Upgrading to 8.1 RTM from MSDN

[Ironman273]

So I'd like to upgrade my Surface Pro to 8.1 but my understanding is that you can only keep your personal files, no software.  If my Surface came with Office 2013 how do I keep it on the Surface?  I ran Belarc Advisor and got my Windows Key but it doesn't show Office.

[Martog]

I used 8.1 Pro from my TechNet on my Surface Pro and could keep everything.  I think it might only apply if you have Pro + Media Center for the clean install.  I've upgraded my three 8 computers to 8.1 from TechNet and got to keep files, settings and apps each time

[Ironman273]

I used 8.1 Pro from my TechNet on my Surface Pro and could keep everything.  I think it might only apply if you have Pro + Media Center for the clean install.  I've upgraded my three 8 computers to 8.1 from TechNet and got to keep files, settings and apps each time

That's good to know!  How did you do it?  Burned disc, USB drive, mounted ISO?

[Martog]

I just mounted the ISO by double clicking it and then ran setup.exe, put in my product key when asked (upgrade from Store in Oct will use the key already on the surface) and let it install.

[freak180]

So 8.1 was officially release by MS...Its the same one that leaked correct?

[Ironman273]

Since I had downloaded it on my home PC I decided to try that.  I got my Windows key using ProduKey but when 8.1 asked me for my key it said that one was invalid... :(

 

Edit:  And the same thing is happening on my Surface.

 

Edit #2:  It just hit me... I have to use the key from MSDN.  Since these are my personal computers I'd rather wait until I can use the Store upgrade to use my embedded keys...  Oh well...

[Martog]

You have to use the Product Key from MSDN, otherwise the installer won't accept it. Kind of weird honestly how they set that up because 8.1 can activate with a 8 key.

[AndyD]

So you can do an in place upgrade with the RTM iso?  I rather not do a full reinstall

[InTheSwiss]

Firstly before anyone says that the following is not ok to do I would like to point out that it is totally fine to do this and it is documented by Microsoft on TechNet at the following link http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh824952.aspx

 

You have to use the Product Key from MSDN, otherwise the installer won't accept it. Kind of weird honestly how they set that up because 8.1 can activate with a 8 key.

 

That isn't totally correct. The ISO images for 8.1 RTM do not include an ei.cfg file in the sources directory however you can add one so that you are not prompted for a key until after installation at which time you can use your Windows 8 product key to activate.

 

If you want to do this simply use Notepad to create a text file with the following content and save it as ei.cfg in the sources folder on your install media.

 

If you have a "core" (that is not Windows 8 Pro) license use the following

[EditionID]
Core
[Channel]
Retail
[VL]
0

If you have a Professional license use the following

[EditionID]
Professional
[Channel]
Retail
[VL]
0

When you boot up to install Windows 8.1 it will now automatically know the version you are using so will not ask you for a product key before installation however on first boot after the install has completed it will ask you for a key however you are able to click "skip" on this screen and then enter your key when you are ready from the activation wizard.

 

Hope this helps :)

[Ironman273]

Well, I tried with the ei.cfg file.

 

Good news: I passed the check for the key!

Bad news: The only two options I have for install is keep personal files or keep nothing.

[InTheSwiss]

Well, I tried with the ei.cfg file.

 

Good news: I passed the check for the key!

Bad news: The only two options I have for install is keep personal files or keep nothing.

 

I believe the only supported way to "upgrade" and keep *everything* is to use the Windows Store update when it comes out on October 18th. I believe this is one of the reasons Microsoft were holding back on the release of the RTM to MSDN as there does not appear to be a way to do an upgrade from the RTM media and keep all your apps and settings.

[Ironman273]

I believe the only supported way to "upgrade" and keep *everything* is to use the Windows Store update when it comes out on October 18th. I believe this is one of the reasons Microsoft were holding back on the release of the RTM to MSDN as there does not appear to be a way to do an upgrade from the RTM media and keep all your apps and settings.

That's what I had originally assumed but martog apparently "upgraded" his install without losing everything.

[+bomberh Subscriber²]

I have Windows 8 Pro + Media Centre installed and when I did my upgrade to 8.1, it gave me all the options. I obviously picked save everything option and it did just that. I then re installed Media Centre with my key and everything is working ok.

 

Not sure why some people are having a problem with 8.1 not giving them the options to save programs and settings, strange, could it be they may have the preview already installed? if not then I have no idea.

[Ironman273]

That must be it.  I'm going from 8.1 preview to 8.1.  Probably going from 8 to 8.1 allows you to keep everything.

[AndyD]

I upgraded from 8.0 to 8.1 and for the most part everything stayed the same.  I had to reinstall the drivers for my phone and vmware but that's about it

[Yogurth]

For me it wouldn't accept Acer OEM Activation. Core Single Language x64. Had to go back to 8.

[MP Technologie]

There is a simple workaround to upgrade from 8.1 preview to 8.1 RTM (or final or whatever above.) without losing anything.

 

Go to where your 8.1 RTM files are, open the folder named "sources", and edit the file in this folder named "cversion.ini" with notepad, and change both lines with minimal build to 9200.0

Save the file, launch the install, and now you'll have the possibility to keep everything.

Works perfectly, I use this method since first Windows Vista leaked builds and this is still the same with 7 and 8 and 8.1. ;)

 

Hope this helps :)

[Ironman273]

More good news/bad news!

 

Good news: I was able to upgrade into Windows 8.1 from the preview!

 

Bad news: It won't activate.  I have an HP computer that came with Win8 and it says the key is stored in the BIOS so it doesn't have a sticker with the key.  I used Belarc to retrieve the key I had installed but 8.1 says that key is invalid.

[Jason404]

I'm hoping someone here can answer this:

 

I currently only have a Windows 8 Pro upgrade licence, so I cannot clean install Windows 8.1 Pro using this ei.cfg file method, but I hope to use it to install without supplying a key and activate once I have one (using the slmgr reset to keep running until I have one).

 

I'm planning to eventually get Windows 8.1 keys through the Microsoft BizSpark program, which includes some sort of MSDN membership.

 

So, what should I put in the ei.cfg file?

 

• Will I have access to the Enterprise edition?
• Should I have OEM or Retail for Channel?
• I suppose VL should be 1?

I don't want to get into the situation where I have an unactivated Windows 8.1 installation where I have all my applications installed but I cannot activate it using my BizSpark key.

[francescob]

More good news/bad news!

 

Good news: I was able to upgrade into Windows 8.1 from the preview!

 

Bad news: It won't activate.  I have an HP computer that came with Win8 and it says the key is stored in the BIOS so it doesn't have a sticker with the key.  I used Belarc to retrieve the key I had installed but 8.1 says that key is invalid.

You have to install the matching edition using the right product key (there are two different ones for Core and Pro). You can't install Pro and activate it with a Core key.