Project Reality Forums

Hiya,

Any IT pros in here can tell me if it's possible to "upgrade" from the expired 8.1 Preview final build to Windows 8 Pro without a full reinstall?

Looking for an in place solution, if possible.

I did NOT make a backup image of my windows 8 Preview OS drive before updating to 8.1 Preview. !!! FML !!!

I am in possession of the windows 8 Pro .iso , already built the USB stick, but ... the changing versions .ini file trick failed, so I'm stuck.

I have a windows 8 license key. I do NOT have a windows 8.1 license key. I do not want to spend another $100 on this POS OS.

I have to make a decision on reformatting within 24 hours.

TIA,

If you have Windows 8, you just update to 8.1 via the Store app, it's free.

As for updating from the preview
Update from Windows 8.1 Preview to Windows 8.1 - Microsoft Windows Help

Sometimes your lack of reading skills scare me bud.

I'm still on Win 8.1 Pro Preview final build. (That is the free pre-retail release, plus the free 8.1 upgrade preview release)

I have to 'downgrade' from that to Windows 8 Pro .

Anyways,

They removed the old 8.1 Preview FAQ it seems, but I found it used to say this about going back to windows8:

"If you're running Windows 8 and you install the preview using the ISO, you won't be able to uninstall it. You'll need to reinstall Windows 8 using recovery or installation media that came with your PC. If you don't have recovery media, you might be able to create a USB recovery drive. For more info, see Create a USB recovery drive."

But like AM said, why don't you just update the 8.1 preview to 8.1? for free? Why go back to 8.0?

I only have a windows 8 license key.
You can't use a windows 8 license key on a windows 8.1 installation.

I was planning to sidegrade from 8.1 preview to 8 retail, then update 8 retail to 8.1 current.

Worst part is, I had windows server 2008r2 on my server before this, and it was superior in all ways.

I see,sorry my bad. Yeah, I guess format is in order. Install 8 with the key and then upgrade.