win8 Can you install Windows 8 upgrade on a totally empty (ie new) drive?

[+ir0nw0lf 398]

I have been digging through all the posts here and can't find a solid, 100% confirmation on the following:

Can you install the Windows 8 Upgrade on a totally blank (ie new) hard drive? I keep seeing people post that they booted off the disc and were able to do a clean install, but they don't always indicate if there was an existing OS installed, which the upgrade disc would obviously see. Has anyone taken a totally empty/new drive with absolutely nothing on it prior to booting off the upgrade disc, no other drives with an OS that might be seen, and installed Windows 8 and have it activate properly? Microsoft supposedly has said a previous OS has to be installed/seen.

[Brandon H 1,890]

I was sure I read somewhere you could upgrade from any of the Windows 8 versions that where out

But I guess not, so now making a separate partition to install Win7 back on to run the upgrade assistant

yeah the evaluation specifically states that you can't upgrade from it though

[Shane Nokes 739]

That's not how it works. I got Retail disc from TechNet, I installed it and activated with the key I got from upgrade assistant. I installed on a NEW empty SSD, that computer had no other drives.

What seems to determine if it activates it succesfully is one registry key. When doing a clean install, by default that registry key is 0 when installing from Retail disc and activates ok, if installed from upgrade media that key is 1 by default and your activation fails. Changing that key to 0 when installed on upgrade media activates it without errors.

I think that the keys that come trough uprgade assistant are actually full retail keys, not upgrade. That upgrade media that it downloads limits if it can be uset as a clean install or not. Dunno why they did the upgrade assistant like this.

But it's true that usually it has worked as you stated, this is just how upgrade assistant works, it gives retail keys and it is limited as upgrade on media.

That would be very odd I'd that were the case.

That would break the entire concept of the key controlling the install type. Well at least it would for this specific scenario.

Any info that backs that up out of curiosity?

[Stoffel 1,810]

yeah the evaluation specifically states that you can't upgrade from it though

But I was hoping that I at least could use the Upgrade assistant to make the purchase and do the download, from there do clean install

[Colin McGregor 569]

when I got my pc it came with vista, I later got the windows 7 upgrade disk for free for buying the pc a week before win7. I now use the win7 upgrade disk as a retail fresh install. I just hit custom and delete the partition and click next. It installs win7 fresh with no hp bulk crap. So the win8 might be the same.

[Shane Nokes 739]

when I got my pc it came with vista, I later got the windows 7 upgrade disk for free for buying the pc a week before win7. I now use the win7 upgrade disk as a retail fresh install. I just hit custom and delete the partition and click next. It installs win7 fresh with no hp bulk crap. So the win8 might be the same.

The question wasn't clean install...it was full install. In other words bare empty drive with nothing to upgrade from. :)

[Joni_78 47]

So if I were to use a Retail ISO downloaded from Technet /MSDN with a key bought from the Upgrade Assistant Wizard, it would allow me to do a clean installation on a formatted /brand new HDD?

Yes.

I was sure I read somewhere you could upgrade from any of the Windows 8 versions that where out

But I guess not, so now making a separate partition to install Win7 back on to run the upgrade assistant

Upgrade assistant works on Windows 8 if you run it with Windows XP SP3 compatibility mode.

[George P 4,263]

MS says you can do clean installs BUT you have to have an older windows installed already. I also wonder if you can, when you pick to keep nothing (which starts a clean install) if it asks you where to install it and if you can then pick a new hdd in the process.

You can use the upgrade media to go from 32bit to 64bit but they say you lose everything in the process, so it does a clean install. My question after this is do you get to pick the location? I also want to upgrade from Win7 32bit to Win8 64bit but put it on my new SSD and not the same HDD Win7 is installed on right now.

[xanonline 4]

Generally that's the case with VL & OEM Keys and such, but not as common with retail keys.

Using a random one for install I agree, but using a random one just to give to someone to verify that it's a working key? Much more likely...which is why the license terms specifically state that you need to have a copy of the OS already installed on the drive in order to do the upgrade.

Any other method is a violation of the licensing terms.

There's a difference between a "working" key and a "valid" key. A valid key can be used to say that it's a genuine key, but that doesn't mean it's going to work if it's been overused. I'd have expected blacklisting to be higher on retail keys because they can be used on anything, unlike OEM keys.

If you've already got a copy of Windows installed and activated (the right way), it's unlikely that would be achieved with a key found online, as it wouldn't activate online or by phone after being used more than 30~ times or so.

[+ir0nw0lf 398]

Actually that's not what that article says at all. That article details an upgrade from a hard drive that has a modified Win7 install.

So that doesn't answer the question. I already provided the correct answer.

Might want to go re-read the article completely. The first part of it talks about him using a SLIC-injected BIOS/non-legit Windows. Bottom of article is another scenario:

Popular Questions

For users who are wondering if you can use the Upgrade version of Windows and do a clean install on a system with no OS ? Yes, you can. This is a question most people ask, worrying that they have to first install a preceding copy of Windows before using Windows 8 upgrade. If your computer goes up in flames in future or your drive dies and you have to start completely fresh: No problem, just stick in the DVD / USB, boot from it, enter your product key and you?re good to go. You do not need an OS or its old product key.

It is clear from above that the Upgrade Assistant simply verifies if you qualify to upgrade to Windows 8 Pro and if you do, allows you to purchase a Windows 8 Pro license. This license or product key is to a full version of Windows 8 Pro. The moment the license/product key is sold to you ? it is good for full installations of Windows 8 Pro. I hope this clarifies the queries of most people. You don?t have to keep your old OS / old product key. Just keep the Windows 8 Pro product key assigned to you.

You don?t have to keep your old OS / old product key. Just keep the Windows 8 Pro product key assigned to you.

Also, non legit copies of Windows 7 activated via SLIC injection qualifies for the upgrade. I encourage people who have been using non legit copies of Windows 7 to take advantage of the US$39.99 offer to convert to a legit copy of Windows 8. It?s really cheap for a fully featured OS.

Now this does not 100% specify if the author actually did try the install on a fresh, empty drive.

BTW everyone, didn't mean to start WWIII in this thread, just trying to find the answer. So many different install scenarios and lots of inconsistent and/or unverified answers. I certainly don't expect an actual MS employee to jump in and give an answer.

[Joni_78 47]

That would be very odd I'd that were the case.

That would break the entire concept of the key controlling the install type. Well at least it would for this specific scenario.

Any info that backs that up out of curiosity?

Yes, it's odd why they did it like this. No info, I just tested it and it worked, I was sure it would complain about the fact I did a clean install when it tries to activate but no. It was a laptop with a new SSD I just reveived, booted from TechNet disc, used key from upgrade assistant, made partitions and formatted. After installation was complete it was activated.

[Shane Nokes 739]

This is in reply to ir0nw0lf:

That would contradict the above posted information that the install image from the upgrade assistant is modified to prevent that very install scenario.

So once again we have contradictory information with no solution...so once again back to my original answer.

FPP keys will activate full or upgrade installs.

Upgrade keys will only activate upgrade installs.

Now if the key being sent is an FPP key then yes it will allow clean. If it is an upgrade key, then no.

So what key it is still determines the license and behavior.

[MurkWorks 7]

8 doesn't allow for a keyless install.

My company's VL downloaded copy does not require a key to install. To activate I have to enter the key, but not for the install.

[Shane Nokes 739]

My company's VL downloaded copy does not require a key to install. To activate I have to enter the key, but not for the install.

We're talking about retail copies and upgrades in this thread. VL copies are different.

[carmatic 54]

so we can conclude that, yes, my usb stick that the upgrade assistant turned into a bootable installer will in fact install and activate windows 8 on a brand new hard disk?

[Shane Nokes 739]

Yes, it's odd why they did it like this. No info, I just tested it and it worked, I was sure it would complain about the fact I did a clean install when it tries to activate but no. It was a laptop with a new SSD I just reveived, booted from TechNet disc, used key from upgrade assistant, made partitions and formatted. After installation was complete it was activated.

In that case then it's an FPP key not an upgrade key.

So the answer still remains that the key determines the install type.

If they are handing out FPP keys that is awesome :)

so we can conclude that, yes, my usb stick that the upgrade assistant turned into a bootable installer will in fact install and activate windows 8 on a brand new hard disk?

Depends on what key you have and what info is true. Earlier someone said the upgrade assistant files have a modification that prevents it and someone else said no it doesn't.

It's a crap shoot knowing who is right and wrong at the moment evidently.

[Axel 95]

This thread has gone back and forth so many times I'm getting dizzy. Looks like I'll be testing for myself over the weekend!!!

[WildWayz 103]

Gotta back Shane up here.

I just setup a VM using VirtualBox on a fresh install - no OS in the image. It accepted the key on install, but once installed was showing as not activated.

When going to the activate screen, it has no product key. If I enter it, it checks it and says it isn't valid for this install.

James

[Shane Nokes 739]

Gotta back Shane up here.

I just setup a VM using VirtualBox on a fresh install - no OS in the image. It accepted the key on install, but once installed was showing as not activated.

When going to the activate screen, it has no product key. If I enter it, it checks it and says it isn't valid for this install.

James

Thanks James. To clarify did you use the image from the upgrade assistant or an MSDN image?

Trying to figure out that last point :)

[Gotenks98 433]

8 doesn't allow for a keyless install.

Actually you can if you use an answer file. I did this for testing in a VM using MDT 2012.

Does anyone know if you can buy this another way instead of that upgrade assistant? I need to buy multiple copies and I do not want to run this on every single machine.

[Joni_78 47]

In that case then it's an FPP key not an upgrade key.

So the answer still remains that the key determines the install type.

If they are handing out FPP keys that is awesome :)

Depends on what key you have and what info is true. Earlier someone said the upgrade assistant files have a modification that prevents it and someone else said no it doesn't.

It's a crap shoot knowing who is right and wrong at the moment evidently.

If you check this key from your Windows 8 registry it should be "0" if you have TN/MSDN key and media.

Clean install with upgrade assistant key and it's downloaded media, you'll see that the key is "1", it fails to activate but changing that to "0" activates it.

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup\OOBE]
"MediaBootInstall"=dword:00000000
[/CODE]

It must be a FPP key.

[Axel 95]

Gotta back Shane up here.

I just setup a VM using VirtualBox on a fresh install - no OS in the image. It accepted the key on install, but once installed was showing as not activated.

When going to the activate screen, it has no product key. If I enter it, it checks it and says it isn't valid for this install.

James

It has been suggested the media used makes a difference. Were you using the MSDN iso or the one downloaded with the upgrade assistant?

Edit: nevermind - multiple new posts since I started mine!

[Shane Nokes 739]

Actually you can if you use an answer file. I did this for testing in a VM using MDT 2012.

Does anyone know if you can buy this another way instead of that upgrade assistant? I need to buy multiple copies and I do not want to run this on every single machine.

An answer file? You mean a modified disc image?

The only way to do what you're asking is boxed copies.

[WildWayz 103]

Thanks James. To clarify did you use the image from the upgrade assistant or an MSDN image?

Trying to figure out that last point :)

MSDN image from my MSDN account.... 32-Bit image to be precise :)

[Joni_78 47]

Gotta back Shane up here.

I just setup a VM using VirtualBox on a fresh install - no OS in the image. It accepted the key on install, but once installed was showing as not activated.

When going to the activate screen, it has no product key. If I enter it, it checks it and says it isn't valid for this install.

James

Did you use the install media upgrade assistant downloaded?

[Orange Battery 299]

I had the same question, can I download Win 8 and then wipe my drives and install it? After two pages of reading I still don't have the answer and Im bored.

My suggestion is we get a basic answer: Can Win 8 upgrade be fresh installed on a new hard drive, without the need for any old installations, given that you have an eligible previous version of Windows and a valid key?

If its yes then Im purchasing four copies now, if the answer involves me having to use my previous discs and such then forget it, Im sticking with 7 on my main rigs and XP on my basic ones.