimate install using the original $15 upgrade offer then finally updating to 8.1 Pro which is a big hassle.
This time I even changed the architecture to 32 bit Windows 8.1 Pro and windows still activated automatically.
So you could manage to clean install Win 8.1 Pro x32 in Win 7 Ultimate x64 machine and it activated automatically?
That is good to hear
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So you could manage to clean install Win 8.1 Pro x32 in Win 7 Ultimate x64 machine and it activated automatically?
That is good to hear
To clarify I opened Command prompt (SHIFT+F10) then used diskpart and the "clean" command to delete the previous Win 7 Ultimate x64 to 8.1 upgrade then proceeded with the clean install of Win 8.1 Pro x32.
Can I use this tool to create an ISO image of 8.1 Pro with Media Center installed? I want to create an ISO image of my laptop running my copy of Win 8.1 Pro with media center installed.
BTW I've already got an official Windows 8.1 disc with it's own PID, it obviously just doesn't include media center. Thus my question.
Thanks.
BTW I've already got an official Windows 8.1 disc with it's own PID, it obviously just doesn't include media center. Thus my question.
Thanks.
media center is already incl in the w8 install, you need a different key to activate it is all.
you don't create the ISO from your installed system, the ISO is downloaded, and you burn that to a install disk, that you would use your retail key to activate, than use your windows media key to activate that.
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No, you can't install with a Media Center key, it can only be used to add Media Center to a Pro install through Add Features. 8.x Pro needs to be activated too.
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The Window 8.1 Pro ISO is Windows 8.1.1. PRO.
If you go to the start menu, you can tell by the power icon in the right corner, which only appears on Windows 8.1.1.
The great news is that we got a Windows 8.1.1 ISO from Microsoft.
Thanks alpha, and Hoody, I got that.
I was just hoping I could create one ISO that had both installed.
@ Hoody...
And yes, I already have a PID key for Media Center. And yes, I assumed you couldn't create an ISO from an installed system, but I was thinking more in line with this... http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/18309-windows-8-windows-8-1-iso-download-create.html, option 4. Admittedly though I hadn't looked fully into it.
