W8 Microsoft Download Version - Recovery Question

Aderes Devorah · 28 Oct 2012 at 14:42

Hi OcUK forums

I am considering going for the Microsoft download version of W8 (here in the UK it is £25 + VAT).

When the download is done and the OS installed, do you have to back it up onto a disk or do something similar?

I am wondering how a person would go on if their system had a massive crash and the OS had to be reinstalled.

Would the person have to go back to W7 (using their disk) and then somehow get back onto W8?

Thanks in advance.

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bledd · 29 Oct 2012 at 07:56

It lets you make an iso, this is what I did

VonScar · 29 Oct 2012 at 09:23

I made an iso on my USB drive, works faster then a DVD iso for me. Fitted on an 8 gig USB drive fine.

koolpc · 29 Oct 2012 at 10:46

How would one go about reinstalling Win 8 upgrade version if the pc crashed and had to be formatted?

Glaucus · 29 Oct 2012 at 11:14

Make a bootable DVD or USB with the iso. If you didn't do this initially. Just open the email click the link, let the upgrade assistant do its thing, then tell it to make an iso.

Space Monkey · 29 Oct 2012 at 11:31

Yeah, I can 100% confirm that the upgrade allows you to make a DVD ISO or USB bootable image, I then did a full fresh install from this (I choose the USB option) no need for the previous OS, and use the activation code that they give you.

Also it's £24.99 inc VAT

You can also order a DVD for £12.99 + shipping (approx £16.50 total)

hoppyintheuk · 29 Oct 2012 at 11:40

For some reason, the upgrade assistant didnt offer me the chance to make an iso. Is there a generic version on the net available (32bit) ?

koolpc · 29 Oct 2012 at 11:41

Space Monkey said:
Yeah, I can 100% confirm that the upgrade allows you to make a DVD ISO or USB bootable image, I then did a full fresh install from this (I choose the USB option) no need for the previous OS, and use the activation code that they give you.

Also it's £24.99 inc VAT

You can also order a DVD for £12.99 + shipping (approx £16.50 total)

I thought the upgrade version required a previous os?

Glaucus · 29 Oct 2012 at 11:53

hoppyintheuk said:
For some reason, the upgrade assistant didnt offer me the chance to make an iso. Is there a generic version on the net available (32bit) ?

It will off, you just missed. Just click on the link on the email it download the assistant again. And go through till you get the option. This option is after the do you want to keep files option, so don't worry about that.

Glaucus · 29 Oct 2012 at 11:54

koolpc said:
I thought the upgrade version required a previous os?

I'm guessing the upgrade assistant gets the relevant info and includes it. A few people it has showen the need OS error, bit most people seem to be fine.

gareth170 · 29 Oct 2012 at 12:11

koolpc said:
I thought the upgrade version required a previous os?

for most people it works without a previous os

but u can do this

Activate Windows 8 Pro Upgrade

Windows 8 users who noticed that the operating system can’t be activated after the installation may want to try the following workaround that worked to activate when installing Windows 7 using an upgrade on a clean PC.

Open regedit by pressing Windows-q, entering regedit and selecting the result from the list of hits.

Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Setup/OOBE/

Change MediaBootInstall from 1 to 0

Go back to the start screen and enter cmd there.

Right-click Command Prompt and select to run it as administrator.

Type slmgr /rearm on the command line and hit enter.

Reboot Windows now.

Run the activation utility afterwards, enter your product key to activate Windows.

http://www.ghacks.net/2012/10/27/windows-8-upgrade-clean-install-possible/