#windows 8.1 install

[qresolve-blog]

How to Perform Windows 8.1 Install With a Windows 8 Key

Microsoft has behaved very diplomatically in the recent past especially after the launch of it next gen operating system Windows 8. On the one hand it has introduced Windows 8.1 as a free update to all Windows 8 users, and on the other hand it doesn’t facilitate Windows 8.1 installation via the Windows product 8 key. In simple words, it means that a Windows product 8 key will not fit to the Windows 8.1 installer, just the way a Windows 7 key doesn’t fit to the Windows 8 installer. But problem lies in the fact that Windows 8.1 is not a new or regular update, it is a free update available to all Windows 8 users, and we all know that Microsoft introduced the 8.1 update because Windows 8 received lot of criticism in the market and had many loopholes. The 8.1 version is basically designed to fix the loopholes of version 8. Hence, 8 and 8.1 are in a way the same update, so there is not much sense of introducing a new key.

At the bottom-line, if you have already purchased and installed Windows 8, then to upgrade to 8.1 you have to use the Windows 8.1 upgrade offer in the Windows Store and update your version. But you can’t install Windows 8.1 afresh, for the simple reason that the Windows 8.1 installer will not accept the Windows 8 key. This means only those who have purchased the 8.1 version can install it for fresh.

However, all said till now is just the theory, whereas practically you can freshly install Windows 8.1 even with the aid of the version 8 product key. There is a trick for this, read below to learn it:

Download Windows 8.1 in a Computer Using Version 8 Product Key

When you try to install the fresh 8.1 version in a computer, the installer will ask for the product key. If you haven’t purchased the 8.1 version then you can’t have the key. Entering the product key for version 8 will not get accepted by the 8.1 installer. But the 8.1 OS will accept the version 8 product key if you enter it from desktop after completing the installation of 8.1. Hence, if somehow you can skip the product key prompt during the installation process, then you can enter the version 8 product key later from the desktop.

Now, the trick to skip the product key prompt during installation process lies within KMS Client Setup Keys of Microsoft’s website. Click on the Windows 8.1 installer and launch it. When you will be prompted for the product key enter the KMS Client Setup Keys from Microsoft’s website. The installer will accept it and version 8.1 will get installed normally. Later from the desktop you can change your key to your original Windows 8 key.

Download Windows 8.1 in a Bootable USB Using Version 8 Product Key

However, if you want to create an installation media, means if you want to install the fresh 8.1 in a bootable USB so that you can use it on multiple computers, then you can try out the following steps to trick the installer:

Run the Windows 8 Setup program

Next, choose ‘Run’

Now, you will be prompted to enter the product key. Enter the key that you received while purchasing the Windows 8.

Now, run the Windows 8.1 Setup program

Next choose ‘Run’ the ‘WindowsSetupBox.exe file.’ This time windows will not ask for the product key and the downloading will start.

Once the downloading gets completed, you will be provided with the following choices:

Select the second option ‘Install by creating media’

Next, you have to choose which media you want to use. Here you will be provided with two options: create a bootable USB Flash Drive or create an ISO file, as shown below:

In this scenario, insert a 4 to 8GB USB stick to your computer's USB port. Then select the first option’ USB Flash Drive.’ This will direct the install to the newly ported USB stick.

Now, open the USB drive in File Explorer or Windows Explorer

Then navigate to the source folder inside it

Now right-click in any free space inside the folder, select New > Text Document. Name the newly created text document as ei.cfg.

Enter the following content in the new created text document:

Now, the 8.1 version will get normally installed in the USB. Now the installer will prompt for the product key, here you can enter the version 8 products key and version 8.1 installer will accept it for reasons not known. Now, you can insert the USB (newly created installation media) to multiple computers where you wish to install the 8.1 version and can simply get it installed using the Windows 8 product key.