Windows 8 reload - new drive

[71chevellejohn]

I'm finally getting around to upgrading my big laptop to the SSD/HDD that I bought a few months back. And I ran into a little bit of a snag.

The laptop was originally a Vista machine, with a free Win7 update almost immediately after I bought it. Then, when the upgrade was cheap, I bought Win8.

In doing a clean installation of Win8, I made the mistake of installing it solo and my Key says it isn't valid when I try to activate it. Reading through Microsoft's site, it basically says that since my key is an upgrade key that I need to have an older OS installed first. What they are not clear about is whether it needs to be Win7(which I don't have the key for) or if I can install Vista(which I do have the key for) and jump to Win8. Anyone have any insight on this?

To me it seems like a waste of time for Microsoft to require the old OS first... but I'm sure they have a reason.

Thanks in advance.

[Tx Redneck]

Install 7,dont update, then "upgrade" to 8 if you choose.

[71chevellejohn]

Will it install win7 without the key? And still allow me to properly install win8?

[Nash B.]

I ran into the same issue re-installing a Win 7 update on a workstation with a new hard drive and an XP key. I called MS support, and they just verified my XP key and ran some program that made it accept the update key.

[Chopped54]

What brand machine is it?

[71chevellejohn]

It's a HP.

[Ratt]

Microsoft licensing is bullshit.

So, the upgrade keys are cheaper than the full install keys, since you already bought one whole OS and are just upgrading to another. You can't install an upgrade key without first having the old OS on it and licensed properly.

Did you buy the Vista-to-Win7-upgrade from HP, or from Microsoft? If from HP, they should be able to help you. If from Microsoft, you might be SOL.

The good news is that your HP should have the Vista key on the COA sticker on it somewhere. Just reinstall OEM Vista, activate it with that OEM COA sticker key, and then use the Win 8 upgrade. That should work unless your Win 8 upgrade is 7 to 8 only.

[71chevellejohn]

Microsoft licensing is bullshit.

So, the upgrade keys are cheaper than the full install keys, since you already bought one whole OS and are just upgrading to another. You can't install an upgrade key without first having the old OS on it and licensed properly.

Did you buy the Vista-to-Win7-upgrade from HP, or from Microsoft? If from HP, they should be able to help you. If from Microsoft, you might be SOL.

The good news is that your HP should have the Vista key on the COA sticker on it somewhere. Just reinstall OEM Vista, activate it with that OEM COA sticker key, and then use the Win 8 upgrade. That should work unless your Win 8 upgrade is 7 to 8 only.

That's what i was wondering. I've got the Vista key, just need to get a Vista iso to try it.(I don't recall getting an OS disc when I bought computer).

Good thing is I didn't wait for the old one to crap out before switching, so right now the original drive is back in.