The Upgrade Windows with only a product key site has links to download both Windows 8 and Windows 8.1
Well, fortunately some enterprising folks have discovered a
way to trick the Upgrade Windows with only a product key
site into allowing you to download a Windows 8.1 ISO using a Windows 8
product key. While this really cool trick has been published on multiple sites
on the Web, not all of these sites give the full set of steps that you need to
perform the operation. For instance, many of the sites direct you to the Upgrade Windows with only a product key
site as the first step, but they do not mention that in order for this trick to
work, to be prompted for the product key right away, you have to access the
site from a computer running Windows 7.
So, in this article, I'll show you the complete procedure
for downloading a Windows 8.1 ISO using a Windows 8 product key.
Note: Even though the end
result of this trick is have a Windows 8.1 DVD, keep in mind that this DVD can
only be used to perform a Windows 8 to Windows 8.1 upgrade. You cannot use it
to perform a clean install of Windows 8.1.
What you'll need
Before you get started, you'll need to have access to
several things. First you'll need your Windows 8 Product Key and it has to be
from a retail version of the product. In other words, if you received a
computer with Windows 8 preinstalled, then you have an OEM Product Key and you
cannot use that type of key for this procedure.
So if you either purchased a Windows 8 DVD at your local
computer store or downloaded Windows 8 from Microsoft, then you're all set to
go.
As I mentioned, you'll need to perform this trick from a
Windows 7 system. As you seek out a Windows 7 system to use, be sure that it is
has the same processor type as you
are using on the Windows 8 system that you want to upgrade to Windows 8.1. (By
processor type, I mean 32-bit vs. 64-bit.) The reason for this is that the
processor type in the system that you use to download Windows 8.1, will
determine the version of Windows 8.1 that you'll end up with.
For example, if your Windows 8 system is running a 64-bit
processor, then you'll want to use a Windows 7 system with a 64-bit processor.
You'll then end up with a 64-bit version of Windows 8.1.
Still with me? Okay, then let's get started.
Getting started
Once you have located a
proper Windows 7 system, fire up your Web browser of choice and point it to the
Upgrade
Windows with only a product key site. When you arrive, you'll find that the
page contains links to download both Windows 8 and Windows 8.1, as shown in
Figure B. Unfortunately, you cannot
just click the Windows 8.1 download button unless you have a Windows 8.1
Product Key from a retail version of the product. So, you'll have to use the
following technique.
Credit: Image by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic
