Windows 8 Non-upgrade

I've noticed that all media outlets are trumpting the cost for upgrading to Windows 8, but there is a curious lack of detail for those who don't want the upgrade but the the "full" version, so does anyone know how much it is going to cost ?

this is for a computer with no windows OS ?

Amazon only list the upgrade from XP/Vista/7

Windows 8 OEM Personal Use licence hasn't appeared here yet although http://www.misco.co.uk/productinfo/productinfo?produ... might be it

Yes, hopefully it will be for a new, non-OS machine...

http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/buying-advice/windows/340...

thank you

I've been busy trying out some software for anyone who would like windows 8 but would feel more comfortable with windows 7 "GUI" like the desktop configuration
There are a few downloads to hand for those on Friday upgrading so don't forget to install these and last but not least windows 8 has anti virus already built in so do make sure that you take advice if unsure about installing a different brand of antivirus

A good bit of advice is to take your time with windows 8 and ask if unsure instead of ploughing in and mucking things up and then have to hit the forums with errors that could have been avoided

Edited by NICK_ADSL_UK (Mon 22-Oct-12 19:23:26)

About the same price as Windows 7,which is good.

Is it possible to force Windows 8 to always boot to the desktop system rather than having to click on a tile to do it ?

Well it was, then they changed it. Maybe it will return on Friday.

In reply to a post by MrTAToad2:

Is it possible to force Windows 8 to always boot to the desktop system rather than having to click on a tile to do it ?

Nope, not without software.

You could move the desktop tile to the top left and press enter when the fisher price style UI is displayed, that will then take you to the desktop. that is if MS don't put a stop to that as they want you to stay on the metro UI, so you can look at their store and buy stuff you don't really need.


As I said there is some software that will give you a proper start menu and will boot into the desktop.

In reply to a post by Anonymous:

this is for a computer with no windows OS ?

Amazon only list the upgrade from XP/Vista/7

Windows 8 OEM Personal Use licence hasn't appeared here yet although http://www.misco.co.uk/productinfo/productinfo?produ... might be it

No retail version, so if you buy a OEM for a new build and then want to transfer it say in a couple of years to another machine you are stumped.

At least with Windows 7, MS produced a retail version. i detest upgrades, i remember the problem I had upgrading from XP to vista on my laptop.

Not going to bother me too much as I am not getting windows 8.

Yes, I had problems with so called "upgrades" - the worst of it that leaves extra rubbish on your hard drive. Its bad enough at the moment, but the former system is even worse.

so if you buy a OEM for a new build and then want to transfer it say in a couple of years to another machine you are stumped.

Not really, you could do the internet activation okay for a few few goes, but then had to phone and get a new code that way...

By the way, what can be done with (legal) copies of Windows 7 that won't be used any more ? I'll may be sending my CD's for LD2 and a few others to Gabe, and let him deal with it, so I may send mine to someone at Microsoft UK, seeing as they dont like them being sold on eBay (which is very annoying).

Edited by deleted (Mon 22-Oct-12 23:53:19)

In reply to a post by MrTAToad2:

Is it possible to force Windows 8 to always boot to the desktop system rather than having to click on a tile to do it ?

this guide from the very talented ashraf is good let us know how it goes
i will be posting my selection of tools for windows 8 at the weekend

http://dottech.org/76495/how-to-automatically-go-to-...

Edited by NICK_ADSL_UK (Tue 23-Oct-12 10:38:15)

It was copied from here http://helpdeskgeek.com/windows-8/boot-windows-8-to-...

In reply to a post by MrTAToad2:

Yes, I had problems with so called "upgrades" - the worst of it that leaves extra rubbish on your hard drive. Its bad enough at the moment, but the former system is even worse.

so if you buy a OEM for a new build and then want to transfer it say in a couple of years to another machine you are stumped.

Not really, you could do the internet activation okay for a few few goes, but then had to phone and get a new code that way...

By the way, what can be done with (legal) copies of Windows 7 that won't be used any more ? I'll may be sending my CD's for LD2 and a few others to Gabe, and let him deal with it, so I may send mine to someone at Microsoft UK, seeing as they dont like them being sold on eBay (which is very annoying).

The OEM licence was that you could use it on one machine and it was not transferable to another machine and as far as i know MS have not changed that.

But do they check ?

It depends if you are extracting the urine.

You mean like, when you activate it?

Well, they give you the option to phone (and force you to after several activations), but as long as the code you give them is valid and legal, what can they do ?

Edited by deleted (Tue 23-Oct-12 19:12:24)

Would depend on how desperate you are...

In reply to a post by MrTAToad2:

But do they check ?

They did with XP, i know someone who got a OEM version of XP because their hard drive failed and the disk that came with the computer did not work. Anyway, we updated the machine a couple of years later, new motherboard, new CPU and it did windows XP would not install again and no matter how we tried it did not work.

Windows 8 , like windows 7 will have better protection, I presume windows 8 will still come with the silly MS activation rubbish.
i made a image of my hard drive, so i never have to activate again if i need to reinstall, unless I change computers.

In reply to a post by zyborg47:

Anyway, we updated the machine a couple of years later, new motherboard, new CPU and it did windows XP would not install again and no matter how we tried it did not work.

Maybe you should have replaced the hard disk?

In reply to a post by MrTAToad2:

... But do they check....

To put it very simply, a certain section of the BIOS is checked against certain certificates held and read within the setup routine.

That is odd - I have never had a problem like that...

In reply to a post by Deadbeat:

To put it very simply, a certain section of the BIOS is checked against certain certificates held and read within the setup routine.

I thought the BIOS excutes the POST and then passes control to the OS, and it was OS that would then check if it is valied or not!
Which part of the BIOS checks for valid OS/certificates?

In reply to a post by BatBoy:

In reply to a post by zyborg47:

Anyway, we updated the machine a couple of years later, new motherboard, new CPU and it did windows XP would not install again and no matter how we tried it did not work.

Maybe you should have replaced the hard disk?

What difference would that make? i think we did replace the hard drive

In reply to a post by Deadbeat:

In reply to a post by MrTAToad2:

... But do they check....

To put it very simply, a certain section of the BIOS is checked against certain certificates held and read within the setup routine.

don't forget this OEM was one we got from Ebuyer, the one where you was suppose to buy some hardware to get it, but people never did.

In reply to a post by MrTAToad2:

That is odd - I have never had a problem like that...

We did, never solved it either. He got windows Xp from a torrent site and used that.

Was it XP Home or Professional ? Perhaps the later as extra checks in (to prevent companies being a bit naughty).

In reply to a post by Anonymous:

... I thought the BIOS excutes the POST and then passes control to the OS.....

To the hard drive or whatever bootable media is selected. Then the OS is launched.

The BIOS doesn't check for validity.... A certain section of It is checked! This is why an invariably simply cracked BIOS allows a fully pre-validated OEM installation of Vista, Seven and Eight without a (Largely detectable?) "loader".
This is a necessarily simplistic description and I don't think that I'd be allowed to be any more in depth on the subject here.

I am not upgrading, although it does seem a lot are for the sake of it tho.

If I was going to upgrade usually I would sign up for technet for a year but now technet has new TOS where they forbid using keys after cancelling subscription (before wasnt the case).

In reply to a post by MrTAToad2:

Is it possible to force Windows 8 to always boot to the desktop system rather than having to click on a tile to do it ?

it will be eventually I suspect, apps like wintoolkit can make huge changes to OS's and it wouldnt surprise me if there was options to either remove metro or just change the default login layout.

Post deleted by captain666