Windows 8.

vanthus

vanthus

Member Resting in Peace
Can anyone tell me if it's possible to buy a windows 8 standard edition or windows 8 pro DVD and install it on my PC to run in dual boot with windows 7.
I've searched the net but can only find windows 8 pro DVD available in the USA,all options in the UK appear to be upgrades only,thing is I want to keep windows 7 on my PC as it is.
Hope this makes sense,any help much appreciated.
 
vanthus

vanthus

Member Resting in Peace
No one?There's obviously OEM versions available with new computers,so I don't understand how I can't find anywhere to buy a retail version of windows 8,as opposed to an upgrade version.
 
mishra

mishra

Rising Star
Welcome to the world of Microsoft licensing! Even if you want to go legal route, they will bury you alive with their Terms and Conditions, bazillions different versions of software, on different Service Packs, yadi yada...

In short if you can buy OEM Windows 8 Pro, just do it and install it as it would be Retail copy.

If still in doubt, check this article, it explains bits and bobs of happy times with Windows licensing: http://mashable.com/2012/10/26/how-to-get-windows-8-now/
 
S

ShadowBlaze

Bronze Level Poster
vanthus said:
No one?There's obviously OEM versions available with new computers,so I don't understand how I can't find anywhere to buy a retail version of windows 8,as opposed to an upgrade version.
Click to expand...

Hello vanthus, i have found this on ebay, now it says it's not the upgrade version but the full version of windows 8 and you do not require a previous version of Windows to install and you can do a fresh install of it, not sure if it's the one you're looking for:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Brand-New...ting_Software_Software_SR&hash=item3a7c8b2a5c

I have found another one i think this is the basic one:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Windows-8...ting_Software_Software_SR&hash=item337e58dfd0
 
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M

mdwh

Enthusiast
A quick Google suggests that they're no longer offering the "Full Retail" version, but there is now a "System Builder" version available for people building their own systems. Wikipedia says ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_8 ):

"the "Full" and "OEM" SKUs of Windows (which can be installed on a computer with no existing operating system) have been replaced by a single "System Builder" SKU, intended to be used by original equipment manufacturers and hobbyists building their own systems.[103][104]"

More at http://www.pcworld.com/article/2010...lder-will-replace-full-version-at-retail.html and http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2278325 .

So I guess look for the "System Builder" version.
 
vanthus

vanthus

Member Resting in Peace
Yeah,I'm only interested in doing it legally mishra,so buying an OEM version is a no no.
Thanks for the links ShadowBlaze,that looks to be exactly what I'm looking for,but I'm not sure it's a retail version and not really keen on buying it on ebay.
Your info,mdwh,seems to confirm what I suspected.A retail version just doesn't seem to be available really in the UK from any reliable source,what the hecks that all about.
Thanks for the replies,big reppies to all. :)
 
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baron75mk2

baron75mk2

Banned
Just download a retail copy & BUY a legit key from microsoft , they dont care where you get the os from as long as you pay for the key legitimately :)

Edit : , this may not work being that they dont sell full retail copies of windows 8 in the uk it seems -
will they sell the keys for the full version in the uk ? , couldnt really say.

How silly is this , not being able to ligitimately purchase a full copy of win 8 ? , there are lots of reasons to need it , dual booting being one of them (ever tried doing a dual boot with recovery disks or upgrade disks - NIGHTMARE)

Just another reason for me to avoid windows 8 like the plague.
 
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M

mdwh

Enthusiast
Your info,mdwh,seems to confirm what I suspected.A retail version just doesn't seem to be available really in the UK from any reliable source,what the hecks that all about.
Click to expand...

That's not quite how I read it - it's not that it's no longer available, it's that it's called something different, i.e., renamed to "System Builder". Or is there evidence that this will no longer do something, that could be done with the Full version of Windows 7?
 
mishra

mishra

Rising Star
vanthus said:
Yeah,I'm only interested in doing it legally mishra,so buying an OEM version is a no no.
Click to expand...

What kind of licence is used by PCspecialist or PCworld, or any other computer re seller? If they use OEM, and your motherboard fails or you want to upgrade it means you should throw away your current licence and buy a new one, right? Following this lead... OEM is designed for a system builder... well if I build my own PC's does that not mean I can or cannot use OEM licence? I don't understand it tbh
 
steaky360

steaky360

Moderator
Moderator
mishra said:
What kind of licence is used by PCspecialist or PCworld, or any other computer re seller? If they use OEM, and your motherboard fails or you want to upgrade it means you should throw away your current licence and buy a new one, right? Following this lead... OEM is designed for a system builder... well if I build my own PC's does that not mean I can or cannot use OEM licence? I don't understand it tbh
Click to expand...

If you are building a PC for your personal use or installing an additional operating system in a virtual machine, you can now purchase OEM System Builder software using the Personal Use License.
Click to expand...

Source: http://www.microsoft.com/oem/en/licensing/sblicensing/Pages/personal-use-license.aspx

Seems to me like you can if you are building your own PC but not for upgrading.
 
LiddleP

LiddleP

Bronze Level Poster
vanthus said:
Yeah,I'm only interested in doing it legally mishra,so buying an OEM version is a no no.
Thanks for the links ShadowBlaze,that looks to be exactly what I'm looking for,but I'm not sure it's a retail version and not really keen on buying it on ebay.
Your info,mdwh,seems to confirm what I suspected.A retail version just doesn't seem to be available really in the UK from any reliable source,what the hecks that all about.
Thanks for the replies,big reppies to all. :)
Click to expand...

Well, if getting an OEM copy from a legitimate source will better satisfy your needs try -> http://www.misco.co.uk/product/191840/Microsoft-Windows-8-OEM-1PC-32bit or http://www.misco.co.uk/product/191841/Microsoft-Windows-Pro-8-OEM-1PC-64Bit

... hope it helps
 
LiddleP

LiddleP

Bronze Level Poster
Yup, thanks for trying to clarify, I did realise that, only posted because one the reasons he gave was of not being keen to buy from Ebay, which understandably could be a rather dubious purchase.

At the end of the day, as far as legality is concerned and afaik - he is properly licensed if the certificate of Authenticity is stuck to his computer and he has the original cd to back it up.

Should Microsoft deem it necessary to check him out I sincerely doubt there would be any issues, at worst it would simply look like he purchased the computer from the company that he buys the OEM copy, if legitimately sourced - well, as legitimately sourced as possible in this case.

But I understand the problem, Dual Boot, in which case he needs to try purchase OEM copy from the company that supplied his computer.
 
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