Windows Updating to Windows 8.1 from 8, clean install

avi

avi

Level J
I have Windows 8 on my system and it's a genuine version(retail version, not OEM). Now I want to update to 8.1, but not OTA, I want to perform clean install.

1. I don't have product key noted down or on box, I used this tool find out my current key: http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/System-Info/Windows-8-Product-Key-Viewer.shtml
2. Do I have to deactivate license of my current installation? if yes, how?
3. Or shall I do clean install and use the key? if yes, I will find the ISO on torrents etc, download, install and use my key.

Thanks!
 
There are other free and good software using which you can recover your Windows 8 key. Please note them.

Belarc Advisor: http://www.belarc.com/

Produkey: http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/product_cd_key_viewer.html

Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder: https://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/

Product Key Decryptor: http://securityxploded.com/product-key-decryptor.php

All of the above are reputed and popular software.

No need to download Windows 8.1 ISO from torrents, as now Windows 8.1 ISO can be downloaded from Microsoft itself. Microsoft is providing a Windows 8.1 Media Creation Tool to download ISO for Windows 8.1.

Details are provided here in an article on Ghacks:

http://www.ghacks.net/2014/11/09/microsoft-tool-to-create-installation-media-for-windows-8-1/

So, download the ISO, and burn it on a DVD, and then you can perform a clean install. The key you have will work with the downloaded ISO.

I have a genuine OEM Windows 8 CD, and the key worked fine with the Windows 8.1 that I downloaded from Microsoft.

No need to deactivate license or anything.

Also, in some cases, like OEM laptops, Windows 8 key is in the BIOS. In that case, it has to be recovered from BIOS. For that, please read my comment on the above Ghacks article:

http://www.ghacks.net/2014/11/09/mi...lation-media-for-windows-8-1/#comment-2960753
 
^hey thanks for reply!

However I need ISO file and also it should be less than 4GB (so that it can work on FAT). I will be creating a single USB drive which can install OS X (hackintosh) and Ubuntu, Win 8.1.

to create USB media, just copying files from ISO to drive will do it? (as outlined here - http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/15458-uefi-bootable-usb-flash-drive-create-windows.html)

1. Mount ISO
2. Mount pen drive
3. Copy contents of ISO to drive

That will do?
 
Last edited:
In the boot folder on the mounted image of windows there would be a tool to write the boot sector on the usb key. you have use that tool to write boot sector on the usb key.

otherwise just use the usb creator tool to create the bootable usb.
 
booo said:
In the boot folder on the mounted image of windows there would be a tool to write the boot sector on the usb key. you have use that tool to write boot sector on the usb key.

otherwise just use the usb creator tool to create the bootable usb.
Click to expand...
does this apply to UEFI as well?
 
I don't think that you'll be able to install W8.1 using W8 key. You'll need to get a W8.1 install key for installation (google it). Later, you can activate using your genuine key.
 
pauldmps said:
I don't think that you'll be able to install W8.1 using W8 key. You'll need to get a W8.1 install key for installation (google it). Later, you can activate using your genuine key.
Click to expand...

Where did you read that? It's false. You can easily install Windows 8.1 using Windows 8 key. And anyways, why won't the Windows 8 key work with Windows 8.1? They are not different operating systems. Windows 8.1 is an upgrade to Windows 8.

As I said in my previous post, I was able to install Windows 8.1 using my original Windows 8 key. Many other users have reported on the internet, that they were able to successfully install Windows 8.1 using their Windows 8 keys.
 
avi said:
However I need ISO file and also it should be less than 4GB (so that it can work on FAT). I will be creating a single USB drive which can install OS X (hackintosh) and Ubuntu, Win 8.1.
Click to expand...

Don't know what you are trying to say.

You mean to say that you will put all three ISOs of OS X, Ubuntu and Windows 8.1 on a single USB drive? Don't know if that's possible.

If you want to create a bootable USB drive for Windows 8.1 only, then it's possible. The media creation tool from Microsoft, which I posted about earlier, will allow you to create a bootable USB drive. You have the option to either create a DVD, in which case, it will download the ISO. If you want to create a bootable USB drive, then have a flash drive with enough space ready, as it will ask for it.

avi said:
to create USB media, just copying files from ISO to drive will do it? (as outlined here - http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/15458-uefi-bootable-usb-flash-drive-create-windows.html)

1. Mount ISO
2. Mount pen drive
3. Copy contents of ISO to drive

That will do?
Click to expand...

There are several methods outlined in the above thread. I did not go through all of them. Maybe later.
However, the method you are talking about, has an additional step of going to Step 11. Please note.

Also, please note that the methods are for 64-bit of operating systems only.. as written at the start of the tutorial.

You will be downloading Windows 8.1 64-bit?
 
CapriAnupam said:
Where did you read that? It's false. You can easily install Windows 8.1 using Windows 8 key. And anyways, why won't the Windows 8 key work with Windows 8.1? They are not different operating systems. Windows 8.1 is an upgrade to Windows 8.

As I said in my previous post, I was able to install Windows 8.1 using my original Windows 8 key. Many other users have reported on the internet, that they were able to successfully install Windows 8.1 using their Windows 8 keys.
Click to expand...
If you are fresh installing by booting from media, Windows 8 key won't work. I am talking from my experience.
Some proof if you're still not convinced:
http://www.askvg.com/fix-windows-8-...esnt-work-for-windows-8-1-clean-installation/
http://forum.notebookreview.com/win...ows-8-1-clean-your-windows-8-upgrade-key.html
 
avi said:
^hey thanks for reply!

However I need ISO file and also it should be less than 4GB (so that it can work on FAT). I will be creating a single USB drive which can install OS X (hackintosh) and Ubuntu, Win 8.1.

to create USB media, just copying files from ISO to drive will do it? (as outlined here - http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/15458-uefi-bootable-usb-flash-drive-create-windows.html)

1. Mount ISO
2. Mount pen drive
3. Copy contents of ISO to drive

That will do?
Click to expand...
No. Unfortunately MS tool doesn't support making USB key for UEFI/Secure boot. Use this instead: https://rufus.akeo.ie/
For UEFI laptops, select "GPT partition scheme for UEFI computer"
 
pauldmps said:
If you are fresh installing by booting from media, Windows 8 key won't work. I am talking from my experience.
Some proof if you're still not convinced:
http://www.askvg.com/fix-windows-8-...esnt-work-for-windows-8-1-clean-installation/
http://forum.notebookreview.com/win...ows-8-1-clean-your-windows-8-upgrade-key.html
Click to expand...

If you noticed, I was also writing from experience. And as I wrote earlier, others too reported the same. You can check the comments in the Ghacks aticle.

Now, about the links you posted. The thread from notebookreview is from last year... more than a year old, and it was when Microsoft had not released the official Windows 8.1 ISO creation tool.

About the askvg site, I am sure that too is an old article.

There is a link to another askvg article in the article you posted, the first link that appears, which is here:

http://www.askvg.com/how-to-download-windows-8-1-rtm-standalone-offline-iso-for-clean-installation/

You will also notice, both the above and the link you posted talk about Windows RTM, which is a bit different from usual Windows.

In the second link that I posted from askvg, there is another link marked as "Update: Official Tool to Download Windows 8.1 Setup ISO and Create Installation Media".. which is here:

http://www.askvg.com/official-tool-to-download-windows-8-1-setup-iso-and-create-installation-media/

At the end of this article, just after Download link, it says:

When you'll try to install Windows 8.1 using bootable USB drive or DVD created with the help of this tool, you can use either Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 product key at the time of installation. Both are accepted.
Click to expand...

I hope you are convinced now.
 
CapriAnupam said:
Don't know what you are trying to say.

You mean to say that you will put all three ISOs of OS X, Ubuntu and Windows 8.1 on a single USB drive? Don't know if that's possible.
Click to expand...
It's possible and I already created it ;-)

Basically, you create 3 partitions on USB, put installation media in each of those.

CapriAnupam said:
You will be downloading Windows 8.1 64-bit?
Click to expand...
Yup, it's 64 bit Windows 8.1.


pauldmps said:
No. Unfortunately MS tool doesn't support making USB key for UEFI/Secure boot. Use this instead: https://rufus.akeo.ie/
For UEFI laptops, select "GPT partition scheme for UEFI computer"
Click to expand...
I used OS X's native Disk Utility tool, which has GPT support.
 
That's good then :). I too searched and found some free tools to create a multi-boot USB, so yes, that can be done. However, I wasn't sure about OS X, as I have never ever dealt with it.

The 64-bit Windows 8.1 will be 3.20 GB approximately... so within the 4 GB that you wanted.
 
3.2GB? Is that update only or stand alone installation?

I checked online and torrents were of 4.5Gb etc, so downloaded one 3.9GB one but its pre activated. So will use my product key once installed
 
3.2 GB is the size of the Windows 8.1 64-bit ISO that will be download via the Microsoft media creation tool. One of my friend downloaded it, and that's how I know. I had downloaded the 32-bit ISO, which was of a lesser size.

If you want to go with torrents one, that's your choice. I am showing you the legal way.
 
I can't use that tool. I need ISO Or that tool downloads and places the ISO somewhere? Anyway to download it directly?

And torrents are not really illegal, I am gonna use my key only ;-)
 
CapriAnupam said:
If you noticed, I was also writing from experience. And as I wrote earlier, others too reported the same. You can check the comments in the Ghacks aticle.
......................................................
Click to expand...
I downloaded MSDN iso just when Windows 8.1 was first released. I still use that iso & it doesn't support Win8 key while installing. MS updated this much later. Thanks for the info.
 
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