The Windows 8.1 ISO Download Trick

**jwoegerbauer** · 31-12-13, 08:26 PM

To get to the Windows 8.1 ISO outside of the "Windows Store" legally and for free, download both the Windows 8 Setup tool as well as the Windows 8.1 Setup tool. You download both tools directly from .

First, run the Windows 8 Setup tool (Windows8-Setup.exe) , which then requires a produktkey for Windows 8. After entering the Setup tool will download all files for the installation of Windows 8.
Cancel this process, quit the program.

Second, run the Windows 8.1 Setup tool (WindowsSetupBox.exe), which basically would ask for key for Windows 8.1, but now skips this step and starts directly with the Windows 8.1 ISO download.
[~ 15 minutes].

Note: Select the appropriate product key

Microsoft would not be Microsoft, if they had not yet managed to make the installation in addition complex. When you start the installation of the loaded ISO, you are asked for a product key Windows 8.1. Here, the Windows 8 keys are not accepted. Is also illogical, because when the keys would work, we would not need the above mentioned trick to downloading the ISOs also. Make the installation work, you need a so-called generic key, with which it feeds the installer. Microsoft officially lists these keys on their pages. For Windows, 8.1 Pro is the right key, for example, GCRJD-8NW9H-F2CDX-CCM8D-9D6T9.
Important: It ensures only that iterates through the installation, Windows 8.1 is not activated it yet. But never mind, because Windows 8 key is then used to activate.

Good luck with the install.

**Philquad** · 31-12-13, 08:55 PM

so are you saying you can get it for free?
wouldnt that be illegal?
what have we done to you joey?
you used to be all legit like if i remember some of your 1st posts

**Dave001** · 31-12-13, 09:05 PM

There's no problem with installing Windows 8.1 with a Windows 8 key, you just can't download the ISO from Microsoft with one, they expect you to upgrade via the store in Windows 8, and download the file for each system you need to upgrade.

**jwoegerbauer** · 31-12-13, 09:50 PM

Originally Posted by Philquad

so are you saying you can get it for free?
wouldnt that be illegal?
what have we done to you joey?
you used to be all legit like if i remember some of your 1st posts

As I've said: NOTHING is illegal! I've just pointed out, how to do it without using the Windows Store (easiest way, of course), where it's known to have alredy an (activated) Microsoft account.

**best4less** · 01-01-14, 12:14 AM

This key was posted on the internet

don't know what it does or anything

CQ7YK-YQNWC-KDJPF-2XB2P-KWXT7

**jwoegerbauer** · 01-01-14, 12:50 AM

Originally Posted by best4less

This key was posted on the internet

don't know what it does or anything

CQ7YK-YQNWC-KDJPF-2XB2P-KWXT7

Not sure, but believe this was the product key for "Windows 8 Consumer Preview" which MS offered for a 30-days-test purpose. If so I strongly believe that this key is no longer valid, of course.

**best4less** · 01-01-14, 01:17 AM

My Bad we need a 8.1 key now LOL

**mickstv** · 01-01-14, 09:26 AM

Found this ........

Install now, Activate later

In previous versions, it was possible to install Windows without key, run it as trial for up to 120 days, and enter a product key later. This option on first sight seems to have been removed in Windows 8.

However, it's still possible to pre-install Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 with a generic key. These keys can only install Windows. It's not possible to activate it unless you enter an original key purchased from Microsoft. Here they come...

XKY4K-2NRWR-8F6P2-448RF-CRYQH (Windows 8 Professional)
RR3BN-3YY9P-9D7FC-7J4YF-QGJXW (Windows 8 Professional with Media Center)
FB4WR-32NVD-4RW79-XQFWH-CYQG3 (Windows 8 [Home])
XHQ8N-C3MCJ-RQXB6-WCHYG-C9WKB (Windows 8.1 Professional)
GBFNG-2X3TC-8R27F-RMKYB-JK7QT (Windows 8.1 Professional with Media Center)
334NH-RXG76-64THK-C7CKG-D3VPT (Windows 8.1 [Home])

If you can get hold of the installation disk, you can use these keys to install now, and purchase an activation key after 4 months.

Link below

**WhiteOx** · 03-01-14, 02:22 PM

Those Keys are blocked, you'll only get a "Cannot Connect Right Now, Check Your Internet Connection" error.

But if anyone paid for the $25 download version you can use those keys.

Don't use the Media Centre key, it wont work.

**mickstv** · 03-01-14, 02:51 PM

Originally Posted by WhiteOx

Those Keys are blocked, you'll only get a "Cannot Connect Right Now, Check Your Internet Connection" error.

But if anyone paid for the $25 download version you can use those keys.

Don't use the Media Centre key, it wont work.

If it was the Keys, they would come up with an error, and not be accepted.

.

**WhiteOx** · 03-01-14, 03:01 PM

No mate - google it. (The error message).
It accepts the key but won't connect to the server if you use those keys.

I just finished downloading it - had to use my own key to connect.

**mickstv** · 03-01-14, 03:05 PM

I guess MS must have blacklisted/removed those keys.

**Dave001** · 03-01-14, 10:04 PM

I had no problem doing a fresh install of Win 8.1 using both my Win 8 pro and win 8 pro media center keys. I had to use the default key during the install "XHQ8N-C3MCJ-RQXB6-WCHYG-C9WKB", then activate using my valid windows 8 key.

**mickstv** · 03-01-14, 11:15 PM

Originally Posted by Dave001

I had no problem doing a fresh install of Win 8.1 using both my Win 8 pro and win 8 pro media center keys. I had to use the default key during the install "XHQ8N-C3MCJ-RQXB6-WCHYG-C9WKB", then activate using my valid windows 8 key.

Just checked and that key is the same as the 8.1 PRO key I listed in a previous post, so it looks like the default key is just a generic for everyone. Cool

**Dave001** · 04-01-14, 12:03 AM

I'm not real sure why there are so many replies to this thread, between jwoegerbauer's and mickstv's posts, you have all the info required to download and install Windows 8.1 using a valid Windows 8 key.

To recap:
Using a valid Windows 8 key, follow jwoegerbauer's instructions in the first post to download the Windows 8.1 ISO.
Use the corresponding key supplied by mickstv to install Windows 8.1 from the ISO.
Once Windows 8.1 is installed, change the key to your VALID Windows 8 key, and activate.

If that's to hard for you, do it Microsoft's way, install Windows 8, activate it, then using the Windows Store, upgrade to Window 8.1. If you have a few PC's to upgrade, you'll need to download the 3+gb file for each PC, hence the reason why people want to download the ISO instead.

**WhiteOx** · 04-01-14, 10:36 AM

The Keys might be good for the install, but you cannot download windows by using them.
I just tried again just to be sure.

You need a valid key to download windows and if you have a valid key, why bother with the others - you'd need the iso to install and a valid key to activate.

I'm trying to let people know that those keys will NOT work to DOWNLOAD Windows!

**WhiteOx** · 04-01-14, 11:10 AM

Accepts the key as valid:

**WhiteOx** · 04-01-14, 11:11 AM

Does it's thing...
Then gives you the connection error:

**Dave001** · 04-01-14, 01:05 PM

If you try to download Windows 8.1 using a Windows 8 key, you will get this error.

But you can download Windows 8 with with a Windows 8 Key.

Once the download starts press pause and close the window.

Then run the Windows 8.1 installer, which will then download the windows 8.1 install files with out asking for a Windows 8.1 key this time.

The keys that mickstv provided are only needed when you go to actually install Windows 8.1 on your system, as Windows 8.1 will not accept a Windows 8 key during the install. But after it's installed you can change the key to your valid Windows 8 key, and activate Windows.

**Dave001** · 04-01-14, 01:13 PM

Originally Posted by WhiteOx

The Keys might be good for the install, but you cannot download windows by using them.
I just tried again just to be sure.

You need a valid key to download windows and if you have a valid key, why bother with the others - you'd need the iso to install and a valid key to activate.

I'm trying to let people know that those keys will NOT work to DOWNLOAD Windows!

At what point did anyone say that you could download Windows 8.1 using them keys?

You seem to have misunderstood several of the posts in this thread, and then in typical Austech moderator fashion, have taken it upon your self to argue with every one about something that nobody is disagreeing with.