Accidentally bought Windows 8 Pro upgrade - what OS edition / version can I use to upgrade from?

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
Z

zack_falcon

Reputable
Apr 24, 2015
12
0
4,510
I'm building a new PC, and I bought a Windows 8 Pro 32/64-bit Eng Intl VUP DVD. I was under the impression that it was a full OS, but unfortunately, it turned out to be merely an upgrade - I can't activate it after installing it.

I need to buy a base OS, format the hard drive I installed the 'upgrade' into, and install the base OS there. The question is:

What OS can I use as a base OS, which I can then upgrade to Windows 8 Pro? Any editions / versions and limitations I should be aware of?

Wouldn't want to go ahead and buy a Windows 8, install it on my drive, and attempt to use my upgrade to 8 Pro only to find out the upgrade won't work because "insert stupid MS reasons here".

Since Windows 7 is hard to come by now (where I live), what kind of Windows 8 do I need to watch out for? Core, OEM, System Builder, Retail, etc. are all greek to me. I heard Windows 8.1 OEM wouldn't work - I wouldn't be able to update, though I have not verified this.

Thanks.
 
Sort by date Sort by votes
S

Samat

Distinguished
Aug 21, 2006
1,274
1
19,965
You need a Windows 8 system builder (license can't be moved to a new computer), or Windows 8 retail (license can be moved to a another computer aslong as it isn't used in the computer it was installed to first anymore). And not any 8.1 version since the upgrade is to Windows 8 pro. A Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7 would be sufficient aswell if you can get one of those.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
K

kraelic

Distinguished
Feb 12, 2006
940
1
19,360
Press the Windows key and type regedit. Press enter to open the Registry Editor.
Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Setup/OOBE/ and double-click on the MediabootInstall key in the right pane.
Change the key's value from 1 to 0.
Exit the Registry Editor, press the Windows key again, and type cmd. Right-click on the Command Prompt icon and run it as an administrator.
Type slmgr /rearm and press Enter.
Reboot Windows.

When you get back into Windows, you should be able to run the Activation utility and activate Windows as normal, without getting an error.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
SchizTech

SchizTech

Judicious
Jan 16, 2011
5,278
57
32,640
That disk appears to be an upgrade from an older version of Windows (7 or Vista). 8.1 is a newer version of Windows, as such it makes no sense to apply an 'upgrade' key to an older version of Windows on 8.1. Short of finding a copy of 7 to upgrade from or returning the disk (if possible) I'm not sure you have any options. Maybe MS support can provide a resolution though I can't speak for them and don't have experience with that sort of question from MS support.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
MarkW

MarkW

Judicious
Dec 7, 2009
6,308
0
32,960
What you need is to do is to return the upgrade to where you bought it if they will take it back. Unfortunately, most places will not accept returns on any software once the package has been opened.

You need to buy the Windows 8.1 64 bit, Home or Pro editions. Non-OEM.

It makes no sense at this point to buy anything else. The upgrade is not going to do anything for you that the Windows 8.1 package doesn't do.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
K

kraelic

Distinguished
Feb 12, 2006
940
1
19,360
Install Windows 8, Do NOT put in the key when asked. Then when its on the desktop run the upgrade from within Windows. This has worked for me before, but it takes a lot of time. So I have tried other things, install without the key. Then go to the computer properties where it says Windows is not activated and click activate and add the key there.

Rearm certainly will work on an upgrade installed without a key (30 days install, 30 days for each rearm, max 3 times), it wasn't the final step offered.

If it wasn't clear enough in my previous post, you need to go to the Control Panel\System and Security\System window scroll down to activation, activate windows from there with the key after doing the other steps.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Z

zack_falcon

Reputable
Apr 24, 2015
12
0
4,510


Is the System Builder and OEM the same thing? If it is, so I can use literally any edition of Windows 8 'Core'?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
S

Samat

Distinguished
Aug 21, 2006
1,274
1
19,965


It should be so.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom