[Solved] Clean install 8.1 won't accept 8.0 OEM key

[Solved] See: forums.mydigitallife.net/threads/54976-Clean-install-8-1-won-t-accept-8-0-OEM-key?p=920093&viewfull=1#post920093

Hi all. First post. I used to be familiar with partitioning, formatting and installing Windows up until Windows XP, then I left my hobby of computers for a
while and now it seems I have a fair bit of catching up to do. I recently purchased a new notebook (Acer Aspire V5-573G) that came preinstalled with Windows 8 (x64) (build 9200) on a single partition. I wanted to perform a clean install of Windows 8.1 (x64) (build 9600) as I didn't like the bloat and wanted my own partition scheme.

The answer to my questions (hi-lighted in bold) are probably already answered on this forum, I hope someone can point me to the right thread.

Process I used is as follows:

I obtained the product key that is embedded in the BIOS using Belarc Advisor.

I downloaded the ESD directly from Microsoft:
sg.win.esd.microsoft.com/W81S14DL/W81S14GA2BF8DAEB595543EFB906F77C6300170B/OSGS14-Windows8ESDwithApps-64bit-English-X1938604.esd
I found the link here:
forums.mydigitallife.net/threads/53855-Windows-8-1-with-Update-ESDs-Repository/page35?p=914759#post914759
To my understanding, these are General availability (GA). Not sure if I should have got the Release To Manufacturing (RTM) instead (?)

I used the decryption package (esd-decrypter-v3.7z) to make an ISO from the ESD file. I used option 4 when prompted.
forums.mydigitallife.net/threads/53855-Windows-8-1-with-Update-ESDs-Repository

I used Rufus to make a bootable Windows 8.1 installation USB drive from the ISO. rufus.akeo.ie

I installed it using a generic key (Core Edition), found here:
forums.mydigitallife.net/threads/47480-windows-8-1-generic-keys

After Windows 8.1 was installed, I wanted to activate it using my OEM key, so I uninstalled the generic product key via Command Prompt (Admin) "slmgr /upk"

But, when I used "slui 3", I was unable to use my OEM key (?)

So I ran "slui 4" and activated my copy of Windows 8.1 over the phone instead and all went well. Now it is updated and working properly.

From what I read superuser.com/questions/697253/clean-install-windows-8-1-or-windows-8-from-oem-key#710346, I should have been able to use my OEM key (?)

 

I don't remember the exact message, but it said it was incorrect or something along those lines. I just tried to enter the product key again to see if I could get the message, but it was accepted this time - I guess because I already activated the system over the phone prior.

 

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My new SSD should arrive in a week, then I will try again and report back. Thanks for everyone's suggestions so far.

 

My SSD drive arrived today. I did a clean install and followed your instructions. More precisely: Control Panel\System and Security\System > Activate. From here I could change my product key from the 8.1 retail generic key used to install, to my 8.0 OEM key and it was accepted and activated Thanks!