Upgrade WinXP/Win7 to Win8

Discussion in 'backup, imaging & disk mgmt' started by Brian K, Oct 27, 2012.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

    Joined:
    Jan 28, 2005
    Posts:
    12,113
    Location:
    NSW, Australia
    http://blogs.windows.com/windows/b/...07/02/upgrade-to-windows-8-pro-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?
     
  2. puff-m-d

    puff-m-d Registered Member

    Joined:
    Feb 13, 2002
    Posts:
    5,703
    Location:
    North Carolina, USA
    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.
     
  3. SLE

    SLE Registered Member

    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2011
    Posts:
    361
    Created media via update builder. This + update license worked for clean install ;-)
     
  4. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

    Joined:
    Jan 28, 2005
    Posts:
    12,113
    Location:
    NSW, Australia
    Thanks. Is it Activated OK?
     
  5. comtrjl

    comtrjl Registered Member

    Joined:
    Mar 1, 2012
    Posts:
    27
    Location:
    uk
    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
     
    Last edited: Oct 28, 2012
  6. SLE

    SLE Registered Member

    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2011
    Posts:
    361
    Yes,no problem here.

    (Otherwise there should work some registry tricks)
     
  7. garry35

    garry35 Registered Member

    Joined:
    Jan 20, 2009
    Posts:
    479
    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
     
  8. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

    Joined:
    Jan 28, 2005
    Posts:
    12,113
    Location:
    NSW, Australia
    Bob,

    Interesting tests, thanks.
     
  9. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

    Joined:
    Jan 28, 2005
    Posts:
    12,113
    Location:
    NSW, Australia
    SLE, thanks for confirming Activation was successful.
     
  10. garry35

    garry35 Registered Member

    Joined:
    Jan 20, 2009
    Posts:
    479
    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 :D
     
  11. zfactor

    zfactor Registered Member

    Joined:
    Mar 10, 2005
    Posts:
    6,102
    Location:
    on my zx10-r
    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.
     
  12. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

    Joined:
    Jan 28, 2005
    Posts:
    12,113
    Location:
    NSW, Australia
    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?
     
    Last edited: Oct 31, 2012
  13. zfactor

    zfactor Registered Member

    Joined:
    Mar 10, 2005
    Posts:
    6,102
    Location:
    on my zx10-r
    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.
     
  14. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

    Joined:
    Jan 28, 2005
    Posts:
    12,113
    Location:
    NSW, Australia
    Great news!
     
  15. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

    Joined:
    Jan 28, 2005
    Posts:
    12,113
    Location:
    NSW, Australia
    I've already bought the $40 one. Apart from the activation aspect, do both install the "same" Win8?
     
  16. zfactor

    zfactor Registered Member

    Joined:
    Mar 10, 2005
    Posts:
    6,102
    Location:
    on my zx10-r
    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.
     
  17. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

    Joined:
    Jan 28, 2005
    Posts:
    12,113
    Location:
    NSW, Australia
    zfactor

    Excellent info!
     
  18. zfactor

    zfactor Registered Member

    Joined:
    Mar 10, 2005
    Posts:
    6,102
    Location:
    on my zx10-r
    no problem. if you have any other questions let me know. if i dont have the answer i can ask.
     
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.