How can I upgrade to win8.1 without using windows store?
- Thread starter niklakis
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Thank you. But can you please explain how this works? The primary reason I don't want to upgrade using the store is because a lot of people had problems with it including my father. It screwed up all sorts of things. Is this you have linked like upgrading from the store but without using the store (I don't know how else to put it)? And I was also thinking if I could download the windows 8.1 iso, put it on a usb stick and use the key my pc is already registered with to clean install. Is it possible?
Well this downloads all of the files used in the 8.1 upgrade, presumably what the store uses as well. This effectively gives you the means for an offline upgrade. You download all of the files, then follow these instructions from the MS site:
As for your proposed idea, I'm not sure but I don't think that would work. IIRC Windows 8 keys do not work with Windows 8.1 install disks, though I may be wrong.
As for your proposed idea, I'm not sure but I don't think that would work. IIRC Windows 8 keys do not work with Windows 8.1 install disks, though I may be wrong.
They just HAD to complicate the process. Anyway more suggestions are welcome but since there is a clean install option I will opt for it even though it's overcomplicated for no reason.
EDIT: I just realised, it says it will work with a windows 8 key but does it mean a windows 8 key that was standalone or will it work with a key that came with a prebuilt pc?
EDIT: I just realised, it says it will work with a windows 8 key but does it mean a windows 8 key that was standalone or will it work with a key that came with a prebuilt pc?
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A product key that comes from a prebuilt system has an OEM license. Part of that license implies that you cannot use it to reinstall a clean copy (the system provider is supposed to handle all support for you, and that is usually through the means of a recovery disc) and it cannot be transferred to a new system (not what you were asking, but worth mentioning).
You can still try, but it may not let you activate Windows.
You can still try, but it may not let you activate Windows.
It will work. A buddy reinstalled Windows 8.1 from a clean VL ISO using an OEM key a few days ago, after screwing up the recovery partition by installing Windows 10, and it activated fine. It will also work with the retail ISO but that's harder to find.
Edit: That method to install 8.1 from an 8 iso is greatly simplified by being able to simply enter a KMS key during setup, and changing to the correct product key afterwards. So pretty much all you need is one of the KMS keys from Microsoft's website.
To tell you the truth the primary reason I want to upgrade is because AMD stopped releasing drivers for windows 8 and if you are a windows 8 user you either have to upgrade or use windows 7 drivers, and my concern is that with those drivers I might not get the best possible performance out of the card. You may say the prerformance decrease will be so minimal you won't even notice but if something doens't run as best as it can I get really frustated. And since it is not certain wether the clean install will work and I also have to worry wether upgrading will screw up my pc I don't think either of those options are really worth it.
EDIT:The Real Jbye I just saw you comment. Are you 100% sure that it worked? Also what was the pc's manufacturer (I have no idea if it matters but I want to know)
EDIT 2: There were only KMS keys for professional editions of windows and I have home premium(or whatever the new home editions are called). Will that key work?
EDIT:The Real Jbye I just saw you comment. Are you 100% sure that it worked? Also what was the pc's manufacturer (I have no idea if it matters but I want to know)
EDIT 2: There were only KMS keys for professional editions of windows and I have home premium(or whatever the new home editions are called). Will that key work?
You can get install media direct from Microsoft - for free. They don't care as you need a product key to activate.
But, if the link is a problem then mods remove it by all means. Just trying to help this guy out.
Thank you for the link but since I can download it from here what is the diferrence between that and the torrent you provided?
Also, is downloading the 8.1 installer and inserting the key a good way to test if it will work?
EDIT: I just tested using both the windows 8 and 8.1 installer. The 8.1 installer said it wasn't a valid key (as expected) and the win 8 installer said that that key cannot be used to install a retail version of windows. So if i got this right it basically said no I can't do a clean install.
The one in the torrent is every possible version of Windows 8.1 (Base, Pro, Enterprise, and everything in between) combined into one installer. The installer then automatically chooses and installs the correct version based on the product key you give it. This means that if you burn this to a disk and use it as an install disk for any version of Windows on any computer.
The reason I linked that is because even with several legitimate product keys I often have trouble downloading the Windows 8.1 install .iso from Microsoft as there are restriction regarding licenses and etc. when using their tool. Upgrade keys are hit and miss and OEM licenses never work. The .iso I link "just works" and saves a lot of hassle.
And if it is legit, your key will work. Even if it isn't accepted at first, calling the number provided always just gives you an activation code if the key is legit.
You could double-check you current key first using this tool, though, just in case.
That part I don't like. It just sounds fishy. Also the third party key tester also sounds fishy. Unless you have something to prove that my key will work I don't find the process worth it. But nonetheless thank you.
Also I don't want to create another thread to ask but as I said, the main reason I want to upgrade is because amd stopped releasing drivers for windows 8. Will the windows 8.1 driver work and if it does will it decrease the performance because I have a windows 8 pc? And if it doesn't work will the windows 7 one decrease the performance or not provide the performance that it could have achieved if it were installed on a windows 7 pc? I know I am asking very specific and potentially strange questions but because I had some unpleasant experiences with these things in the past I just want to be sure.
I am a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer - all the information and programs I linked are tools I use everyday and are not "fishy" - but if you do not feel comfortable with it that's fine. Just figured I would share what I had found to be the most efficient way of doing things for you or anyone else who may want to know in the future.
Drivers are a per-vendor issue. For any given device, Windows 7 drivers may be the best - or maybe Windows 8 - or 8.1 - or heck even XP. It all depends on how much time and effort the device provider invested into optimizing and debugging whichever driver you are using on whichever OS. The only way to find out is to try.
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The Microsoft Certified System Engineer is no longer an active qualification (withdrawn 2012 iirc), it's been replaced by Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert. Better to say it's your job and you deal with it on a daily basis.
Edit: doesn't make your advice any less valid.
Edit: doesn't make your advice any less valid.
Those downloads are not meant for just anyone to use. And pretty sure Windows 8 isn't on digitalriver. However those are official downloads, no one else has permission to distribute Windows ISOs.
For whatever reason, even though I have a ton of certifications from Microsoft and CompTIA, and am currently a Ph.D. student in Electrical and Computer Engineering, people never accept my advice regarding this stuff as true (read this thread, for example). After a while it gets really frustrating, and makes me feel like they think I'm some sort of fucking idiot who doesn't know what he's talking about, so I just whip out the "MCSE" title and that usually shuts people up and makes them at least listen.
But there you go. Best of luck to OP with his install. Hope all your stuff continues to work/works better!
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