Windows 8 Upgrade Questions.

By Axel
in Microsoft (Windows)

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Grand Master

Axel

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thenetavenger said:

The 'full' version is now Windows 8 System Builder. The Upgrade/Full confused a lot of people, thinking that the 'full' version had more functionality or features, when it was just a licensing difference.

I don't think the System Builder version is available for pre-order yet.

The only reason you would need System Builder is if you are building a new PC yourself, or have a version older than XP.

XP-Vista-7 users can use the one provide on Amazon's side that is the non-System Builder version.

(PS If you are building your own PC, most of the time people are retiring an old computer and can migrate that license under the new Windows 8 upgrade rules. If you are 'serious' about building PCs like professionally, you should be buying wholesale OEM copies that are far cheaper or buying via licensing. You can also use 'deals' through Microsoft for private use and testing on various Partner programs.)

Axel said:

I actually sold my own full retail Windows 7 Home Premium for about ?65 on ebay and have been running the RP/CP on my self-built desktop since. Consequently, if I went for the upgrade option I'd have to look at buying a full XP license on ebay or something to that effect and then upgrading to Win8. It all just seem a bit arse-about-face whenever you have to reinstall from afresh (or after upgrading the primary hard disk for example), as I'm under the impression one would have to reinstall the previous OS and then perform and upgrade from that. MESSY.

sphbecker said:

You actually can to a clean install using the upgrade version (at least you could with Win7, hopefully they continue to allow that considering it results in a more stable installation). Also, keep in mind that technically you can only resell the retail version of Windows. The OEM license that comes as a sticker on your computer is only valid on that computer. If you buy it from someone else it isn't technically legal.

rfirth said:

You can still do a clean install from an upgrade copy.

I just wanted to continue this conversion from the front page regarding Windows 8 Upgrade.

What occurs in a worst case scenario? I.e. a hard disk failure and you wanted to reinstall Windows 8 afresh? I assume the fresh install utilising an upgrade license required for you to have reinstalled the previous operating system and then upgraded from that again?

I'm just trying to work out the most sensible and cost effective path to take!

Cheers guys.

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Grand Master

George P Global Moderator

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I think one of two things might need to be done, you can either install the old version and then upgrade to 8 again on the new HDD you have to buy, or install 8 without adding any key and after that redo it through the new install as an "upgrade", this time adding in the key you have for it. It should then activate it and so on.

But I'm not 100% sure.

For myself I wanna know if I can use the upgrade to do a clean install to my new SSD instead of the original C drive I have Win7 installed on right now. I know you can do clean installs (aka you tell it to keep nothing) but i'm not sure if it will then ask you where you want to install.

I might just have to pay more and get the system builder version as well.

Community Regular

skilithead

Posted
Posted

Fellows ,I'm pretty sure that when you download the windows 8 version that you want , it asks if you want to run it , or save as an .iso ,you can then burn it to a disc ,or usb.You can then install it where you want .Just write down the key that they will give you when you make your purchase .

Grand Master

Axel

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  • Author
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I think one of two things might need to be done, you can either install the old version and then upgrade to 8 again on the new HDD you have to buy, or install 8 without adding any key and after that redo it through the new install as an "upgrade", this time adding in the key you have for it. It should then activate it and so on.

But I'm not 100% sure.

For myself I wanna know if I can use the upgrade to do a clean install to my new SSD instead of the original C drive I have Win7 installed on right now. I know you can do clean installs (aka you tell it to keep nothing) but i'm not sure if it will then ask you where you want to install.

I might just have to pay more and get the system builder version as well.

Done some digging and found this which sheds some light:

http://betanews.com/2012/07/04/four-things-you-really-need-to-know-about-windows-8-upgrades/

Is the method of installing without and product key and then again WITH a product key the same one that used to work with Vista and 7 upgrade discs? In that particular case I think I've read Microsoft have closed that hole now. However, I just remember I still have a retail boxed version of Vista upgrade from years ago in my cupboard.

With this in mind that's a new question:-

Can one upgrade from an upgrade?

Grand Master

Noir Angel

Posted
Posted

From what I can gather, as long as there's an install of XP, Vista or 7 detected on the drive you're installing to it will let you format and do a clean install if you boot from the installation media

Grand Master

Axel

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Posted

From what I can gather, as long as there's an install of XP, Vista or 7 detected on the drive you're installing to it will let you format and do a clean install if you boot from the installation media

So in summary, an "Upgrade" purchase requires you to reinstall a previous version of Windows if changing the primary hard disk, prolonging the time it take to reinstall Windows. However, if you simply wish to format and start afresh, that's entirely possible as many times as you want once Windows 8 has been installed.

According to winsupersite ,you'll be able to upgrade from 8 RP , but not the RTM Eval. , don't know if that helps .

Oh that's interesting. Thanks for that info.

The other thought that occurs: I suppose I could image the hard disk at the time of a fresh install (Vista for example) onto a usb stick and use a bootable linux distro (dd command) to put the image back onto the disk before reinstalling Windows 8.

Grand Master

Noir Angel

Posted
Posted

No, from what I gather the install will work even if you have an existing Windows 8 install on the drive, so as long as you keep reinstalling Windows to the same drive it should be no more painful than a current format + install.

Grand Master

threetonesun

Posted
Posted

The somewhat useful chart on Amazon's site:

Upgrading from: What you can keep:

Windows 8 Preview Personal files

Windows 8 Developer Preview Nothing, but your old files will be saved in the "windows.old" folder

Windows 7 Software programs; Windows settings; personal files

Windows Vista Windows settings; personal files

Windows XP Personal files

I was asking about this in the original thread, since anyone can get the Windows 8 RP, assuming you always have that around, you don't even need an older version of Windows. I also assume this means that you'll be able to do a clean install from disc.

I don't see why MS gets so hung up on this point. As long as it ends up being 1 copy of Windows to 1 PC, why do they care if it's an upgrade or a full install.

Enthusiast

demon_speed

Posted
Posted

Why not wait for the genuine iso image from the internet someone has uploaded and then burn it? Then you can do a fresh install for free and have you own generated key :). As simple as that and it's absolutely free and no worries.

Grand Master

Axel

Posted
  • Author
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Why not wait for the genuine iso image from the internet someone has uploaded and then burn it? Then you can do a fresh install for free and have you own generated key :). As simple as that and it's absolutely free and no worries.

Since it's now officially out and someone can confirm the process first hand I thought I'd bump my old thread to see if any of these questions can be answered. Can the Win8 .iso be booted and loaded onto a disk which doesn't have a previous version of Windows installed.

Scenario: I have a hard disk failure and need to install onto a fresh disk. What's the process since I only bought "upgrade"?

Cheers guys.

Proficient

Cask1

Posted
Posted

Since it's now officially out and someone can confirm the process first hand I thought I'd bump my old thread to see if any of these questions can be answered. Can the Win8 .iso be booted and loaded onto a disk which doesn't have a previous version of Windows installed.

Scenario: I have a hard disk failure and need to install onto a fresh disk. What's the process since I only bought "upgrade"?

Cheers guys.

I was able to activate a Fresh Install using the key I bought for 39.99. It worked like any full version of Windows would.

Grand Master

Zain Adeel

Posted
Posted

i need some help.

I am on the Windows 8 Release Preview. I ran the Windows 8 Pro Upgrade Assistant and it says all green! just buy the online download for $39.99.

If I buy that. Will I be able to do a clean install of Windows 8 Pro on my PC? or not?

No I don't have a windows 7 license.

Guest

Posted
Posted

i need some help.

I am on the Windows 8 Release Preview. I ran the Windows 8 Pro Upgrade Assistant and it says all green! just buy the online download for $39.99.

If I buy that. Will I be able to do a clean install of Windows 8 Pro on my PC? or not?

No I don't have a windows 7 license.

If you don't have a licence how are you using Windows now?

Collaborator

ThePokedPenguin

Posted
Posted

I bought the ?24.99 upgrade from the upgrade assistant, at the end of the purchase it says "heres your key if you want to install on a different partition"

I then ran the bootable usb that the upgrade assistant made from the download on a completely blank drive, put the key in and it activated fine

Veteran

FaiKee

Posted
Posted

The "upgrade key" is actually a retail key, so:

Unofficially: the key can be used with MSDN ISO's, MS wouldn't clarify on this, but it has been reported and confirmed by many users,

Officially: A PCBeta guy has asked MS China Customer Service, the key can be transfered to other machine(s), you can check with MS at your location. :)

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