How To Install Windows 8.1 Without Cd

Windows 8.1 is a free upgrade to all Windows 8 users, only you commonly can't install Windows eight.1 with a Windows 8 product fundamental. Luckily, y'all tin can become around this limitation if you really desire a fresh install of Windows 8.one.

Microsoft also simply allows you lot to download Windows 8.1 installation media with a Windows 8.ane key, and so we'll prove y'all another fob that allows yous to download Windows 8.ane installation media with a valid Windows viii key.

Update! Microsoft Makes information technology Easier

If you want to just download the installation media for a fresh reinstall of Windows 8.1, there's a new option from Microsoft that can let you lot to download that prototype without even inbound your production key. And if you are completely reinstalling a Windows 8.0 PC you tin employ this eight.ane installation media with the same key from Windows eight.0, so there'southward no reason not to do and so. It even comes with Update 1 integrated.

Merely download the Windows Installation Media Cosmos Tool, and then select the details well-nigh which version yous desire (Windows viii.1 or 8.1 Pro, etc), and then follow through the sorcerer to create your kick media.

Yous can choose to put the boot media directly on a USB bulldoze, or you can create an ISO for afterwards use or to burn to a disc afterward.

The Problem, and How We'll Fix Information technology (One-time Version)

The problem is that Windows eight.1 product keys are different from Windows 8 product keys. You can't enter a Windows eight product cardinal into the Windows 8.1 installer, merely as you can't enter a Windows seven product central into the Windows 8 installer. You besides tin't install the original version of Windows 8 with a Windows 8.1 product key.

This ordinarily makes sense, simply Windows 8.ane isn't really a unlike version of Windows. Information technology's a gratuitous upgrade to every unmarried Windows viii user, then there's absolutely no reason to introduce a new product key system.

RELATED: What You Need to Know About Windows 8.one

Microsoft wants y'all to install Windows eight normally and utilize the Windows 8.ane upgrade offer in the Windows Shop to go Windows 8.1. Only people who purchase Windows 8.1 can install it fresh, not people who origianlly purchased Windows 8.

That's the theory, anyway. In reality, at that place's a way we can get effectually this limitation. The Windows 8.1 installer refuses to accept the Windows 8 product key and won't permit u.s.a. to install Windows 8.i with it. Even so, Windows eight.1 will accept the Windows 8 product central if you enter it on the desktop after installing Windows 8.one — no, we don't know why it works this fashion. If nosotros had a manner of skipping the product key prompt during the installation process and entering the key afterward, we could install Windows viii.1 fresh — luckily, we practice take a way of doing that. Nosotros'll just need to alter the Windows 8.ane installation media a bit.

Update: We've been informed that only entering one of the KMS Client Setup Keys from Microsoft's website during the Windows 8.1 installation procedure should allow you install Windows 8.i commonly. Yous should then be able to change your cardinal to your original Windows eight key from the desktop later.

Download Windows 8.1 With a Windows 8 Production Key

RELATED: Where to Download Windows 10, 8.1, and 7 ISOs Legally

The second problem is that Microsoft only allows you to download Windows 8.one installation media with a Windows eight.1 production key. You tin't normally download information technology with a Windows 8 product cardinal. Luckily, there'due south yet some other confusing flim-flam we can use to become around Microsoft's limitations.

First, visit the Upgrade Windows with only a product key folio. Click the install Windows 8 button to begin downloading Windows 8 installation media. Run the downloaded tool and enter your production central. Later on the download begins, close the setup tool.

Side by side, visit the Upgrade Windows with but a product fundamental page. Click the Install Windows 8.i button and run the downloaded tool. The Windows 8.one setup tool won't prompt yous for a primal, merely volition download Windows viii.1 unremarkably. Select the Install by creating media option after it completes and create either USB installation media or an ISO file. We'll assume you're creating USB installation media for this process, equally information technology'southward the easiest mode to do this.

Modify the Windows eight.1 Installation Media

If you try to install Windows viii.one with the media y'all created and your Windows viii production key, y'all'll see an fault message. Instead, we'll need to modify the installation media before beginning in the installation procedure.

This is easiest if you've created USB installation media, as you can edit the files directly on your USB wink drive. If y'all created an ISO file, yous'll have to alter the files within it before burning it to disc.

Open up the USB drive in Windows Explorer or File Explorer and navigate to the sources folder inside it. Right-click within the sources binder, create a new text file, and proper noun information technology ei.cfg . (Ensure it's named ei.cfg , and not ei.cfg.txt — this may require ensuring file extensions are shown.)

Open the ei.cfg file in Notepad or another text editor. Copy-paste the following text into the text file and and so save information technology.

[EditionID]
Core
[Channel]
Retail
[VL]
0

If you accept a product fundamental for the Professional person version of Windows, replace the discussion Core with Professional person.

Install Windows 8.1 Normally and Enter Your Product Key Afterwards

You tin now install Windows 8.ane usually using the installation media you created. You won't be prompted for a product key while installing it. After the installation process completes, you'll see a production key prompt. You tin can enter your Windows 8 product key hither, and Windows 8.ane will have it for some reason.

You now have a fully working Windows 8.1 organization fresh-installed with only a Windows 8 product cardinal. The installation media you lot created tin can be used to install Windows eight.i on other systems with a Windows 8 production key, so you tin more quickly install Windows eight.1 on multiple computers.

RELATED: Why Have Most Windows 8 Users Non Upgraded to Windows eight.1?

Yes, information technology's ridiculous that we even have to write an article about this. Windows 8.one is practically a service pack for Windows eight, and it's free to all Windows 8 users — Windows 8.1 even accepts Windows eight keys when installed, but information technology doesn't during the installation process. In that location'due south no reason to force Windows users — especially loyal ones who purchased Windows eight at release thanks to Microsoft's $40 offer — to jump through so many hoops.

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Thanks to Paul Thurrot for demonstrating how to download Windows eight.i installation media with a Windows eight cardinal, and thanks to nate.wages on Neowin for sharing how to install Windows viii.1 with that key!

Image Credit: KniBaron on Flickr

Source: https://www.howtogeek.com/187525/how-to-perform-a-clean-install-of-windows-8.1-with-a-windows-8-key/

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