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Windows 8/8.1 Upgrade and Installation Instructions

Summary: Windows 8/8.1 step-by-step installation instructions including DVD/USB upgrade and setup and personalization.

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Table of Contents:

  1. Get media to install Windows 8/8.1
  2. How to Perform a clean installation of Windows 8/8.1
  3. Upgrade to Windows 8 from a retail DVD or USB Key
  4. Windows 8/8.1 postinstallation actions

This article provides a step-by-step guide for performing a clean install of Windows 8/8.1 on a computer, and retail DVD/USB upgrade installation instructions and postinstallation setup and personalization.


Get media to install Windows 8/8.1

If you must get media to repair or restore your operating system to its original factory image, browse to the Media Backup page to get information about creating recovery discs from your Dell computer or downloading an image online.

To get detailed information about using the Dell operating system Recovery Tool to create an image, see KB article, "How to Download and Use the Dell OS Recovery Image in Microsoft Windows."


How to Perform a clean installation of Windows 8/8.1

  1. Insert the Windows 8/8.1 DVD into your optical drive and restart your computer. Select from the option that best fits your computer:
    Option 1

    For computers that do not have UEFI BIOS, at the Dell logo screen, tap the F12 key repeatedly until the Please Select Boot Device: menu appears. Select CD/DVD/CD-RW Device and press Enter.

    Option 2

    For computers that do have UEFI BIOS, At the Dell logo screen, tap the F2 key repeatedly until the System Setup menu appears. Then perform the following steps:

    1. Depending on the type of BIOS, you must find the Boot section using the Up and Down arrow keys. Ensure the following:
      • The boot mode is set to UEFI
      • The setting for Secure Boot is Disabled
      • In the order of boot devices, either CD/DVD/CDRW or Internal ODD Device is the first item in the list
    2. Save the changes and exit System Setup to restart the computer.
    The Windows 8/8.1 Setup appears.
  2. Select Language to install, Time and currency format, and Keyboard or input method and select Next.
     
  3. Select Install Now.
    The Product Key screen appears.
     
  4. Locate your Product Key and type it into the box provided, then click Next to continue.
     
    NOTE:

    The Product Key is a 25 character sequence, separated by dashes.
    If a correct key is typed into the box, the line below the box will state, "Your product key works! Continue when you're ready
    If an incorrect key is typed into the box, the line says, "This product key didn't work. Please check it and try again, or try a different key"

    Read our article on Windows 8/8.1 product keys for more information. Dell factory-installed versions of Windows 8 and 8.1 do not require a product key for Dell computers.

  5. Accept the license terms described in the License Terms screen. Click the checkbox at the bottom of the screen to accept and click Accept to continue.
     
  6. At the Which Type of Installation do you Want screen, select Custom: Install Windows only (advanced).
     
  7. At Where do you want to Install Windows? screen, select Drive options (advanced). Remember that the next step will delete all existing information about your computer so be sure to back up what you want to keep. For a clean installation, delete all partitions that are shown by highlighting them one at a time and selecting Delete. After you have deleted all partitions, select Unallocated Space and then select New. Click Apply to create your new Windows 8/8.1 partitions, then click Next.
     
  8. A fresh installation of Windows is loaded on your computer.
  9. Your computer restarts several times. This may take some time to complete installation.
     
  10. Once you have reinstalled Windows, you must perform the original Windows setup. See the Dell Knowledge Base article, "How to Set Up Your New Dell Windows 8/8.1 Computer" for more information

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Upgrade to Windows 8/8.1 from a retail DVD or USB Key

  1. Insert the Windows 8/8.1 DVD into your optical drive. If you are using a USB drive, open the USB drive folder in Windows Explorer and select Setup.exe
    The Windows 8/8.1 Setup appears on your screen.
     
  2. Select Go online to install updates now (recommended) and click Next.
    The Product Key screen appears.
     
  3. Locate your Product Key and type it into the box provided, then click Next to continue.
     
    NOTE:

    The Product Key is a 25 character sequence, separated by dashes.
    If a correct key is typed into the box, the line below the box will state, "Your product key works! Continue when you're ready
    If an incorrect key is typed into the box, the line says, "This product key didn't work. Please check it and try again, or try a different key"

    Click here for more information about Windows 8/8.1 product keys. Dell factory-installed versions of Windows 8 and 8.1 do not require a product key for Dell computers.

 

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Windows 8/8.1 postinstallation actions

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  • Accept the license terms described in the License Terms screen. Click the checkbox at the bottom of the screen to accept and click Accept to continue.
     
  • At the Choose What to Keep screen, select the wanted level of retention for settings and files. For more information, click Help Me Decide at the bottom of the screen to get details on what is and is not be kept with each selection. When you have made your selection, click Next to continue."
     
  • The Making sure you're ready to install screen checks your hardware and software for compatibility with Windows 8/8.1.
     
  • When finished, you get a list of items that can be impacted from the Windows 8/8.1 upgrade on the What needs your attention page. Be sure to browse to our Windows 8/8.1 Upgrade Checklist for information about your specific computer's support of Windows 8/8.1 and drivers and software that may be needed to be updated or uninstalled before upgrading to Windows 8/8.1.
    To proceed, it might be required to uninstall or restart some applications. Proceed through the list from top to bottom, until the Refresh button at the bottom of the screen has changed to Next. ClickNext to continue.
     
    NOTE: It might be required to restart the installation of Windows 8/8.1 multiple times to proceed past the "What needs your attention" page.
    If you have uninstalled software manually but it is still listed as needed to be manually uninstalled, restart your computer and restart the Windows 8/8.1 installation.
  • At the Ready to install window, click the Install button in the bottom right to begin installation.
     
  • Your computer restarts several times. This may take some time to complete installation.
     
  • Windows 8/8.1 boots up for the first time. Browse to Windows 8/8.1 Post-Install Setup.
    1. Personalize - select a color to set your color theme for Windows 8/8.1. This setting can be modified later.
       
    2. Wireless - Connect to a wireless network to start updating your Windows files. If your network is not broadcasting its network name (SSID), click Connect to a hidden wireless network at the bottom of the screen. If your wireless network is not shown, click Connect to a wireless network later.
      When you have selected your wireless network, click Connect at the bottom of the screen.
       
    3. Settings - Dell Technologies recommends using the Express Settings to automatically setup Windows Updates and set automated controls to protect your personal computer.
       
    4. Sign in to your personal computer - Sign in with a Microsoft Account or use a local account to sign in.
       
    5. Be sure to watch the instructional video while setup completes to learn more about using the Windows 8/8.1 user interface.

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Last Published Date

17 Oct 2023

Version

5

Article Type

Solution