Want to install Windows 8 on a locked Win 7 PC (no password)

[nixmith68]

I have just bought a second-hand acer all-in-one PC from a cash gen type shop. Unfortunately it is locked with a password.

I plan to go tomorrow as soon as the shop opens and ask for the passowrd to unlock it, hopefully that will be provided, HOWEVER they may not know and will ask for it back to be sent off etc.

I don't want that as there are instructions on here for resetting the password and I will try it myself. But I don't think I really need all that hassle anyway, I have bought the Win 8 Pro upgrade DVD and I always intended to upgrade to that anyway.

My question is this: if I go to BIOS and set the boot to the optical drive and boot from the Windows 8 disk, will I be able to do the Windows installation (a clean one to get rid of all the Acer games and stuff that I think is on there) or will it ask for the password that is currently stopping me from getting into Win 7 during the initial phase of the upgrade?

Nic

 

[bobkn]

I'm not clear from your post whether it's a Window password or a BIOS one.

If it's a Windows password, I believe that it shouldn't affect your ability to clean-install a new OS. (You'd boot from the OS DVD or equivalent.)

If it's a BIOS password, that could be a lot more troublesome. That can usually be cleared on a desktop PC by clearing the CMOS (also known as reseting the RTC), but on laptops, that generally does not work. (Anti-theft.) I'm not familiar with all-in-ones, but I have the impression that they use laptop components in a different package.

Good luck.

 

[nixmith68]

Thanks for the information, it is the Windows Password that is causing the headache so tomorrow I will try the move to Windows 8, thank you.

 

[SIW2]

Easy to blank that password.

Plenty of tutorials - programs, etc

 

[nixmith68]

Why not just reinstall Windows 7 ? Does it have an activation key on the bottom of the laptop. Install the same version that originally came with the pc. This is your best option as you will hate Windows 8.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html

Well - Im new to this forum so i don't want to be speaking out of turn, but I have tried Win 8 and am very impressed with it. Plus this new PC has a touch-screen so will be ideal for the new op system.

Nic

P.S. The reason I'm impressed? Well I put Windows 8 on an old Acer laptop (Celeron chip 1Gb) its my development machine that I use to try new stuff with mostly Linux. Windows 8 just runs so smoothly and the boot time is soooo quick. I added a 3rd party START menu because I need time to readjust to no start menu, but apart from that it is v. good - its no Vista!

 

[gregrocker]

You should be able to boot the Win8 DVD to install. It will ask for the 8 Product Key up front so you'll know if there are any issues with it seeing the underlying qualifying OS before committing to the install. There may be a more definitive answer over at Windows 8 Forums Installation section.

Otherwise you can boot into Acer Recovery to run Factory Recovery, then run the Win8 Upgrade from its desktop, even install it as a Dual boot: Dual Boot Installation - Windows 8 and Windows 7 or Vista - Windows 8 Forums



Is there a WIn7 COA sticker on the PC with readable Product Key? I would back it up now in case you ever want to get the superior Clean Reinstall of Win7.

 

[nixmith68]

Thanks for all your help... I took the easy option, set BIOS to boot from the DVD and installed Win 8 from the disc without any problems (can I now just delete the folder windows.old that has appeared?)

I realise it is probably wrong to say this on here - but I do like Windows 8, I had tried it on an old computer and it really brought it back to life, but this Acer is touch-screen so its really good on here. One disappointment, I wanted to test the Blu-ray drive (I'm trying to check everything as it is second-hand) I put Avatar in, but how do I watch it? I have updated the movie app, but that seems to just be for .avi files and downloads - not Blu-ray discs.

Any additional help much appreciated.

Nic

PS. I was hoping my registration for this forum would enable me to post threads on eightforums, but that is not the case? Why?

 

[gregrocker]

Delete Windows.old using Disk Cleanup.

You'll need a Blu-Ray player: Windows 8: Clarifying Codecs, Compiling, And Compatibility :

 

[AddRAM]

PS. I was hoping my registration for this forum would enable me to post threads on eightforums, but that is not the case? Why?[/QUOTE]


Because it is a totally different forum.