Installing Win 8.1 on new build without optical

kingston12 · 7 May 2015 at 09:43

I have just built a new PC and want to get Win 8.1 installed.

I bought a new copy of Win 8.1 on disk from OCUK and my plan was to download an ISO of the software and then use my product key to activate it as I didn't want to add an optical drive to my system.

The ISO installed fine, but I cannot activate it as apparently this is only a valid route if upgrading from a previous version of Windows.

Is it just easier to pick up a cheap external drive?

tom_e · 7 May 2015 at 09:47

IIRC you need to find a placeholder key google I'm pretty sure there's a list on an MS webpage, then once it's actually installed you switch over to your key and it should activate.

ED209 · 7 May 2015 at 09:49

do you have the OS installed but having issues activating it?

if you need the ISO file to download on to a USB stick you can use the following tool

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/create-reset-refresh-media

will create you a ISO file or USB stick ready to use.

I have used the above method to install windows 8.1 and used a windows 8 key to activate.

what version of windows 8.1 did you buy? was it the upgrade version or full version?

if your key doesn't work during install you can use one of the placeholder keys below

core: 334NH-RXG76-64THK-C7CKG-D3VPT
pro: XHQ8N-C3MCJ-RQXB6-WCHYG-C9WKB

and then use your original key once installed

bluebeatle · 7 May 2015 at 09:50

If you have another computer with an optical drive. Use that one temporarily to install Windows. Then take it out again. Its what I have done in the past. Don't even have to install it just leave the side off the case during the install. If you don't have one then a cheap external is a good idea.

kingston12 · 7 May 2015 at 10:22

tom_e said:
IIRC you need to find a placeholder key google I'm pretty sure there's a list on an MS webpage, then once it's actually installed you switch over to your key and it should activate.

That's what I did, but it said I can only use that if upgrading from a previous version rather than installing on a completely new PC.

kingston12 · 7 May 2015 at 10:37

ED209 said:
do you have the OS installed but having issues activating it?

if you need the ISO file to download on to a USB stick you can use the following tool

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/create-reset-refresh-media

will create you a ISO file or USB stick ready to use.

I have used the above method to install windows 8.1 and used a windows 8 key to activate.

what version of windows 8.1 did you buy? was it the upgrade version or full version?

if your key doesn't work during install you can use one of the placeholder keys below

core: 334NH-RXG76-64THK-C7CKG-D3VPT
pro: XHQ8N-C3MCJ-RQXB6-WCHYG-C9WKB

and then use your original key once installed

I bought this one:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=SW-165-MS

When I go to activation, it tells me that it isn't possible to activate with a key.

It seems strange that I have to go back to an optical drive. I have an Apple Superdrive, but apparently that can't work as a PC boot drive so I might just buy a cheap one.

ED209 · 7 May 2015 at 10:47

may sound silly but how did you download the ISO using the tool i posted from Microsoft? and did you download the 64 bit version and not the 32 bit version?

kingston12 · 7 May 2015 at 10:52

ED209 said:
may sound silly but how did you download the ISO using the tool i posted from Microsoft? and did you download the 64 bit version and not the 32 bit version?

Definitely 64 bit, but not from that tool. The MS site that I found only had a tool for Win 7/8, so I got 8.1 from another site.

I'll try that one tonight.

ED209 · 7 May 2015 at 10:54

ok, if i was you i would use the tool i posted, this will allow you to download windows 8.1.

use one of the place holder keys if yours doesn't work during install and then change to your original key once installed and you should be good to go.

as i said i have used the above tool on a laptop to install 8.1 which came with windows 8 and i had no issues at all activating it once installed

hope this sorts your issue out

kingston12 · 7 May 2015 at 10:57

ED209 said:
ok, if i was you i would use the tool i posted, this will allow you to download windows 8.1.

use one of the place holder keys if yours doesn't work during install and then change to your original key once installed and you should be good to go.

as i said i have used the above tool on a laptop to install 8.1 which came with windows 8 and i had no issues at all activating it once installed

hope this sorts your issue out

Thanks, I will try that. I was surprised to find that I was prompted for no product key at all during the installation, but I have now got a non-activated version of Windows.

ED209 · 7 May 2015 at 11:19

it should normally ask you for the key during install, using the above tool with my laptop it did