Need some help regarding Windows 8

[Mxhawthy]

I'm a student, and so I was able to get Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1 for free from Microsofts' Dreamspark (It's all legit, here's a link if you don't believe me: https://www.dreamspark.com/ )

At the time, I had windows Vista, and when I was granted access to the dreamspark program, I downloaded Windows 7 (windows 8 wasn't out then), put it onto a disc, and put the disc into my PC and upgraded with no problems.

However I am thinking about buying a new motherboard bundle, this: http://goo.gl/UFn1kS and then I am planning to build the rest of my brand new PC around this Motherboard bundle (PSU, case, graphics card, hard drive, etc.) This is the first time I am going to build my own PC

My main question is, I've heard people mention that you can upgrade your OS with another version of Windows, but you CAN'T use some versions of Windows as your first-time operating system on a computer. I don't know what's right and what's wrong, so could someone please tell me: Can I put windows 8 (downloaded from Dreamspark, put onto a disc) on my new computer that I'm planning to get, because It won't have an operating system on the motherboard.

P.S. I have heard the term 'OEM' mentioned a lot around operating systems, and after googling it, I still don't understand it, so please bare in mind when you're answering, that I have no idea what OEM means. All I know that it's a weird type of Windows.

Please help :/

 

[DavidBerger1]

First of all OEM means (Original Equipment Manufacturer), and second if you plan to upgrade your PC there shouldn't be any problem with that, if you leave the Hard Disk you have now you won't necessarily have to reinstall the OS (Operative System), but if you buy a new Hard Disk then you will have to install an OS (Operative System ex. Windows, Linux, Ubuntu...).

I'm not familiar with Microsoft's Dreamspark, but if they allow you to download Windows 8.1 then you will only have to burn it on a DVD or set an USB Memory with an NFTS (A partition system) partition to install it from there, this just in case you upgrade the Hard Disk.

In case all of this is way to complex for you, then only upgrade if necessary.

Also take into account that if you upgrade the Hardware, some of this new Hardware may require driver installation and it may not be compatible with Windows 8.1, you should consider this as well before proceeding with upgrades.

Good luck,
Best Regards,
David Berger.

 

[Mxhawthy]

First of all OEM means (Original Equipment Manufacturer), and second if you plan to upgrade your PC there shouldn't be any problem with that, if you leave the Hard Disk you have now you won't have to reinstall the OS (Operative System), but if you buy a new Hard Disk then you will have to install an OS (Operative System ex. Windows, Linux, Ubuntu...).

I'm not familiar with Microsoft's Dreamspark, but if they allow you to download Windows 8.1 then you will only have to burn it on a DVD or set an USB Memory with an NFTS (A partition system) partition to install it from there, this just in case you upgrade the Hard Disk.

In case all of this is way to complex for you, then only upgrade if necessary.

Also take into account that if you upgrade the Hardware, some of this new Hardware may require driver installation and it may not be compatible with Windows 8.1, you should consider this as well before proceeding with upgrades.

Good luck,
Best Regards,
David Berger.

Thank you very much for the detailed answer. Yes, Microsoft's instructions when you download Windows from Dreamspark, is that you burn it onto a disc and then place it in your PC to upgrade your operating system. But I heard that if you get a new motherboard, your PC loses all knowledge of the operating system you used to have on your computer, and therefore you have to get a new operating system. (this is what I have heard from people) But I'm not upgrading my hard drive, so if you're correct, then I should be fine.
Thanks again.

 

[DavidBerger1]

First of all OEM means (Original Equipment Manufacturer), and second if you plan to upgrade your PC there shouldn't be any problem with that, if you leave the Hard Disk you have now you won't have to reinstall the OS (Operative System), but if you buy a new Hard Disk then you will have to install an OS (Operative System ex. Windows, Linux, Ubuntu...).

I'm not familiar with Microsoft's Dreamspark, but if they allow you to download Windows 8.1 then you will only have to burn it on a DVD or set an USB Memory with an NFTS (A partition system) partition to install it from there, this just in case you upgrade the Hard Disk.

In case all of this is way to complex for you, then only upgrade if necessary.

Also take into account that if you upgrade the Hardware, some of this new Hardware may require driver installation and it may not be compatible with Windows 8.1, you should consider this as well before proceeding with upgrades.

Good luck,
Best Regards,
David Berger.

Thank you very much for the detailed answer. Yes, Microsoft's instructions when you download Windows from Dreamspark, is that you burn it onto a disc and then place it in your PC to upgrade your operating system. But I heard that if you get a new motherboard, your PC loses all knowledge of the operating system you used to have on your computer, and therefore you have to get a new operating system. (this is what I have heard from people) But I'm not upgrading my hard drive, so if you're correct, then I should be fine.
Thanks again.

Probably I wasn't clear enough, I will be clear as possible this time and go straight to the point, what you have been told about reinstalling the OS when changing the motherboard is in most part true, but in my experience I had replaced several motherboards and I didn't had to reinstall the OS, however there were other several Motherboards that I changed and I had a lot of problems, for example Windows became unstable and lots of Hardware Components were not being recognized.

What you need to understand about this is that when an OS like Windows installs for the first time it detects the Motherboard, the CPU, the RAM, the Graphic Card, the Hard Disk and many other important components and installs the specific drivers for them, when you change the Motherboard the OS detects a completely different type of Hardware and Components so if it has the drivers for them then they will be installed and in some of the best cases all works fine and in worst cases the OS won't even boot or the OS becomes unstable and you could have BSODs (Blue Screens of Death) due to Hardware incompatibility.


What do I recommend?

As we have no way to know how the Computer and the OS will react with a new Motherboard and that there is a high probability of system failure, you should better follow this steps:


1.- Check the minimum System Requirements for Windows 8.1 in here:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/system-requirements

make sure the new Hardware you buy meets the specifications.

2.- After buying the new Hardware and just before upgrading, backup all your data on your Hard Disk, you can rip or burn DVDs or use an external drive for this task.

3.- Follow Microsoft's Dreamspark instructions for successfully burning the OS on a DVD.

4.- Before upgrading the PC's Hardware make sure you have an Antistatic Wrist, this way you prevent the antistatic energy from your body to damage the Hardware components from the computer.

5.- Install the new Hardware, here is a guide that might help:

http://www.pcworld.com/article/200827/how_to_upgrade_your_motherboard_the_easy_way.html

6.- After the new Hardware is installed you can now proceed with the installation of the OS, here is a guide for it:

http://pcsupport.about.com/od/windows-8/ss/windows-8-clean-install-part-1.htm


Note: If you install the OS normally the content that was in your Hard Disk will be now under

C:\windows.old

Additionally before you install the OS there is an option to select the Hard Disk or Partition were it will be installed, you can also choose to Format the disk from there, this way you won't get the windows.old folder.


Good luck upgrading your PC,
Thanks for choosing my answer as best,
Best regards,
David Berger.

 

[Mxhawthy]

First of all OEM means (Original Equipment Manufacturer), and second if you plan to upgrade your PC there shouldn't be any problem with that, if you leave the Hard Disk you have now you won't have to reinstall the OS (Operative System), but if you buy a new Hard Disk then you will have to install an OS (Operative System ex. Windows, Linux, Ubuntu...).

I'm not familiar with Microsoft's Dreamspark, but if they allow you to download Windows 8.1 then you will only have to burn it on a DVD or set an USB Memory with an NFTS (A partition system) partition to install it from there, this just in case you upgrade the Hard Disk.

In case all of this is way to complex for you, then only upgrade if necessary.

Also take into account that if you upgrade the Hardware, some of this new Hardware may require driver installation and it may not be compatible with Windows 8.1, you should consider this as well before proceeding with upgrades.

Good luck,
Best Regards,
David Berger.

Thank you very much for the detailed answer. Yes, Microsoft's instructions when you download Windows from Dreamspark, is that you burn it onto a disc and then place it in your PC to upgrade your operating system. But I heard that if you get a new motherboard, your PC loses all knowledge of the operating system you used to have on your computer, and therefore you have to get a new operating system. (this is what I have heard from people) But I'm not upgrading my hard drive, so if you're correct, then I should be fine.
Thanks again.

Probably I wasn't clear enough, I will be clear as possible this time and go straight to the point, what you have been told about reinstalling the OS when changing the motherboard is in most part true, but in my experience I had replaced several motherboards and I didn't had to reinstall the OS, however there were other several Motherboards that I changed and I had a lot of problems, for example Windows became unstable and lots of Hardware Components were not being recognized.

What you need to understand about this is that when an OS like Windows installs for the first time it detects the Motherboard, the CPU, the RAM, the Graphic Card, the Hard Disk and many other important components and installs the specific drivers for them, when you change the Motherboard the OS detects a completely different type of Hardware and Components so if it has the drivers for them then they will be installed and in some of the best cases all works fine and in worst cases the OS won't even boot or the OS becomes unstable and you could have BSODs (Blue Screens of Death) due to Hardware incompatibility.


What do I recommend?

As we have no way to know how the Computer and the OS will react with a new Motherboard and that there is a high probability of system failure, you should better follow this steps:


1.- Check the minimum System Requirements for Windows 8.1 in here:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/system-requirements

make sure the new Hardware you buy meets the specifications.

2.- After buying the new Hardware and just before upgrading, backup all your data on your Hard Disk, you can rip or burn DVDs or use an external drive for this task.

3.- Follow Microsoft's Dreamspark instructions for successfully burning the OS on a DVD.

4.- Before upgrading the PC's Hardware make sure you have an Antistatic Wrist, this way you prevent the antistatic energy from your body to damage the Hardware components from the computer.

5.- Install the new Hardware, here is a guide that might help:

http://www.pcworld.com/article/200827/how_to_upgrade_your_motherboard_the_easy_way.html

6.- After the new Hardware is installed you can now proceed with the installation of the OS, here is a guide for it:

http://pcsupport.about.com/od/windows-8/ss/windows-8-clean-install-part-1.htm


Note: If you install the OS normally the content that was in your Hard Disk will be now under

C:\windows.old

Additionally before you install the OS there is an option to select the Hard Disk or Partition were it will be installed, you can also choose to Format the disk from there, this way you won't get the windows.old folder.


Good luck upgrading your PC,
Thanks for choosing my answer as best,
Best regards,
David Berger.

I really appreciate the help you have given me, thank you!