How to Download Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 ISO files legally

Last updated on February 28th, 2018

Nowadays many manufacturers don’t include a copy of Windows 8 or Windows 8.1. OS installation DVD with their systems, so it’s impossible to perform a clean install or troubleshoot your computer if you want to. Microsoft on the other hand doesn’t offer a download of Windows 8 in an ISO file, as she did before, but gives you the opportunity to download a Windows 8 or 8.1 copy ONLY if you have a valid product key at your disposal. In the case that you don’t have a valid Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 product key, then you have the opportunity to buy Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 from the official Microsoft Online store.

This tutorial is written for users that already have Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 legally on their systems and they want to download a Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 copy in a ISO file in order to perform a clean installation of the operating system using a USB or DVD disk.

How to download Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 in a ISO image file (legally & Official)

In order to download Windows 8 or 8.1 ISO files legally, follow one of the options below according to your situation:

– Option 1: If you own a valid Windows 8.x (8 or 8.1) product key. (OLD METHOD: Requires a product key to download Windows 8)

– Option 2: If you do not own a valid product key or you have bought a Windows 8.1 pre installed computer. {Doesn't require a product key to download Windows 8).
—- UPDATED 2/12/2014 : The 'Windows 8.1.iso' file includes latest Windows 8.1 UPDATE 1 & Works for ALL editions of Windows 8 (8 or 8.1 , N, PRO, etc.) OEM or RETAIL Versions —

Option 1: If you own a valid Windows 8.x (8 or 8.1) product key.

Using this method you must have a valid product key to download the Windows 8 (or 8.1) ISO file.

• How to find Windows 10,  8, 7, Vista & XP product key.

How to download Windows 8.x using your product key:

1. Navigate to Microsoft’s official Windows 8 & 8.1 upgrade download site  and click at the “Install Windows 8.1” or “Install Windows 8” according to the Windows 8 version and product key you own.

2. When prompted, choose to run the “Windows8-Setup.exe” file.

3. Type your Windows product key in the product key box and click Next.

4. Choose the “Install by creating media” option and click Next.

5. Choose the “ISO file” option and choose “Save”.

When the download is completed then you can burn the ISO file to a USB or a DVD disk and then you can use it to install Windows. To create a bootable USB or DVD disk media using the ISO file you download follow the instructions from these articles:

– How to burn (create) a DVD or CD from an ISO image file.
– How to create a Bootable Windows 8.x (8 or 8.1) USB Disk from ISO file.

Option 2: If you do not own a valid product key or you have bought a Windows 8.1 pre installed computer:

Using this method you DON'T NEED a product key to download the Windows 8.1 ISO file.

Additional notes (Read before download & Installation):

– The Windows 8.1.iso downloaded file is the latest version of Windows 8.1 and includes the latest update of Windows 8.1 (Windows 8.1 with UPDATE 1).

– Installation, (using the downloaded 'Windows 8.1.iso' file) , accepts both Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 product keys.

– The Windows8.1.iso (created using this method), works perfectly with any product key you have purchased or with the embedded BIOS product key in all versions of Windows 8:

• Windows 8.0  (Home)
• Windows 8.0 Pro
• Windows 8.1
• Windows 8.1 Pro
• Windows 8.1 N
• Windows 8.1 Pro N
• Windows 8.1 Single Language

– To Install Windows 8 you can download the corresponding Windows 8.1 version and then install Windows 8 using the Windows 8 product key you own. (e.g. if you own Windows 8 Pro, then choose & download the Windows 8.1 Pro edition & use your Windows 8 Pro product key to install & activate Windows). How to find Windows 8, 7, Vista & XP product key.

– For installation a product key is required. Use your own product key or use one of the following generic keys (use them only for installation):

—–    WINDOWS 8 & WINDOWS 8.1 GENERIC KEYS ——–

• Windows 8.0 or 8.1: 334NH-RXG76-64THK-C7CKG-D3VPT
• Windows 8.0 N or 8.1 N: 6NPQ8-PK64X-W4WMM-MF84V-RGB89
• Windows 8.0 Professional or Windows 8.1 Professional: XHQ8N-C3MCJ-RQXB6-WCHYG-C9WKB
• Windows 8.0 Professional N  or Windows 8.1 Professional N: JRBBN-4Q997-H4RM2-H3B7W-Q68KC
• Windows 8.0 Single Language or Windows 8.1 Single Language: Y9NXP-XT8MV-PT9TG-97CT3-9D6TC

– After installation you have to use your own product key to activate Windows. To do that:

1. Right-Click at My Computer & select Properties.
2. Select Change Product Key (or Activate Windows) and enter the product key you own.

— Alternate method to change your product key after install —
1. Press Win + R keys.
2. At Run box type changepk & press Enter.
3. Type your product key,

– If you bought a Windows 8.1 computer on which the OS was pre-installed from the computer manufacturer then use the get_win8key open script tool to retrieve the Windows 8.x product key from BIOS. Write down the retrieved key for backup reasons or activation problems.

– If Windows 8 or 8.1 product is embedded in BIOS, then Windows should self-activate after installation without prompting for your key.

How to download Windows 8.x without a product key:

1. Navigate to Windows 8.1 ISO Download site & choose Create Media.

2. Run the "mediacreationtool.exe".

3. Choose your desired Language, the Windows 8.1 Edition and Architecture that your own license for & then press Next.

4. Choose the "ISO file" option and press Next.

5. Finally choose the destination where the ISO file will be saved & press Save.

When the download is completed then you can burn the ISO file to a USB or a DVD disk and then you can use it to install Windows. To create a bootable USB or DVD disk media using the ISO file you download follow the instructions from these articles:

– How to burn (create) a DVD or CD from an ISO image file.
– How to create a Bootable Windows 8.x (8 or 8.1) USB Disk from ISO file.

Additional info:
– To be able to boot from the USB or DVD device you must enter your BIOS settings, and change the boot order. To do that:

(With the Windows 8 USB or DVD bootable disk already inserted).

1. Enter the BIOS settings by pressing "DEL" or "F1" or "F2" or "F10". (The way to enter into BIOS Settings depends on the computer manufacturer.)
2. Inside Bios menu, find "Boot Order" setting. This setting is commonly found inside "Advanced BIOS Features" menu.

3a. Navigate to “First Boot Device” option press “Enter”.

3b. Navigate with your keyboard arrows to select “USB-HDD” or the DVD device as “First Boot Device” and then press “Enter”.

4. Press “ESC” to return to the BIOS main menu & select “Save and Exit Setup” to save your selections and exit from BIOS CMOS Setup Utility.

5. Continue with Windows installation.

That's it!

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