@sumicool7 I took the liberty & moved your post here. Yes, you can easily perform a clean install keeping my other drives & the folders provided in the recovery partition intact. It depends on you to choose the right partition & format. Alternatively, you can simply launch the setup from the ISO & choose between three given choices (to avoid messing with the partition layout): Keep your data, installed apps & settings Keep your data only Keep nothing
Thanks for the reply @Tito About the alternative approach that you mentioned, will the OEM key work with this approach too? Also which option would you suggest if I wanted to upgrade my Win 8 to Win 8.1? Edit - Would it be possible to just upgrade the Windows without removing other programs that are installed? Thank you
1. No, you need to use generic key to install & change your key afterwards. 2. I always prefer to clean install from scratch. 3. Yes it is - "Keep your data, installed apps & settings" Welcome!
Tito I need one more favor How can I convert the ESD file to ISO? How can I create a bootable disk that works?
Hey Tito, here I go Since MS don't make iso's of Core Single Languages couldn't I transform a Pro iso to SL iso?
now I got it.. after some reading, also I would install the win 8.1 core SL iso from WZor, but once it dont come with update 1, I dont see the reason to not install from the ESD repository. In the end it´s all the same isn't it? My factory system have strange partitions sizes.. and names! it's a lenovo laptop. I've already backup the recovery image placed at the end of the hdd (Lenovo_recovery) Should I delete all the rest? By 'all the rest' I mean the WINRE_DRV, the SYSTEM_DRV (unkknow, and the EFI partition, along with the C partition of course.
done! everything running smothlly and windows activated! big thanks to the people who makes this forum possible
Sorry I didn' understood a (simple?) thing: is 8.x (this thread) meant to backup activation of Win 8 too? Because I can't see any thread for Win 8..
X can be also zero. Yes, this applies to w8 as well. But it is about how to preserve OEM activation (applies to preinstalled licenses only), not about how to backup activation. It is useful for a completely fresh installation with a retail version to get rid of any OEM preinstalled bloatware. You need an original untouched retail ISO of your right SKU, when it prompts for the key at setup just enter the right generic key. If it shouldn't auto activate online later then enter / change the DM key at windows UI.
Well.. I want to preserve the OEM activation before switching to another version (8 Core to 8.1 Pro). I was following the first post, but I stopped at "•Follow the table". What should I do now? Thank you.
No need to do anything; the MSDM table in your bios/UEFI holds it securely. You may backup it by the available methods.
Yes it cannot get lost since it is stored in the BIOS /EFI. But keep in mind the key stored there doesn't activate another SKU, but the original....means when your machine came with core SKU pre-installed it (the key in your BIOS / EFI) cannot activate pro SKU!!!
Can't even get lost using something like forums.mydigitallife.net/threads/28669-Microsoft-Toolkit-Official-KMS-Solution-for-Microsoft-Products ? It doesn't get overwritten? Thank you.
Nope, KMS activation doesn't touch anything. It will only change the currently used licensing channel and can be reverted by re-entering the original OEM: DM key .