Upgrade WinXP/Win7 to Win8

[Brian K]

http://blogs.windows.com/windows/b/b...for-39-99.aspx

Of course, if you want to start fresh, you can choose to bring nothing along. Or if you prefer to format your hard drive as part of your upgrade experience, you can do so as long as you boot from media and then format your hard drive from within the setup experience for installing Windows 8, not prior to it.

I understand that. But can you download Win8 from your first computer (with a genuine Windows OS) and install it to your second computer that has a blank HD. So there is only a single Win8 install but you aren't installing Win8 on the computer that did the download. Or does the Win8 install have to be done on the computer that downloaded the Win8 ISO?

[puff-m-d]

Hello,

The 39.99 is an upgrade deal and I am fairly certain the install package looks for a valid previous version of windows to be installed before it will proceed. I am fairly certain of this but I could be wrong.

[SLE]

Created media via update builder. This + update license worked for clean install ;-)

[Brian K]

Thanks. Is it Activated OK?

[comtrjl]

Originally Posted by Brian K

http://blogs.windows.com/windows/b/b...for-39-99.aspx



I understand that. But can you download Win8 from your first computer (with a genuine Windows OS) and install it to your second computer that has a blank HD. So there is only a single Win8 install but you aren't installing Win8 on the computer that did the download. Or does the Win8 install have to be done on the computer that downloaded the Win8 ISO?

Brian, I believe the answer is 'Not necessarily', although I have seen posts elsewhere that contradict this i.e. it can be installed onto any blank disk.
I ran the upgrade assistant from Win7 Pro, which I use every day, and purchased and downloaded Win8. I burnt it to a DVD. Thinking I would then play around with Win8 for a bit before zapping Win7, I inserted a blank HD in place of the Win7 disk and did a clean install of Win8. It installed OK but would not activate on that disk, so the Win8 upgrade assistant must mark the original disk in some way, which is fair enough.
I got round it by doing a reinstall of the original Vista32 which came with the pc and then replacing that with Win8. That worked fine, including activation, but obviously involved no disk swapping. I wasn't interested in trying to acquire 2 OSes or anything; I hadn't tried Win8 before and it was just a question of whether it was a good move or not, since I've had no problems with Win7. FWIW, it seems quicker and I like it so far.

Edit: by way of clarification I should have said that as far as I can tell, it doesn't matter which disk you download it onto, but it will only install and activate onto a disk which contains one of the several qualifying versions from which it is possible to upgrade.

bob

[SLE]

Originally Posted by Brian K

Thanks. Is it Activated OK?

Yes,no problem here.

(Otherwise there should work some registry tricks)

[garry35]

has anybody tried downloading and burning the ISO then installing and activating on a different computer than it was originally downloaded on ?. i have 3 PC's but i only intend to install on 2, would i need to download an ISO on each PC i intended to install on using the same burned ISO to match each PC ie. download the ISO on PC a then burn the SAME ISO and install on the SAME PC and repeat for each PC. would i have any problems installing and activating.

Gazzer

[Brian K]

Originally Posted by comtrjl

I believe the answer is 'Not necessarily',

Bob,

Interesting tests, thanks.

[Brian K]

SLE, thanks for confirming Activation was successful.

[garry35]

after looking on the net ppl have said that the downloaded ISO is not tied to any particular computer, but i havent tested to verify yet

[zfactor]

the iso you get when you buy the update is not the exact same as the real iso from msdn. the size is a lot smaller due to being compressed differently.

i have seen more than 40 installs of win 8 since the 26th come in. some had the upgrade keys and some worked and some did not with the official iso i have on hand. but there is a way to make it work every time.

i use the win 7 usb tool to create a bootable win 8 drive and add ei.cfg into the sources folder. open a notepad and enter this:

[Channel]
Retail

[VL]
0

the save it as ei.cfg this allows you to skip entering the key during install.

then you can install without a key at all. once installed you can edit a registry key to allow use of even the upgrade key and manually enter your key:

1-open regedit

2-search this: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Setup/OOBE

3-Change "MediaBootInstall" from "1" to "0"

4-open cmd as admin

5-type this: slmgr /rearm and hit enter

now restart pc/laptop etc.

6-again open cmd with admin privilegies

7-then install your key with these commands:

1- slmgr /ipk XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX and hit enter

2- slmgr /ato and hit enter

this will alow even the 15$ upgrade keys to be used as a fresh install.

[Brian K]

zfactor,

My reading suggests this....

You can use the Win8 DVD/flash drive on ANY computer.

When installing Win8 it has to see a qualifying Windows OS on the HD. Then you can format this partition and install Win8. If a qualifying Windows OS isn't seen Win8 installs and operates normally but it won't Activate.

Is this your experience or am I making it sound too hard?

[zfactor]

yes you can use it on any computer, however if you have access to a full copy such as the msdn version i would use that or i can pm where to get one.

no you do not need a os on the drive at all if you follow my post you can use the upgrade key to do a totally fresh install.

yes you are making it to hard lol. follow my directions and you can do a fully fresh formatted drive install with no previous os installed.

[Brian K]

Great news!

[Brian K]

Originally Posted by zfactor

if you have access to a full copy such as the msdn version i would use

I've already bought the $40 one. Apart from the activation aspect, do both install the "same" Win8?

[zfactor]

yes doesnt matter which you bought they all install the same thing in the end its just how you want to install it. if you want to do a upgrade then the one you download from your 40$ purchase will work fine. if you want to do a fresh install you will need a full retail or msdn / technet copy and follow my above to do a fresh install. just depends on which way you want to install it. otherwise same exact thing in the end.

[Brian K]

zfactor

Excellent info!

[zfactor]

no problem. if you have any other questions let me know. if i dont have the answer i can ask.