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    Clean Install Win 8.1 on an Acer?

    Discussion in 'Acer' started by HTWingNut, Jul 23, 2015.

  1. HTWingNut

    HTWingNut Potato

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    Is there a way to clean install Windows 8.1 on an Acer? I extracted the key, but when I go to install Windows 8.1 it asks for a key (which is emedded in BIOS) and when I enter it, it says it can find no such key.

    I don't want all the bloat, I just want a clean install myself. Any suggestions?
     
    HTWingNut, Jul 23, 2015
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  2. HTWingNut

    HTWingNut Potato

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    Nevermind me... just had to use a generic Windows 8.1 OEM key and then install with that, and then plug in OEM key once in Windows to activate.
     
    HTWingNut, Jul 23, 2015
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  3. Mr. Fox

    Mr. Fox BGA Filth-Hating Elitist

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    I've never understood that idiotic way of doing things, but that is the only way I have ever been able to install Windows 8/8.1... using a generic key and changing it to a valid key later. I don't know why a legit product key never works for installation. Glad you got it sorted.
     
    Mr. Fox, Jul 23, 2015
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  4. HTWingNut

    HTWingNut Potato

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    Yeah, dumb. But I guess they're smarter than me. I only plugged in the generic key. When I went to plug in the actual key it said it is not valid for this version of Windows. I've done this before and never had this issue. Gah.
     
    HTWingNut, Jul 24, 2015
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  5. baii

    baii Sone

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    backup the token to be safe, not the key.

    Sent from my 306SH
     
    baii, Jul 24, 2015
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  6. HTWingNut

    HTWingNut Potato

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    Ah, I think I found the solution.

    Create an EI.cfg file in the sources folder.

    [EditionID]
    Core
    [Channel]
    OEM
    [VL]
    0

    And it didn't ask for a key upon installation, it must have drawn it from the BIOS just fine. Will see if it activates OK. Installing now.
     
    HTWingNut, Jul 24, 2015
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  7. HTWingNut

    HTWingNut Potato

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    Nevermind, it's Windows 8.1 with Bing.... I saw an ISO for that somewhere.
     
    HTWingNut, Jul 24, 2015
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  8. Mr. Fox

    Mr. Fox BGA Filth-Hating Elitist

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    Well, shoot... good try anyway.
     
    Mr. Fox, Jul 24, 2015
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  9. HTWingNut

    HTWingNut Potato

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    HTWingNut, Jul 24, 2015
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  10. baii

    baii Sone

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    Yea, windows with bing is silly, the image is not publicly available.
     
    baii, Jul 25, 2015
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  11. Nemix77

    Nemix77 Notebook Deity

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    Acer laptops are usually easier to clean re-install Windows at least when it comes to driver hunting since Acer rarely uses proprietary drivers for their laptops.

    So in theory all Acer laptops running Windows 7/8/8.1 should have an easy process upgrading to Windows 10 just as long as the OEM drivers for the hardware components of the laptop is made available and compatible with Windows 10.
     
    Nemix77, Jul 29, 2015
    #11