As noted in
Windows 8.1 Upgrade Woes, Microsoft provides a handy
Upgrade Windows with only a product key
page from which you can jump-start the Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 Setup
from the web and optionally make an ISO file for later installs. But it
inexplicably does not allow you to download the Windows 8.1 ISO—via
Windows 8.1 Setup—with a Windows 8 product key. This doesn't make sense
since Windows 8.1 is a free update from Windows 8. Why should someone
with multiple PCs to upgrade be forced to use the normal Store-based
updater, which triggers a 2 GB to 3.6 GB download each time it's used?
Well, I've got good news and bad news.
The good news—
great
news, really—is that there is a very simple workaround for those
Windows 8 users who wish to download a Windows 8.1 ISO. That process is
described here.
The bad news? Once you've downloaded that ISO, you
still
can't use your Windows 8 product key to perform a clean install of
Windows 8.1. You can, of course, use it to perform an upgrade from
Windows 8, which was the point: Provide a way for users to upgrade
multiple PCs from a single download. I have an idea about how the clean
install issue can be overcome, but I'm curious if anyone has a
fool-proof method.
Still want to grab that Windows 8.1 ISO with your Windows product key? Here's how.
In a web browser, navigate to Microsoft's
Upgrade Windows with only a product key page. Then, click the light blue
Install Windows 8
button. Windows 8 Setup will run. Input your Windows 8 product key when
prompted and Setup will tell you which version of the Windows 8 Setup
ISO it will download. (This is based on the PC you're currently using If
you start Setup from a 64-bit version of Windows, you will download a
64-bit ISO, for example.) After the download begins, close Setup.
Now, return to that Upgrade Windows with
only a product key page. This time, click the light blue
Install Windows 8.1
button. Windows Setup will run, as before, but you won't be prompted
for your product key. Instead, the Setup ISO will download
automatically!
After the download completes, Setup will
say that it is "getting files ready" (uncompressing the installer) and
then present you with the Install Windows 8.1 phase of the wizard.
Choose Install by creating media and then click Next.
In this next step, choose USB flash drive
or ISO file. Personally, I'd choose ISO file even if you intend to
install via USB since you can use the free
Windows 7 USB/DVD download tool to create USB media at any time, and I like having the ISO file on hand for later use anyway.
Make your choice and click Save. If you
selected the ISO option, you will need to provide a save location (your
Desktop or whatever) and then Setup will copy the ISO to that location.
It will then display a final step in which it displays the product key
you previously provided (the Windows 8 one). Click Finish to close
Setup.
OK, you've got your ISO file. Now what can you do with it?
Not much, actually, unless of course you
do have a Windows 8.1 product key. You can of course create DVD or
USB-based Setup media.Windows includes the ability to burn an ISO to DVD
disc, or you can use the aforementioned
Windows 7 USB/DVD download tool
to create USB media.But what you can't do is use that Setup media to
upgrade from Windows 8 to Windows 8.1. This version of Windows 8.1 Setup
prompts for a Windows 8.1 product key, and your Windows 8 product
key—from a PC, MSDN/TechNet, or a retail version—will not work.
Step3:- Let the Execution of the script it will automatically traject you to the METERPRETER.
