Daiwa, what version you wanting?

 

Kona, what version do you have a key for?

Windows 8 Pro.

Going to try to download Windows 8 on the Windows 7 laptop and see if that makes a difference.

Kona, check your PM.

 

Great.....now maybe we can get back to GirlFriendTess's problem?    

 

EDIT:

Nevermind....just saw this.......guess it got buried.....or I just missed it.

Actually, if an upgrade version of Windows 8 is bought, which I did, you only have to show that you have a valid version of windows to upgrade from to begin with. It can be installed on any PC thereafter. This is what Microsoft's site told me when I purchased ny upgrade.

If this were not true, then how would you reinstall after a reformat? You couldn't. But you can. It is a full version of Windows, you got it at upgrade price because you had an upgradeable version of windows to begin with.

You can't perform an upgrade on a blank drive. Use your head. An upgrade disc has the full version on it.

 

It's the key itself that you buy.

 

Windows 8 Pro.  Looks pretty clear that the closest you can get to a 'clean install' is to run the upgrade, either coincident with the download or later from a DVD, on a machine with XP, Vista or Win7 and choose 'Nothing' when it asks you 'What to Keep'.

All of which will be moot if I can never connect for the download, which is what's been happening for the last couple of hours.

EDIT -

Wrote that before seeing RND's last reply.  Makes sense.  So the initial upgrade should be run from within an eligible OS and then reformat & install from the DVD?  Or once you have the burned DVD & a valid key, you can install on a formatted drive?  Sorry if I'm being thick, but how does MS know you've had an OS eligible for the upgrade key once it's wiped clean?  Is it coded in the key?  If so, why would people be getting error codes & not be able to activate on formatted drives - see this:

Daiwa, check your PM.

Well that sounds a lot different than actually having an 'upgrade version' of the OS.

What I mean is for example a few years back some US MS Partners were having issues with some of their licensed software in that the media they had received was 'upgrade-only' media and it actually required the ability to upgrade an existing OS.  For this media (if no OS was on the drive) it was actually required to install an older OS, and then upgrade to the newer one.

Other than that I probably shouldn't post about this anymore considering I know so little about the licensing scheme in question.

Monk, I have an upgrade version of Windows 8 Pro. I got it for $14.99.  All I had to do was show that I owned an upgradeable version of windows to get the key at that price.

 

It doesn't have to be used as an upgrade, it can do a full install. I have installed it as a full install on a brand spanking new EMPTY SSD.   It takes my key, and activates fine.

 

Again, it's the key you pay for. Windows can be downloaded all day long for free. It all depends on what key you bought.

 

Hahaha thanks for remembering me but I am fine (hubbie will wait because he doesn't have a choice). It is possible that when this disk comes in that it is 'upgrade only' something I experienced in the past??? Time will tell but I am sure all will be well here. [Hubbie threatened to go buy the disk ASAP so I cannot lose]. But it is fun to tinker! I am going to do a fresh/clean install ASAP myself … got plenty of time and memory.

I guess the question then is how to start, rather than how to finish, RND.  $39.99 is nice, $14.99 better.  Where's that on the menu?

 

@ RND

Well like I said, that sounds a lot different to me than actually having (what used to be referred to as) an upgrade(only) version.  I'm glad your license is working out for you.

$14.99 is an anytime upgrade. They'll sell you Windows 8 and deactivate the key for the OS you're upgrading from. It's for anyone who bought a new PC after June of 2012 with windows 7 on it.

 

Anytime Upgrade may be over with as of Jan. 1st. Not sure.

 

Do the upgrade assistant. Get your key. Holler at me.

If you purchased the same kind of license some others in this thread did, could you not login again and re-download it again as well?

I had an XP Upgrade disc bought at a retail store. I used it several times as a full install. I no longer have XP installed, so I gave the disc away and the person I gave it to was able to use it for a full install.

If you deal with volume licenses, ymmv.

I installed clean from the upgrade disc.  Yes, it verifies the OS is on the drive, but then you can format it at leisure.

OK.  Thanks & kudos to the_Monk and RND for helping get it sorted out.  And to Tess for getting this ball rolling.

And to you, too, kona.

But if it 'verifies' the OS is on the drive how can it 'verify' the OS being there on a fresh (never before used) HD?   Is this maybe a case where MS expects the OS to live/die by a single HD/system (as is the case with OEM)?

Hmm.......gotta love the million MS licensing schemes........

Yeah it wouldn't be MS if the licensing were straightforward now would it?  hehe

Daiwa..do this:

 

Run Upgrade Assistant

 

 

 

 

 

 

Order, you'll get your key. Then let me know. 

Is this a trick question?  How would an OS be on the drive if it's never been used?

It's an upgrade copy, not a full copy.

Sorry, not a trick question.   I guess I assumed you were talking about the same version RND is talking about.

There seems to be some disagreement about that.  Info on MS's 'Upgrade to Windows 8' page indicates that you can install from media (which you an create after the upgrade download) by launching it on a rig with an 'upgradable' OS; it verifies eligibility and will then allow you to reformat from within the installation routine, for a 'clean' 'full' OS install.

I followed things as well as I could but didn’t work out properly for me, well sort of? At first I attempted to load the RN they gave me on my download and I couldn't get to the third character before the number was rejected so I checked my email and it had a different number which did pass and got me to the download portion but the option to 'make a copy of any kind’ or to save anything never showed up. As I am doing this on my computer, I decided to wait it out. After golf tomorrow, I might try it on his computer; he is already aggravated with Chrome, oh well. I cannot believe how fast these posts have been arriving, still many to read. I am too old to keep up with this zipping in and out ... but I try.

 

If you have an OEM version of Windows and your HD dies. You simply get a new HDD, install Windows on it, and use the OEM key on the sticker on your case.

 

You will activate it as usual.   I can't say it enough, guys, it all hinges on the key. Not the disc. All that matters is that the key you have matches the version you're installing.

 

Daiwa, you are doing it right.

Everything went exactly as RND explained it would (Thanks!, RND) and I have my ISO burned to DVD & saved to my backup HDD.  Will buy another product key tomorrow.  Requested 2 free Media Center keys & should be good to go with 2 full Win8 licenses when I'm ready to pull the trigger(s).