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Windows 8 Help

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How do I download Windows 8 without having to pay again.

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csmith1000

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Posted January 21, 2013 at 10:54PM

I upgraded my system to Windows 8 but then after various problems had to restore my machine to Windows 7. I can't find a way to reinstall Windows 8 without ordering and paying another £25. I have my activation key but didn't get back up software and can't find a W8 download file in my downloads.

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Jock1e

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Posted January 21, 2013 at 11:31PM

Try this.

Windows 8

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Forum Editor

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Posted January 21, 2013 at 11:36PM

When you say that you had to restore your computer to Windows 7, do you mean that you used the system restore media that came with your computer?

If you previously upgraded the machine using the activation key you may find that a new installation using the method linked to by Jock1e will fail to activate because the activation server already has a record of the previous installation. It's certainly worth a try though.

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rdave13

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Posted January 22, 2013 at 4:47AM

This is the method I chose, http://www.intowindows.com/download-windows-8-iso-from-microsoft-using-product-key/

You can either install directly or create an iso file to burn to DVD.

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Jock1e

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Posted January 22, 2013 at 9:14AM

Nice one rdave13.

I burnt the ISO File to DVD which should come in handy at a later date.Thanks.

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Jock1e

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Posted January 22, 2013 at 9:21AM

csmith1000

The best way to install W/8 is a clean install without taking files and folders with you.You get less problems that way.

It would mean that you would loose everything that you had on W/7.

Or you can take the files and folders with you and hope everything works Ok.

I took the files and folders with me and ended up having to install W/8 again without them.

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csmith1000

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Posted January 22, 2013 at 9:10PM

Thanks everyone for the advice. Biggest problem being that when things go wrong there seems to be a multiplying effect. Yes I restored from my system media. I thought I backed up all my documents including the outlook files. Only I can't find my outlook files hence no email from Microsoft. So struggle with the link from RDave13. I do have my W8 activation key. I don't have a link to download Windows 8 setup file, anybody know what this?

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Forum Editor

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Posted January 22, 2013 at 11:44PM

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csmith1000

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Posted January 23, 2013 at 11:36AM

Thanks for that but final blow it won't recognise my product key which I copied and pasted into a word document. No matter how I enter it it remains greyed out. Am I heading for another £25.00 now?

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Jock1e

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Posted January 23, 2013 at 2:14PM

Can you download it without entering the keycode.Once up and running you can then try and enter the kecode.And if it still does not work there is a free phone number for Microsoft Uk that you can use to have it verified.

When you downloaded W/7 again did you put the W/7 keycde on that.If not maybe that is why you are having some problems.

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Billy999

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Posted January 25, 2013 at 5:09PM

I have a similar query. I installed windows 8 last week but my HDD has now died. I have the activation key.

Will my windows not get activated again?

Don't tell me!

What can I do..Please Help!

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