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Possible Duplicate:
Installing Windows 8 pro on a built PC

While browsing the microsoft store to look for a digital delivery windows 8 license, I could only find what I assume is the "upgrade version", since it has the following note:

"To install Windows 8 Pro upgrade, customers must be running Windows XP SP3, Windows Vista, or Windows 7"

As I'm going to build a brand new PC and I assume that isn't a valid license, which kind of license would I need?
Is there a regular "retail" license on the microsoft store?

Community
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Razor
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5 Answers5

4

If you're building your own PC you'll need to look for retail versions. Retail versions are versions you need to obtain through a local computer store and can't be obtained from Microsoft under the form of an upgrade. As SLaks mentions, these are now called the System Builder versions but might also be called Retail as some distributors might retain the old style of naming Windows editions.

At retail, Windows 8 will be available in two primary versions — Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro — as well as Windows 8 Enterprise for large organizations. — Source: Windows 8 Arrives

Community
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Tamara Wijsman
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3

You will require a full license if you're building from scratch and do not have a valid windows license you can use the upgrade version on. I've linked to amazon, where I found the following versions:

64-bit System Builder ~ USD$100.

Professional version 64-bit System Builder ~ USD$140.

32-bit System Builder ~ USD$100.

If you have a valid Windows XP through 7, you could install that and then the upgrade version over it. Personally, I'd just go with a fresh install of the full Windows 8 to avoid bugs, for my own sanity/peace of mind.

Paul
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2

You can always buy the upgrade on your current pc and install it cleanly on the new pc. The upgrade version works for clean installs.

tr4656
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1

You need the Windows 8 System Builder license.

SLaks
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0

A possible workaround can be:

  1. Run the Upgrade Assistant on a friend's PC (any other Windows machine).
  2. It will give an option to install from media.
  3. Make a bootable USB/DVD.
  4. Use this on your new machine.

I think this should work.

pratnala
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