I recommend Microsoft’s web-based installer as the best way to purchase and install Windows 8 Pro. But with the special promotional pricing for this upgrade coming to a close, readers are wondering whether they can buy now (and save) but install later. The answer is a resounding yes.
In fact, you can buy now and install at any time through October 26, 2015.
This is great news. But it’s especially great news for the time being: As I write this, the January 31, 2013 deadline for the promotional pricing expiration is less than a week away. So you can buy the Windows 8 Pro Upgrade through Windows.com for just $39.99 (in the US) now, but install the upgrade at any time in the future, through October 26, 2015. If you have one or more PCs you think you will be upgrading in the future, don’t wait: The price for this upgrade goes up to $199.99 starting February 1, 2013.
(Here’s a meta-tip: You can buy up to five upgrades per email account.)
Here’s how to do it.
On the PC on which you will later upgrade to Windows 8, visit Windows.com and go through the process of purchasing the electronic upgrade. This will trigger the Windows 8 web installer, which I’ve written about in Windows 8 Feature Focus: Web-Based Setup. Following the steps in that article, you will have to step through an Upgrade Advisor-based compatibility check, and then determine what you want to keep (which doesn’t matter since you won’t be completing this process now). Then, you’ll be prompted to pay for Windows 8 Pro. It will cost $39.99 in the US if you do this before February 1, 2013.
Once the purchase is complete, the web-based installer begins downloading the Windows 8 Setup image. This process will take a while, but if this is the only time you’re doing this, I recommend letting it complete. That’s because when the download does complete, you’re given the option to install now, install by creating media, or install later from your desktop. (Setup places a shortcut on the desktop to facilitate the latter option.)
You might consider creating setup media here, if only to have an offline installer for Windows 8 Pro as a backup. I did so while testing this process, using USB media. (An ISO file, which can be used to create a bootable Setup DVD, is the other choice.) Then, just click Finish. (If you skipped this setup media creation step, you can just quit Setup.)
Microsoft will email you a receipt for the purchase which also includes the Windows 8 Pro product key. But this email is doubly important because it includes a link so you can run the web-based installer again; but this version of the installer lets you enter a product key, unlike the one you access normally from Windows.com.
So in the future, when you’re ready to upgrade to Windows 8 Pro, you can use that links to trigger the installer.
And you have until October 26, 2015 to make it happen.
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Thanks Paul, had wanted to know if this were possible. I'm assuming that this also applies for the DVD retail version.
It's a shame they're not allowing this with the free Media Center keys. I bought a copy of Windows 8 months ago so that I could install it later (like this article suggested) and I also obtained a free Media Center key that I planned to use on that installation when I got around to installing it.
Turns out all of the Media Center keys have to be activated by Jan 31st or they expire... Kind of a shame really and I've not seen an explanation as to why they're expiring them after Jan 31st. Oh well, at least it's only $10 to buy.
Has anyone else been screwed over by trying to do this? the payment never went through then my bank was charged anyway! I think there's a problem with the payment middleman others on the internet are saying the same thing. I promise i'm not trolling.. Paul have you heard anything?
Not in some endemic sense. I received an email from someone claiming to have been charged three times. But I've not experienced this.
If you know the answers to these questions, thanks in advance. Is there any way to have the 'free until the end of January but must be installed by Feb 1' Media Center key be installed after that and work? I bought 3 Win8 Pro upgrade keys and have 3 Media Center keys (from different email addresses) but won't have them all in use until after Feb. And what happens if you have to reinstall Win 8 from scratch next year and you try to add the Media Center feature? Will the key not work because it's after Feb 1, 2013?
What about the free media center? MS sent emails today saying the key expires on 31 Jan??
That is correct. But WMC is free now and will only cost $9.99 when this special offer expires. Who cares?
This kind kind of tip is part of the reason I stopped using all Microsoft products. Same as Adobe tips are like 25% activation-related. On Apple platforms the tips are related to work you are doing. Like “how to publish your own book in iBookstore,” not “how to buy your OS upgrade so you only get mildly ripped off.”
Right, the tips on Apple platforms should be "how to get a second mortgage so you can afford their products."
As noted elsewhere, the average selling price of a Mac laptop in the US in Q4 was $1400. The ASP of a PC laptop? $420.
I'm happy to help anyone save money.
Paul, question on the Free Media Center upgrade. I just received an email saying I have to activate my product key by Jan 31 for the upgrade to work. I take it this means I will not be able to have it on my upgraded X61 as well as the Surface Pro when I get one? I did get two keys, but doesn't sound like it will matter. Thanks for you info...
To me a "clean install" means being able to install to a blank hard drive as would be the case when the hard disk has to be replaced (now or in the future), or if you simply want to avoid messing up your current space-limited hard drive on the off-chance that you will like Windows 8 better. (It's quite possible that do to driver issues, some hardware functionality will be lost.) That's why this is the most helpful link on Winsupersite: http://winsupersite.com/article/windows8/clean-install-windows-8-upgrade... : "...run Upgrade Advisor multiple times on a single PC, purchasing as many product keys as you need. And then you can install the OSes later on the actual PCs you intend to upgrade." It's also important to first run a free trial version, unless you're willing to spend $40 on what may very well do nothing more than lead to a decision to install Windows 7.
Do you have to download it multiple times to purchase multiple licenses? Is there an easier way to do that?
No. In fact, you don't have to download it at all.
So if I understand this correctly, I only need the one download, and just purchase additional keys for all my other computer upgrades? I've got two kids away at college and I'd prefer to do it when they come home next time rather than have them try to do the upgrades at school.
Technically, you don't even need the one download, but yes.
You can download the installer at any time in the future, through October 26, 2015.
Exactly the news I needed for a machine I'm not planning to upgrade just yet. Thanks much!
Have you got a similar tip to deal with the fact that it seems we cant use the Media Centre Pack rego code after 1 Feb 2013? (I'm not ready to upgrade my WMC to W8 yet, so it looks like I'm going to miss out on using the free Media Centre code I got emailed to me).
But it looks like you have only until the end of the month to get and install the free Media Center. I've gotten 4 notices that it has to be installed before Feb. 1 because I bought four Win8 upgrades and applied for the free Media Center upgrade. All have been installed except one, which I was reserving for when I did just what Paul suggests in this article. I have one waiting on the shelf for the future and a Media Center Key to go with it that appears will be invalid after Feb. 1.
The only downside to delaying the install is that is the free Media Centre add-on pack has to have the product key has to be activated by 1 February 2013.
"You must provide a valid email address to receive your Windows 8 Media Center Pack product key. This promotion ends on January 31, 2013; your product key must be activated no later than February 1, 2013." quote from email from Microsoft.
What about Windows Media Center? I received email saying I have until January 31, 2012 to activate or it'll expire. In this case, Windows 8 Pro must be installed.
A lot of comments about the free promotion for WMC in here for some reason. This has nothing to do with Media Center.
Yes, Media Center will cost $9.99 starting 2/1. No, there is no way to buy that now and install it after 1/31.
But so what? This tip is about saving $160. WMC is just $10. If you want/need it, that's really not a terrible price.
It has to do with the notion that Windows 8 is an "upgrade" from Windows 7. Many people would not like the fact that this "upgrade" broke their ability to play DVDs or use a USB connected CableCard box to watch Cable TV on their computer. It's not just $9.99 is $9.99 for each PC you own.
If you are upgrading from Windows 7, you won't need Media Center, and you won't need DVD playback either since it will be on your PC. No one needs WMC on multiple computers regardless.
I was thinking of your articles called "Clean Install with Upgrade Media". In that case is it not true that the "upgrade" will brake the ability to play DVDs or use a USB connected CableCard box to watch Cable TV? (Unless you want to revert to the old definition of "upgrade" as not permitting a direct installation to a new hard disk without first installing the previous OS.)
"No one needs WMC on multiple computers regardless." You need WMC to play Cable TV coming from a usb connected CableCard Tuner. My wife and I each have an ATI "TV Wonder Open Cable Receiver" which is useless w/o WMC.
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My question - Can I install the copy I buy today on my "old" PC. But in a few months I will buy a new PC to replace this old one. I take the old PC, reformat the drive and sell it to someone else, maybe put Win 7 back on it. Then on my new PC, install this copy of Win 8 pro. Is that allowed?
I believe so, but you will need to do a phone activation on the second install.
I'll review the terms and conditions to make sure on this one.
Thanks Paul. Appreciate the answer.
What about a boxed upgrade that I purchase retail? Can that only be activated until October 2015?
Paul - thanks for the tip. I have a computer in France which I won't get to before the end of the month. I'd like to buy a license now, at the reduced price and then install later. I've already upgraded the PC where I am now, in London. Could I go the the process you have outlined on one PC then continue it on a different one?
Yes. You're buying a product key, not an install of Windows that only works on one PC.
What if I want to wipe my pc and re-install Windows 8 from scratch AFTER October 26, 2015? Will my product key fail?
No, this has nothing to do with product keys expiring. This is the availability of the web-based installer that will accept product keys. You can still download an ISO or USB-based installer and install that way.
This has probably been asked before, but here goes:
I have an older (2007-ish) HP Pavillion Entertainment laptop with a 64 bit motherboard and AMD Turion 64 X2 Mobile processor, but for some reason, it was sold with 32 bit Windows Vista.
I went through the online upgrade procss and got a Product Key and downloaded the install media to a USB drive. I also have the retail boxed install media (from a prior install to a different PC) which includes the 64 bit install disk. Can I use this new Product Key to do a 64 bit install on this machine? Or will it only install the 32 bit vesion because that is what the Laptop was running?
I don't know which version was downloaded to my USB drive, but it probably doesn't matter if I have 64-bit Disk install media, right?
The product keys work with either 32-bit or 64-bit. They're not tied to one or the other.
I assume that the procedure you outline in this article applies to the $14.99 new PC Upgrade offer as well the regular $39.99 offer? The same terms and conditions apply for both, correct?
I don't know about that one, sorry. I will look into that.
I am guessing that they are the same. I just went through the process and it was identical to the details and screenshots in your article. The only difference was the New PC Upgrade confirmation email provided me with a promo code. When I reached the payment screen in the Upgrade Advisor, the price listed was $39.99. The promo code just took $25 off that price.
It's only good for one rebate, but NewEgg has Win 8 Pro for $69.99 with a $40 VISA debit card, for a net cost of $29.99, FWIW.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832416562&Tpk=N82E...
If the link doesn't work, go to newegg and search for item N82E16832416562.
Can this also be used to upgrade from Windows 8 Home Premium Laptop to Pro?
I'm running Windows 8 from my desktop now, and I'm contemplating a Surface Pro.
If I activate WMC now on the desktop, will this then be somehow registered on my Microsoft account in the cloud, and will I then also be able to activate WMC on the Surface Pro using the Microsoft account?
It does not appear the saying "If it runs Windows 7 it will run Windows 8" applies to me. The Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant came back with issue "Your processor doesn't have NX turned on or might not support NX" with a link to:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/what-is-pae-nx-sse2
I have two old Dell systems (Dell Dimension 8300-May 2003 and Dell OptiPlex GX260-Dec 2002) that has been running Windows 7 fantastically since it was released. I have done some searching and it appears the BIOS does not support NX and there are no plans on supporting it. (On Dells website the last 8300 BIOS update was sometime in 2003). I also found some Forum postings that mentioned NX is a no go on 8300/GX260.
Paul,
Do you know that NX needs to be supported?
I read one tweet that someone got Windows 8 to install even though they had the NX error.
Do you know if your credit card gets charged if the install does not work?
The web install looks like it does the Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant then ask for $39.99 payment before running the install. I would not mind seeing if the install will actuall fail but, of course, I would not want to get charged if it does.
Can I do an upgrade on a multiboot computer that has windows XP, Windows Vista, Window 7? (I know dont ask, alright its for testing). I want to upgrade only the VISTA boot. Can this be done????
Is the upgrade the cleanest Windows 8 experience?
Is it recommended to buy and install the full version from scratch? I know the upgrade is cheaper of course.
What would most of you guys do? Does upgrading give as clean, smooth and new experience?
Cheers.
Grant, I highly recommend a clean install. You can do this with the upgrade. It just needs to see the previously installed qualifying OS on the HDD and you are good to go. You can choose upgrade or clean install during setup. I have tech friends who also agree. The upgrade is not worth the bother. Just backup your data, do a clean install and reload your apps fresh. It works so much better and is actually faster.
Thanks Hoomgar.
The 'clean install' option via the 'upgrade' is exactly what I wanted to hear. Music to my ears. In that case I know 3 computers which should be getting Windows 8 very soon. Good stuff. Can we choose the install language at setup? I live in Japan but need and prefer to install in English. So because of my region I might be forced to buy it from Microsoft in Japan, and have to cope with the Japanese.
Sorry I don't know the answer to that. Being that I have only ever used English I am not sure but I wouldn't see why not? That may be one of the choises during the purchase, I don't really recall?
I will likely download to USB flash drive. Question: What size flash drive?
I updated a laptop to Windows 8 Pro and have been meaning to update an All-in-One as well. I plan to dual boot the machine with Windows 7 until I am ready to move on from Windows 7 for good. I hope to get this setup this week and activate Media Center as well. The e-mail about WMC that I got says that you can get the free license up until 1/31, but it has to be activated by 2/1.
I will probably take advantage of this because I purchased Windows 8 Core System Builder additions for my home PCs and there are a couple of features missing I would like on my main computer. But looking at all the questions and confusions here just makes me wonder why MS has to make things this complicated.
I'm not sure if I buy this that I will actually be able to upgrade without first having to wipe out my Windows 8 core and install xp or win 7 to be able to then wipe it out to do a clean install of Windows 8 pro. I've never really understood the whole upgrade thing. Why not just sell the OS in a format that will let you upgrade or install clean no matter what. Don't they want to make it easy for people to move from other platforms?