How to upgrade to Windows 8.

Skynet5 · 29 Jul 2013 at 09:34

I have a full retail pro version of windows 7.

How do I go about upgrading to windows 8? As it is for my gaming machine I'm happy for the standard version rather than pro.

What's the difference between oem and retail? I have just built this new machine so won't be changing anything anytime soon.

Feeling I should have bought the upgrade when it was £30 in Jan...

gareth170 · 29 Jul 2013 at 09:56

lnoton said:
I have a full retail pro version of windows 7.

How do I go about upgrading to windows 8? As it is for my gaming machine I'm happy for the standard version rather than pro.

What's the difference between oem and retail? I have just built this new machine so won't be changing anything anytime soon.

Feeling I should have bought the upgrade when it was £30 in Jan...

theres no retail of windows 8.

oem license is like retail license now, (not including preinstalled on systems)

get this http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=SW-152-MS&groupid=33&catid=1555 it's cheaper than getting it from MS as a upgrade http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msuk/en_GB/pdp/productID.272001500

Raumarik · 29 Jul 2013 at 09:58

lnoton said:
Feeling I should have bought the upgrade when it was £30 in Jan...

Many people made the same mistake when Windows 7 came out too and didn't take up the early bird pricing

Personally I did a clean install of Windows 8, you can upgrade easily enough using the DVD and in-place but I always prefer getting rid of the old guff on my PC.

Very fast install, was surprised at how much quicker it was over even Windows 7.

Deleted member 77746 · 29 Jul 2013 at 10:17

lnoton said:
How to upgrade to Windows 8.

Purchase Windows 8. Install > Follow instructions. BOOM!

Skynet5 · 29 Jul 2013 at 11:03

So by buying the OEM I can in the future install a new CPU...maybe even mobo if win9 doesnt come out with the next 5 years?

Might take a trip to OCuk then.

80GBP doesn't sound too expensive.

I can get the upgrade disk of pro for cheaper.

How does that work? Is it a complete install, but I need to put in my w7 license key?

I take it I don't need to install Windows 7 first?

GTO656 · 29 Jul 2013 at 11:17

btw is there a Windows 8.5 update out or not yet?

thx

Raumarik · 29 Jul 2013 at 11:19

lnoton said:
So by buying the OEM I can in the future install a new CPU...maybe even mobo if win9 doesnt come out with the next 5 years?

Might take a trip to OCuk then.

80GBP doesn't sound too expensive.

I can get the upgrade disk of pro for cheaper.

How does that work? Is it a complete install, but I need to put in my w7 license key?

I take it I don't need to install Windows 7 first?

I don't remember being asked for a Windows 7 key, only Windows 8.

Glaucus · 29 Jul 2013 at 11:29

lnoton said:
So by buying the OEM I can in the future install a new CPU...maybe even mobo if win9 doesnt come out with the next 5 years?

?

You can even transfer it too a totally different machine, just one install at a time.
It is basically the same as the old w7 retail.

Technically you need to install win7 first for it to activate, however there's a registry hack for that.

theheyes · 29 Jul 2013 at 11:36

GTO656 said:
btw is there a Windows 8.5 update out or not yet?

thx

8.1 coming soon. End of August, ish.

PapaLazaru · 29 Jul 2013 at 12:29

If you buy it, for the love of god do not allow it to upgrade itself.

Do a clean install. It will avoid problems, mark my words.

theheyes · 29 Jul 2013 at 12:43

PapaLazaru said:
If you buy it, for the love of god do not allow it to upgrade itself.

Do a clean install. It will avoid problems, mark my words.

Hmmmm, not necessarily. I've upgraded quite a few from Windows 7 and they've been absolutely spot on.

In either case, it's best to take a backup. You can save yourself a lot of time reinstalling applications if you upgrade but you should always give yourself an option to roll back.

KIA · 29 Jul 2013 at 12:59

PapaLazaru said:
If you buy it, for the love of god do not allow it to upgrade itself.

Do a clean install. It will avoid problems, mark my words.

Indeed. Clean install is always best.

linktoinsanity · 29 Jul 2013 at 13:04

PapaLazaru said:
If you buy it, for the love of god do not allow it to upgrade itself.

Do a clean install. It will avoid problems, mark my words.

This. My laptop ran into no end of trouble when it was upgraded. I did a clean install more recently and it's running fine.

theheyes · 29 Jul 2013 at 13:12

It's disingenuous to imply that upgrading will always cause issues. Doing a clean install is obviously preferable but it's not always practical nor necessary, and simply upgrading can save somebody a ton of work under the right circumstances.

Elevon · 29 Jul 2013 at 13:54

theheyes said:
It's disingenuous to imply that upgrading will always cause issues. Doing a clean install is obviously preferable but it's not always practical nor necessary, and simply upgrading can save somebody a ton of work under the right circumstances.

I did three upgrade OS installs from 7 to 8 with no issues at all,just check what is compatible etc and uninstalled stuff that is not,however I do agree clean install is obviously best option if you are worried about upgrade method.