How To Clean Install Windows 8.1 Without P

Windows 8.ane is a free upgrade to all Windows 8 users, only you ordinarily tin can't install Windows viii.one with a Windows 8 production key. Luckily, you can get around this limitation if y'all really want a fresh install of Windows 8.1.

Microsoft also only allows you to download Windows viii.ane installation media with a Windows 8.1 key, and then nosotros'll testify yous another fox that allows you to download Windows 8.1 installation media with a valid Windows 8 key.

Update! Microsoft Makes it Easier

If you want to but download the installation media for a fresh reinstall of Windows 8.1, at that place'south a new option from Microsoft that can allow you to download that image without fifty-fifty entering your production key. And if y'all are completely reinstalling a Windows eight.0 PC you tin can use this 8.i installation media with the aforementioned fundamental from Windows 8.0, so there's no reason not to do so. Information technology even comes with Update 1 integrated.

Simply download the Windows Installation Media Cosmos Tool, and so select the details about which version you want (Windows 8.one or viii.1 Pro, etc), and and so follow through the wizard to create your kick media.

You tin choose to put the kicking media directly on a USB bulldoze, or you can create an ISO for later use or to burn to a disc later.

The Problem, and How We'll Prepare It (Onetime Version)

The problem is that Windows 8.one product keys are different from Windows 8 product keys. You can't enter a Windows 8 product key into the Windows 8.1 installer, just every bit y'all tin can't enter a Windows 7 product fundamental into the Windows eight installer. You likewise can't install the original version of Windows 8 with a Windows 8.ane production key.

This usually makes sense, simply Windows 8.1 isn't really a different version of Windows. It'south a free upgrade to every single Windows eight user, so at that place'due south admittedly no reason to introduce a new product key organization.

RELATED: What Yous Need to Know About Windows 8.1

Microsoft wants you to install Windows 8 ordinarily and utilize the Windows 8.ane upgrade offer in the Windows Store to go Windows viii.1. Merely people who purchase Windows 8.1 can install it fresh, not people who origianlly purchased Windows 8.

That'southward the theory, anyhow. In reality, there'south a way we tin can get around this limitation. The Windows 8.1 installer refuses to have the Windows eight product key and won't allow us to install Windows 8.1 with it. Yet, Windows 8.1 volition accept the Windows 8 product key if y'all enter information technology on the desktop later on installing Windows 8.1 — no, we don't know why it works this way. If we had a way of skipping the production fundamental prompt during the installation process and entering the central later, we could install Windows 8.1 fresh — luckily, we practice have a way of doing that. We'll merely need to alter the Windows 8.i installation media a flake.

Update: We've been informed that simply entering ane of the KMS Client Setup Keys from Microsoft'south website during the Windows 8.1 installation procedure should let y'all install Windows eight.ane commonly. You should then exist able to change your fundamental to your original Windows eight key from the desktop afterward.

Download Windows 8.1 With a Windows 8 Product Fundamental

RELATED: Where to Download Windows ten, 8.i, and 7 ISOs Legally

The 2nd trouble is that Microsoft only allows you to download Windows 8.1 installation media with a Windows 8.ane product key. Y'all tin't normally download information technology with a Windows 8 product fundamental. Luckily, in that location's yet another confusing flim-flam nosotros can use to get effectually Microsoft'southward limitations.

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

Side by side, visit the Upgrade Windows with only a product key folio. Click the Install Windows 8.1 button and run the downloaded tool. The Windows 8.1 setup tool won't prompt you for a key, but will download Windows viii.1 ordinarily. Select the Install by creating media option after it completes and create either USB installation media or an ISO file. We'll presume you're creating USB installation media for this process, as it's the easiest way to practise this.

Alter the Windows 8.1 Installation Media

If you endeavor to install Windows 8.1 with the media you created and your Windows 8 product fundamental, you lot'll meet an error message. Instead, nosotros'll demand to change the installation media before start in the installation process.

This is easiest if you've created USB installation media, equally you can edit the files straight on your USB flash drive. If y'all created an ISO file, you'll accept to modify the files inside it before called-for it to disc.

Open the USB drive in Windows Explorer or File Explorer and navigate to the sources folder inside information technology. Right-click inside the sources folder, create a new text file, and name it ei.cfg . (Ensure it's named ei.cfg , and non ei.cfg.txt — this may require ensuring file extensions are shown.)

Open the ei.cfg file in Notepad or some other text editor. Copy-paste the following text into the text file then salvage it.

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

If y'all have a product key for the Professional version of Windows, supervene upon the discussion Core with Professional.

Install Windows 8.one Usually and Enter Your Product Fundamental Afterwards

You can now install Windows 8.1 ordinarily using the installation media you created. Y'all won't be prompted for a product primal while installing it. After the installation process completes, you'll see a product primal prompt. You can enter your Windows viii product key here, and Windows viii.1 will accept it for some reason.

You now have a fully working Windows 8.1 arrangement fresh-installed with only a Windows viii product cardinal. The installation media yous created can be used to install Windows viii.1 on other systems with a Windows eight product key, so you tin can more speedily install Windows 8.1 on multiple computers.

RELATED: Why Take Near Windows 8 Users Not Upgraded to Windows viii.1?

Yes, it's ridiculous that we even have to write an article nearly this. Windows eight.1 is practically a service pack for Windows 8, and it'southward free to all Windows 8 users — Windows viii.i even accepts Windows 8 keys when installed, only information technology doesn't during the installation process. There'southward no reason to force Windows users — specially loyal ones who purchased Windows 8 at release cheers to Microsoft'southward $40 offer — to jump through then many hoops.

Thanks to Paul Thurrot for demonstrating how to download Windows 8.1 installation media with a Windows 8 key, and thanks to nate.wages on Neowin for sharing how to install Windows 8.1 with that key!

Image Credit: KniBaron on Flickr