At the end of this article you will also find a video tutorial on how to do all of this if you do not want to read all of the below. I have successfully been able to swap licenses by first installing a retail version. Is this even possible? If it's not possible, are the manufacturer under obligation to provide me with "clean" install disks on request? If I was to obtain the 8.1 install media, am I right in thinking that I could install using the dummy key and later legitimately activate with my Win8 OEM key? If not, could I do the equivalent for Windows 8 install media? A clean Win8 upgraded through to 8.1 is still preferable to the wrongly-partitioned OEM version. I have tried using the generic keys provided in numerous threads, but these are all rejected with the message We can't connect right now (research shows that this is due to a key problem and not a network problem, I have confirmed the network is fine.)
My Windows 8 OEM key is rejected with the message This product key cannot be used to install a retail version of Windows 8. The common way to clean install Windows 8.1 with a Windows 8 key shown on websites is to use Microsoft's upgrade site to download the install media by starting the Windows 8 download first, pausing it, then starting the Windows 8.1 download. I do not have any original install media, only recovery disks, and the recovery disks perform a pre-programmed install which does not have the correct partition scheme that I need, and also install lots of programs that I do not want. I am interested in a clean install of Windows 8.1. In addition to USB 3.0 support, integration with Windows Live accounts and synchronization between all PCs belonging to the same account, along with the Windows To Go feature, Windows 8 has a lot more to offer to its users who are willing to give it a try.I have recently acquired a laptop with an OEM Windows 8 product key. UEFI is basically meant as a replacement for the old BIOS firmware interface and it helps PC open much faster than before.
In addition to the traditional way of downloading and installing programs, Windows 8 users can also rely on the Windows Store, an online resource of numerous apps compatible with the OS, similar to the way other mobile marketplaces function – when using this online platform, users are no longer required to download the app first, as it gets automatically installed.Īnother innovation of Windows 8 is its faster boot mode, based on a technology called UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) and which can only be activated on computers with specialized hardware.
The Modern UI (initially called the Metro UI) also includes a so-called Charms Bar which displays a vertical toolbar to the right side of the screen, allowing people to share data, open the Control Panel and access the power options. One of the greatest changes is related to the Start Screen which replaces the Start Menu altogether, as the installed applications can be accessed using their dedicated tiles. While its user interface might not seem too different from the one of Windows 7, it still comes with some modifications, including the removal of the Aero transparency and of the rounded corners, as well as implementation of the ribbon-style look for Windows Explorer.
Windows 8 was launched in October 2012, and it is the first operating system developed by Microsoft that aims to bring the same user experience on desktops, laptops, tablets and mobile phones (via Windows Phone 8).