Clean Install of W8. Advice needed.

embalse · 19 Nov 2013 at 17:41

I had W7Pro.
I upgraded to W8 like many when the special offer was available.
Am now running W8.1

I want to do a clean install.

Do I have to reinstall W7 first or can I use the W8 ISO I saved to disk when I purchased W8 to do a clean install?

Thanks.

Skynet5 · 19 Nov 2013 at 19:31

It is so annoying that all this is so unclear.

My belief is that you can install from iso and your key should work.
It is unlikely to work with an 8.1 iso however, from my research anyway.

A trick, if your key is rejected, is to use the correct generic key (core or pro)to perform the install and then activate using your own key.

Google generic keys windows 8 to find them. They are publically available and is not illegal, as they don't activate just let you install.

embalse · 19 Nov 2013 at 19:36

lnoton said:
It is so annoying that all this is so unclear.

Glad to hear I an not the only one who finds it confusing.

Thanks for the info and suggestions.

Vision · 19 Nov 2013 at 20:47

embalse said:
Glad to hear I an not the only one who finds it confusing.

Thanks for the info and suggestions.

Unless it has changed recently, you can use the disk you saved and select clean install for a fresh copy of Windows 8. It may not activate with the original key until you use the workaround but it should do afterwards. Google is your friend here.

This will save you having to install 7 first and then 8.1 should be downloadable afterwards.