Windows 8 Pro US$39.99 Experience - Clean Install? Non Legit Win 7? All Answered.

[daristan]

My question abit different:
I got win7 installed, if i get the online upgrade version. Can i get install it in another partition and do a dual boot selection during start up. That i can have two os in one machine..

 

[junialum]

My question abit different:
I got win7 installed, if i get the online upgrade version. Can i get install it in another partition and do a dual boot selection during start up. That i can have two os in one machine..

I have no idea about this sorry. Didn't try. There's little reason to dual boot 7 and 8 imo.

Seems like need existing win 7 on hdd before doing clean install. When i wipe my ssd before installing win 8, the cd key wun activate. After re installing win 7, use usb stick to install win 8 and delete the win 7 partition, the activation works.

Might be possible. I'll test this out on another system next week.

But shouldn't your process for clean install be:
Delete Win 7 Partition > Recreate Partitions > Format > Install Win 8
--instead of--
Install Win 8 > Delete Win 7 Partition?

 

[Wee^2]

I have no idea about this sorry. Didn't try. There's little reason to dual boot 7 and 8 imo.



Might be possible. I'll test this out on another system next week.

But shouldn't your process for clean install be:
Delete Win 7 Partition > Recreate Partitions > Format > Install Win 8
--instead of--
Install Win 8 > Delete Win 7 Partition?

Highly likely need to let setup detect presence of Win7 before it can let you activate with the upgrade key. If you straightaway use a blank SSD or HDD to install, it won't work as I tried out on VMware installing from scratch, my key won't work.

 

[SimonLam]

But shouldn't your process for clean install be:
Delete Win 7 Partition > Recreate Partitions > Format > Install Win 8
--instead of--
Install Win 8 > Delete Win 7 Partition?

I did this route 2x and both successful:

1.) Boot into Win8 USB > Delete all Win 7 Partitions > Recreate Partitions > Format > Install Win 8

2.) Boot into Win8 USB > Delete all Win 8 Partitions > Recreate Partitions > Delete Primary OS partition > Extend the 350MB partition to fill the deleted space > Format > Install Win 8

Using US39.99 online purchase via Upgrade Assistant

 

[maumu]

if I may contribute:
The clean install using upgrade version can only work on machines which have a previous version of windows in it. It's the same when windows 7 upgrade was out - you can only clean install from an existing machine with a preinstalled OS. It will not work on a brand new, fresh HDD.
In Windows 7, there were some scripts that allow you to 'transfer' some trace of a previous version of OS from the old HDD to the new HDD. but it seems like windows 8 will not continue to install unless you have entered a valid key, unlike windows 7. So, it probably won't be possible anymore to try to clean install windows 8 on a new HDD using the upgrade version.
If I guess correctly, the key is tagged to whether it is full version, upgrade version, retail version, and OEM.

 

[ahboon83]

will you have any idea if we can use your method on comp A to get the ISO
then use the ISO on a brand new comp B without any OS installed?
will Windows 8 able to activate on comp B?

in other words is the ISO and cd key a full version of Windows 8 that allows u to install on any comp?

 

[tyongchi]

Hi all,

Just upgraded to Windows 8 Pro from Windows 7 Ultimate. I've documented the entire experience here:
thoughts » Windows 8 Pro Upgrade Experience

Hope this post helps upgraders.

Is the copy downloaded via upgrade assistant 32 bits or 64 bits?

 

[junialum]

if I may contribute:
The clean install using upgrade version can only work on machines which have a previous version of windows in it. It's the same when windows 7 upgrade was out - you can only clean install from an existing machine with a preinstalled OS. It will not work on a brand new, fresh HDD.
In Windows 7, there were some scripts that allow you to 'transfer' some trace of a previous version of OS from the old HDD to the new HDD. but it seems like windows 8 will not continue to install unless you have entered a valid key, unlike windows 7. So, it probably won't be possible anymore to try to clean install windows 8 on a new HDD using the upgrade version.
If I guess correctly, the key is tagged to whether it is full version, upgrade version, retail version, and OEM.

Possible. I wonder what the traces are though when I delete all the partitions, repartition and then format before putting Windows 8 on it. I will test it out on another system next week. Just fully setup one system. Very satisfied with the result.

will you have any idea if we can use your method on comp A to get the ISO
then use the ISO on a brand new comp B without any OS installed?
will Windows 8 able to activate on comp B?

in other words is the ISO and cd key a full version of Windows 8 that allows u to install on any comp?

I can't vouch for this. Not sure.

Is the copy downloaded via upgrade assistant 32 bits or 64 bits?

Good question. I don't know! Haha. The Windows 7 on the system I tested on is 64 bits. It gave me a 64bits Windows 8 Pro. Not sure how you can choose to go from 32 to 64 though. I don't have a 32bit system to test unfortunately.

 

[tyongchi]

Good question. I don't know! Haha. The Windows 7 on the system I tested on is 64 bits. It gave me a 64bits Windows 8 Pro. Not sure how you can choose to go from 32 to 64 though. I don't have a 32bit system to test unfortunately.

What is the download size when you download from the upgrade assistant?

 

[ahboon83]

thanks anyway for this wonderful tutorial!

I can't vouch for this. Not sure.

 

[daristan]

anybody should advice should i do a clean installation or just upgrade from existing windows 7:
My laptop had been running not so smooth but probably over the years many softwares and freeware and etc had cause it (software crashed and took up many disk space)
My main concern is that if i clean install when i install my ms office pro, photoshop and adobe x will i able to activate them again without any issue although is the same laptop but different os

 

[Illusionist_85]

anybody should advice should i do a clean installation or just upgrade from existing windows 7:
My laptop had been running not so smooth but probably over the years many softwares and freeware and etc had cause it (software crashed and took up many disk space)
My main concern is that if i clean install when i install my ms office pro, photoshop and adobe x will i able to activate them again without any issue although is the same laptop but different os

if u scare, u can deactivate the software on the system 1st before clean install

 

[Jas007]

got a Q since fresh installation on empty media seems to be an issue :

what happens when ur win8 system OS HDD fails?
do u then need to pre-install win7 or XP before u can proceed with W8 again ???

 

[Wee^2]

got a Q since fresh installation on empty media seems to be an issue :

what happens when ur win8 system OS HDD fails?
do u then need to pre-install win7 or XP before u can proceed with W8 again ???

Apparently no need as setup will still be able to detect your previous Windows installation. But the problem comes if you're installing on a brand new HDD/SSD without any traces of previous Windows installation, e.g. if your HDD/SSD fails and you bought a new one to replace it.

 

[halocast]

anyone knows if u can install on a blank hdd with no prior installation and be able to activate the system using the key provided?

 

[Proximus]

Apparently no need as setup will still be able to detect your previous Windows installation. But the problem comes if you're installing on a brand new HDD/SSD without any traces of previous Windows installation, e.g. if your HDD/SSD fails and you bought a new one to replace it.

I thought TS tested and mentioned that Upgrade version of Windows 8 can be used to clean install on a system with no OS??

 

[halocast]

I thought TS tested and mentioned that Upgrade version of Windows 8 can be used to clean install on a system with no OS??

i believe installation is possible.. but activation is not
i am more curious is if its possible to activate after the installation on a blank hdd.

 

[iron2000]

I thought TS tested and mentioned that Upgrade version of Windows 8 can be used to clean install on a system with no OS??

I think the TS' system with no OS is the same system with the Win7 partitions deleted, not a new blank HDD/SSD.

I wonder will it still work if you do a secure delete of the Win 7 partitions.
Will it still work if you don't recreate patition and let Win8 use the whole HDD/SSD?

 

[bamzor]

I accidentally upgraded to 32 bit Windows 8. Will my product key work with 64 bit version?

 

[junialum]

I think the TS' system with no OS is the same system with the Win7 partitions deleted, not a new blank HDD/SSD.

I wonder will it still work if you do a secure delete of the Win 7 partitions.
Will it still work if you don't recreate patition and let Win8 use the whole HDD/SSD?

I will test this out next week on another system. Break all partitions and secure delete the SSD before allowing the Win 8 installation disc to touch it.