Windows 8.1 ISO

Question

I just had a Microsoft Level 2 tech support perform a repair install of 8.1 on my 8500 that came with 8 but I upgraded to 8.1 from the Windows Store . She could not the important windows 8.1 update 1 " KB 2919355" to download and install and did the repair install option which did the trick . She also left me an ISO file that she said I could use to do the same in the future if needed or reload it with the ISO if hard drive crashed instead of using my recovery disc and having to go through the 8.1 upgrade process again. It seems like she used my product key that came with 8 which I did not think could be done . I was wondering if I could use that ISO to upgrade other 8 machines and entering their product code to activate like she did mine . If so that would seem like a lot faster than having to download and install on each Windows 8 machine I support

She also told me that Windows 8 will be supported through the end of the lifecycle in 2023 with updates , security patches etc. This seems to contradict Microsoft policy of having to update to 8,1 within two years of being made available to continue to receive support . I asked her about this several times and she was quite adamant that windows 8 would continue to receive support whether I updated to 8.1 or not

Any comments would be appreciated

Philip_Yip · Answer

Windows 8.0 keys are rejected by the Windows 8.1 .iso and vice versa. Its possible she installed with a Windows 8.1 key as shes Microsoft Support and can probably issue one if theres issues. To check compare the result of Belarc Advisor with RW-Everything

http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/gathering-information-about-your-pc/belarc-advisor/

http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/a-clean-install-of-windows/microsoft-product-activation/obtaining-your-oem-bios-embedded-slp-product-key-using-rw-everything-oem-only/

Its also possible that Microsoft have a new .iso which accept both keys which is greatly desired although I haven't heard of it.

However if not you can still use the .iso with these workarounds:

http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/a-clean-install-of-windows/microsoft-product-activation/installation-of-windows-8-1-with-a-windows-8-0-retail-product-key-notes/

Regarding the Windows 8 support, I don't think this is the case:

http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/search/default.aspx?alpha=Windows+8

However it seems that there are more Windows 8.0 users than Windows 8.1 users because of the difficulty of upgrading to the Microsoft Store:

http://www.howtogeek.com/184604/why-have-most-windows-8-users-not-upgraded-to-windows-8.1/

Philip_Yip · Answer

Try her .iso on one of the other computers with a BIOS embedded Windows 8.0 product key, see if the product keys are rejected or accepted (you don't need to complete the install).

gator957 · Answer

Hi Natakuc4

I have a different key issued by Dell they gave me when they replaced the motherboard . The key she used for the 8.1 reinstall shows the same In Belarc Advisor as the key issued to me by Dell

Yes I have read the lifecycle policy as well and discussed with her and she stated again that was not the case . Maybe she knows something that has not made it mainstream yet? I agree with the difficulty of upgrading to 8.1 as this is not the normal patch upgrade from the past

Windows General

Windows 8.1 ISO

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