Discussion on:

Take advantage of the $15 Windows 8 Pro Upgrade Offer

Have you purchased a Windows PC on or after June 2, 2012? Are you going to take advantage of the $15 upgrade to Windows 8?

For $15, I'll give 8 a try on my desktop, if I can set up multiple boot, so I can get into 7 if 8 fumbles.

...download to CD or Flash drive, you can set up a dual boot easily.

Check out the articles:

Dual-boot Windows 7 and Windows 8
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/window-on-windows/dual-boot-windows-7-and-windows-8/6513

Dual-boot Windows 7 and Windows 8 using a VHD
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/window-on-windows/dual-boot-windows-7-and-windows-8-using-a-vhd/6537

I ran through this, and did the download on an XP computer. What I ended up with was the 32-bit version (quad-core 64-bit CPU, 8G memory) and no ISO and no option to create an ISO. There was NO option to choose 32 or 64 bit either. This was all kept very hidden by Microsoft with no indication until it was all too late.

I have since found that lots of other people have been caught by this same trap. AND, there are no genuine ISOs anywhere available for download. Microsoft have stuffed this one up badly.

They have an alarmingly low success rate.

Yeah, I was wondering about that. Greg glossed over the hardware issue and only mentioned that "....back in August I purchased a new system and recently decided to investigate the $15 Windows 8 upgrade" without going into the details regarding the system he used for the W8 upgrade.

Bad techie.

I guess it's fair to assume that if one purchased a new system after June 2012 that the system is 64-bit. So, does the Upgrade Assistant auto-magically detect which version is required for the hardware or, (forgive me if I missed something along the way), does that mean that W8 is not available or not compatible with 32-bit systems?

...gone into more detail on the system I was upgrading. I apologize for any inconvenience that omission caused. In any case, it is an ASUS CM1740 with an AMD A8-Series APU A6-3820 (2.5GHz), 8GB RAM and running Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit.

As for the 32-bit vs. 64-bit... It appears that if the Windows 7 product key that you entered on the Validation screen shown in Figure C is for a 32-bit version of Windows 7, then you'll end up with a 32-bit version of Windows 8. Likewise, if you enter a Windows 7 product key for a 64-bit version of Windows 7, then you'll end up with a 64-bit version of Windows 8.

I started with Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit and ended up with Windows 8 Pro 64-bit.

I had a NB which came with Windows 7 Pro 64 Bit and when it was returned for repair the company loaded a OPK install of the 32 Bit Version of Windows. The same Product Key activated it.

Col

...situation to find yourself in. Are you plaining on downloading the Windows 8 Upgrade for this machine? I'd be very curious to see what # - bit version of Windows 8 you end up with.

Thankfully I picked it up before returning it and did the reload so it went back with the 64 Bit OS running.

I just didn't think that the Product Key would work with both versions.

Col

which version it is with regard to x86 or x64. There are a multitude of other varying factors regarding Product ID Numbers and when/if they will work on a given installation package or media. However, since Vista anyway, same key works irrespective of the two.
Greg, I think this very subject would be one of considerable interest for techs. There seems to be a great deal of confusion on the subject. Notably, the likely reasons for this are the copyright issues. That notwithstanding, there are exponentially valid reasons for us to be aware of these things. I would be willing to submit what I know of the subject to you if you desire. Even privately if you request such.

@Greg Shultz: Thanks for the follow-up Greg!

No inconvenience - not for me anyway. Not yet. Just good to know the details about the hardware platform that was used for the upgrade. You know how us techies can be....detail oriented and frequently comparing hardware.

So, the Upgrade Assistant can detect the previous Windows version installed on the system and then do a "1 for 1" type upgrade: W7 32-bit for W8 32-bit or W7 64-bit for W8 64-bit. Seems straightforward.

Also, thanks for posting the links to the articles about dual boot. I think I'm going to give it a try. Problem for me is that I don't qualify for the $15.00 W8 upgrade. I have a "newer" system with W7 64-bit but it was purchased before June 2012. So, I guess I'll have to pay the $39.99?

Lastly, @Hal 9000's point that he "...didn't think that the Product Key would work with both versions" is well noted. I find that a bit curious as well.

Hi Greg - if we just bought a Windows 7 upgrade disk after June 2 and not a PC are we out of luck with the WIndows 8 upgrade deal ? Thanks

Tried to go for the upgrade offer for a W7 ultrabook purchased in August, 2012. Entered in the details including date the notebook was purchased and was told I didn't qualify (no explanation why). Was given 5 general reasons as to why my request was rejected but none applied. So I called Microsoft. First person I spoke with took all my information (again) and then told me he couldn't help me. He then gave me a support reference number and then connected me to another person in Electronic Software Distribution support. Was connected right through and spoke with a helpful lady who - took all my information again! She then asked for 3 minutes to review my 'situation' with her boss, came back and asked for 3 more minutes, came back and asked for 3 more minutes and then said that she'd be able to 'resolve' my problem (note the problem was mine!). Was promised a promo code within 24hrs but received it in 1hr which is nice. All in all, I wasted about 1hr on Microsoft's support attempting to prove to them that I qualified for their offer (notebook purchased in Canada, in August, 2012, new with W7 pre-installed). I was never given an explanation why it took Microsoft 3+people and an hour of time to validate I was entitled to their $15 promo.

Will give it a try and see what happens.

In fairness to MS, I received a call back from their support person 2 hours after opening the support incident to verify I had received a W8 upgrade promo code

I'm just curious.

On Figure L, Microsoft gives the Windows 8 Pro Product Key. Just wondering, is this product key only applicable (usable) to the PC which was used to purchase the product key? Or will it work instead on another PC? (eg. you decide not to upgrade the recently-purchased Windows 7 PC; but instead, you want to apply the Windows 8 Pro upgrade product key on an older system (eg. Vista or XP) -- or let's say you want to use a different bit version (eg. instead of 32-bit, using 64-bit -- if you're able to get a copy from say another download).

(Is the given product key bit-specific? works only for 32-bit or only for 64-bit?)

...that you could use the Product Key to install Windows 8 on a different PC using the clean install method.

See my article: The complete guide to a Windows 8 clean installation
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/window-on-windows/the-complete-guide-to-a-windows-8-clean-installation/6881

As far as the 32-bit vs. 64-bit goes, I don't have a definitive answer. My first impression was that the bit version you ended up with would match the bit version of the system you used to run the Upgrade Assistant.

For example, if you ran the Upgrade Assistant on a 32-bit version of Windows 7, you'd get a 32-bit version of Windows 8 or if you ran the Upgrade Assistant on a 64-bit version, you'd get a 64-bit version.

Now, if that is indeed the case, you could run into a problem in the scenario you propose... i.e. you download a 64-bit version of Windows 8 and your old PC is a 32-bit system.

I'll look around and see if I can get anymore detailed information...

version of the software you got - thus Win 8 Pro is a different key series to Win 8, and the same would apply to the bit type as MS see Win 8 32 bit as a different version to Win 8 64 bit.

To: Deadly Ernest 28th Dec

Actually, when you buy Windows 8 Pro you receive both the x86 & the x64 DVD's; you use the same activation key for both DVD's. Maybe Win8 Pro will be available as single DVD's, an x86 & x64, but MS doesn't appear to be doing things the same as in the past at all.

Ignoring the touch screen functions, I have found that the keyboard and mouse continue to work well with all Win8 Pro functions, as in past Ultimate versions.

cu!

Greg, thanks for the step-by-step instructions on how to download the Windows 8 upgrade! Burned to DVD as I'm not sure I'm going to upgrade (love Win 7) but figured $15 was a good investment.

Anyway, I discovered after burning the DVD there was still a link on my desktop called "Install Windows" with a path pointing to C:\Users\myname\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WebSetup\Sources. WebSetup has 851 files (80 folders) eating up 97.5 Mb. Question: What is this and do I need it?

TIA