Need help with windows 8 clean install on retail pc.

Ok, the "open DVD burner" option seems like it wrote a bootable disc.

Not sure what the icon means - install? Note the ESD-ISO distinction

Looks like it has all of the necessary files

Now for the acid test. This will take a while - I need to set up a VM and try the install.

Forgot to post the page that opened when I clicked What's next when the download finished:
Boot from the media you created to install on a partition - Windows Help

Boot from the media you created to install on a partition

To install Windows 8.1 on another partition:

• You must have a version of Windows already running in the partition.
  
  
• You must create a DVD or USB flash drive that you can boot from.
  
  
• If you're using an ISO file to install Windows, you must burn the ISO file to a DVD.
  You can't use a USB flash drive for this.
  
  
• Write down your Windows 8.1 product key. You won't be able to install Windows 8.1 without it.

After you create the DVD or USB flash drive, you’ll boot from it, and
then choose a partition to upgrade to Windows 8.1.

Hmmmm.... not sure how to go about this. I need to boot from the DVD, but I need a VM.

This might take me longer than I thought.

I'll try creating a vHD and mount that after booting the DVD - install to the vHD ???
-- OR --
I'll try the install to a partition on another machine so I don't trash this machine testing the procedure.

I'm still a Win8 novice and I'm not sure if my backups will restore (haven't tested that scenario yet). I'll need to do a backup with a known working solution (Macrium probably). Right now I have a System image (reportedly broken in Win8.1 - not sure on that though) and a vHD (I have no idea how I did that ). I've been playing with a LOT of things and haven't gotten around to finishing evaluating lots of stuff. I'm sure the EightForums tutorial section has many answers, but I got distracted by a shiny object (Win10) before I read too many tutorials there.

Greg might beat me to the punch

+edit

What if I create the VM and point to the ISO I downloaded?
I'll try that first

It will still take me some time though.

Minor setback: I just realized that my key is a pro key and I downloaded the wrong ISO.
Restarting from the beginning to the download the Win8.1 Pro ISO. 1 hour later.....

-edit

Bill
.

Slartybart said:

andrew129260 said:

ThrashZone said:

Bill didn't you receive one of Robin's win-8 upgrade key giveaways ?

yes but that is retail. That does not help me/us. And its for pro. Not OEM. We need to find an iso that can extract the oem key and auto install from the key in the bios like it is supposed to.

Yes Mike and thanks Robin - but this is solving a different issue. I can only test a retail install, Andrew (or someone else) will need to determine if this is good for OEM.

more to follow as I play "normal user trying to figure out how MS supports Win8 installs"

Thanks yep I was just asking to confirm that was the key you were using on your test

alphanumeric said:

So far I have downloaded 8.1 Core and 8.1 Pro 64 bit without ever having to enter a product key. I see Single Language listed as an option too. This will be a hidden gem for those that need an ISO of single language. I can't even get that one on MSDN. I can see this being a sticky in 8 forums.

A hidden gem indeed! Reps go to Andrew for forcing me to find it
--> Can't rep you here in the Chillout room Andrew

I'm trying to simulate an install on a new drive - we'll see how far I get with that when the download for the Pro version finishes (matches the key I have to actually do the install - no key was need to do the download!)

The question is "Will this method survive" and be carried to Win10 - I hope so. Vendors are known to put something out there and later take it down due to some technical gotcha. We shall see in the coming months.

I might be lazy and just give Brink the information - he can add a method to an existing tutorial. I'm not sure three's a need for a new tutorial. I'll see what Brink thinks.

Bill
.

I really appreciate that Greg. Thank you. And thanks to all of you for assisting me with this.

1st snag: The "open burner" didn't open the burner when I tried to create a disc for the Pro version. Instead, a dialog with the burn options opened - possibly due to spaces in the filename.

I tried again ... same thing. So I right clicked the ISO and chose "Burn disc image". This is the same dialog that opened for the core burn.

That just finished and now I can try the install to a VM.

10 builders Greg? On TenForums?

Bill
.