Help - I have a legitimate key but no media! Where do I get an 8.1 Pro ISO?

[Eggz]

As the title says, I only need the media so I can fresh install Windows 8.1 Pro. It came with my computer, and after a hardware upgrade, the key got corrupted. Microsoft gave me a replacement key because the corruption requires a fresh installation.

Now the problem is I can't do anything with the key because I have no installation media. I just want to create a bootable USB for the fresh install - that's it.

I've paid for a copy of Windows. I have a key. I just want to use it. Where is the installation media?

I've seen there is an ISO for people with a special subscription, but I don't have one. There is also an ISO for a trial of Enterprise, but I have Pro, not Enterprise.

Does anyone have an ISO (a legitimate one) they have made as a backup and can share with me? I know I can get one on a torrent or something, but I don't want to do that because of the risk of getting a cracked copy. Since my key is legitimate, I want a legitimate ISO. Restoring to factory settings won't work either because that relies on the corrupted product key that started this whole thing in the first place. I just need the media Windows 8.1 Pro installation media. Please help. Thanks!

 

[clutchc]

How did you end up with a key, but no media? Your sig doesn't look like a pre-built. Apparently you contacted Microsoft. Why didn't you ask them at that time?

Does this process pertain to you? http://blogs.technet.com/b/canitpro/archive/2014/03/19/windows-8-1-tips-how-to-download-the-windows-8-1-pro-iso.aspx

 

[Eggz]

How did you end up with a key, but no media? Your sig doesn't look like a pre-built. Apparently you contacted Microsoft. Why didn't you ask them at that time?

Does this process pertain to you? http://blogs.technet.com/b/canitpro/archive/2014/03/19/windows-8-1-tips-how-to-download-the-windows-8-1-pro-iso.aspx

Thanks for the link.

As for you question, my computer started as a prebuilt one that I've upgraded over time. Replacing the motherboard classified the system as a "new computer." So Windows deactivated. Fortunately, the Windows 8 license agreement, unlike the Windows 7 license agreement, allows you to transfer an activation to another computer under some basic conditions, which I met:

Can I transfer the software to another computer or user? You may transfer the software to another computer that belongs to you. You may also transfer the software (together with the license) to a computer owned by someone else if a) you are the first licensed user of the software and b) the new user agrees to the terms of this agreement. To make that transfer, you must transfer the original media, the certificate of authenticity, the product key and the proof of purchase directly to that other person, without retaining any copies of the software. You may use the backup copy we allow you to make or the media that the software came on to transfer the software. Anytime you transfer the software to a new computer, you must remove the software from the prior computer. You may not transfer the software to share licenses between computers. You may transfer Get Genuine Windows software, Pro Pack or Media Center Pack software only together with the licensed computer.

The complication was that replacing the motherboard corrupted the key, making it unavailable. Without it, the Microsoft technicians were unable to effect a transfer. By logging on to my computer many times through the course of a week, they were able to verify that I legitimately paid for a copy, so they just gave me a retail key in order to effect the transfer, and at the same time, they cancelled my old key.

When they did that, I didn't think finding the media was going to be difficult, so I didn't ask. I guess I didn't think about it while on the phone with them because the discussion got quite involved, and my focus was on obtaining a replacement key. Finally getting one made me relieved that I could finally get off of the phone as well.

 

[dodger46]

If you have a Retail Key it should work on this Download Link
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/p/?linkid=271128

 

[Eggz]

If you have a Retail Key it should work on this Download Link
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/p/?linkid=271128

I'm having trouble finding out what that is? It's called Windows Setup Box. What is that?

 

[dodger46]

If you have a Retail Key it should work on this Download Link
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/p/?linkid=271128

I'm having trouble finding out what that is? It's called Windows Setup Box. What is that?

Just followed the other link, it leads you to a setup box as well, I suspect they will have similar results, and should allow you to d'load the ISO you require...

 

[Eggz]

Great, so it turned out that the key MS gave me was an upgrade key, which didn't work. So I just bit the bullet and bought another copy of Windows 8.1 Pro (so now I've paid for it twice). Anyway, I installed it last night, and everything worked . . . for a time.

My Windows activated as Windows 8.1 Pro. However, I applied the upgrade key I bought for $10 in order to activate Windows Media Center, and Windows deactivated again. Going through the phone activation process revealed that I need a replacement key because mine comes up in their system as illegitimate.

When I called customer service, they wouldn't give me a new one even though I gave my order information and that key itself. They said there were too many installation attempts, but the reason for that was because MS technicians logged onto my computer remotely and made many attempts to activate my key.

So now I have a receipt for two paid Windows keys - one for Windows 8.1 Pro and another for Windows Media Center - but I am not able to activate Windows whatsoever. All I can do is reinstall Windows without Media Center, but then I will still not have what I legitimately paid for. So silly. No wonder why people just get these things illegally. MS makes paying so much more of a hassle.

 

[dodger46]

Pity you didn't mention the fact it was a retail Key before, I have another link for Retail Keys to d'load W8, and you can clean install it. Try the link to see if you can complete the d'load, who knows, perhaps it will include Windows Media...
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=262204

 

[Eggz]

Yeah, I already downloaded and reinstalled Windows 8.1. It just messed up when I put in the Media Center add-on key. That killed the whole installation - over a stupid $10 key. My computer manufacturer also just send me a new key for Windows 8.0. I'll try that today and see what happens. So annoying. If that one I got for free from my computer manufacturer works, I'll just return the one I bought and then buy a new Windows Media Center key in order to avoid more phone time with Microsoft.

 

[Eggz]

Got it working - FINALLY!!!

So, I got on the phone with MS after doing another installation without Windows Media Center (WMC) so that Windows would activate, which it did. The guy said y WMC key showed up fine in the system, but I wouldn't let him apply it because I knew it would deactivate Windows. He used another WMC key, which deactivated my Windows. That showed it wasn't a problem with my WMC key, as I suspected. He found out that there is a grade period on a machine to reapply a key, and that the grace period expired prior to solving the issue yesterday. He went into the server and extended my grace period to a future date so that the system would allow activation - BAM! Done. It was some magical voodoo with a hint of Indian-IT fairy dust.

 

[clutchc]

Congrats for the stick-to-itness. I've had to work with M$ agents in the past, myself. Most are more than willing to go the extra mile to get your OS activate and running if they know it is legal.

 

[Eggz]

Agreed, they were all very tenacious! The difficulty was just because of MS's policies, but their people were very good.