DELL Windows 8.1 vs Microsoft Windows 8.1

My laptop has a Windows 8 Pro license with it.

I have a DELL red colored Windows 8.1 DVD and I also have the latest 8.1.1 DVD ISO from Microsoft

now my question is, with Windows 7, the Alienware version actually had Alienware logos, wallpapers, etc, but this DELL Windows 8.1 DVD has 0 customizations, so what makes it different?

Are there any hidden things that DELL included or would one be better off simply using the Micro$haft latest ISO?

 

The dell version is likely not pro and will look for an OEM key in the bios.

 

True, when I entered the key built into my bios, rather that installing Pro, it just gave an error message that the key is invalid, what I had to do, I entered the Microsoft Default installation key for Windows 8.1 Pro then it immediately said on the screen in the EULA agreement "Windows 8.1 Pro" then when I was at the Windows desktop, I entered my real key for pro which I got from the bios and it activated online right away.

Was just making sure how come in Windows 8 Dell didn't make their Aliebware customizations like they did with 7

 

Probably because it's just Windows 8 and doesn't deserve the same high level of red carpet treatment as Windows 7 did.

 

It probably has the drivers built in

 

No, it is no different than the standard Micro$4ft installation. The only difference is that it sets the homepage to the DELL OEM Microsoft home page rather than the default MSN homepage! great! LOL

 

It probably also has the dell logo under system properties, where a microsoft iso wouldn't have any oem logo there. It's easy to fill in the oem information including the logo though.

For windows 7 I used alienware discs because of the oem customization, for 8 and newer, I just use the latest iso with update 1 regardless of any oem information. I just add the brand, model, and logo later.

 

nope, no OEM logo under system properties, there is 0 difference UI or customizations wise

 

Just think how much money they saved by not adding product branding to the OS installation disk.

 

That's weird. On my Windows 8 Pro DELL (red) dvd for my precision, when I reinstalled, it had at least the manufacturer set to Dell and the dell logo.

 

Maybe they figured Alienware customers are going to hate Windows 8 so much they will want to switch back to Windows 7, so why make a big production of it any more. Or, maybe the Precision customers are just more important to them than a bunch of crazy gamers and overclockers.

 

You can`t download Windows 8 ISO and use OEM keys on it.
With Windows 7 you could use OEM and RETAIL on the ISO.
Windows 8 only RETAIL keys works

 

Not true bro, Microsoft has made something called "Default Installation Keys" for Windows 8.1, when installing, if you try entering the real key which is in the BIOS of the laptop, it would say invalid product key, reason being, that key is for Windows 8 not 8.1

So.... you would simply use the default installation key for the edition you want..... for example, since my laptop has Windows 8 Pro, then I entered the Windows 8.1 PRO default installation key and then the installation proceeds.

Now when you are in the desktop, when trying to activate, simply enter the real key built into the BIOS and it would activate right away.

I've done that on 6 diff. laptops, 3 ASUS and 3 Alienware 18s in addition to every clients' laptop that I repair, ranging from ACER, SONY, etc.

 

I created a master iso which could install different versions as had trial mode enabled. It seemed the simplest way for my personal use. But I just have a retail key.

 

On a side note, I have to mention this:

When using the DELL Windows 8.1 DVD, it would ask for a key which means it didn't properly detect the Windows 8 Pro key in my BIOS probably because the DVD is 8.1 and the key is actually for Windows 8. So then I would HAVE to enter the default installation key for Windows 8.1 Pro then the installation will magically change from Windows 8.1 to Windows 8.1 PRO as I would se in the EULA Agreement.....

BUT.......I also downloaded the latest Windows 8.1 PRO ISO from Microsoft using their new Media Creation Tool, now when I burned the ISO to a DVD, this time during installation, it doesn't even ask for a key and installs Windows 8.1 PRO. Also when I am in Windows, I didn't even have to enter my real key, it grabbed it by itself from the BIOS and activated over the web.

 

then just ditch the dell disc

 

Interestingly enough, I have an Alienware Windows 7 ultimate disc which i've had since owning the Aurora and it didn't install the wallpapers or the custom Alienware login screen.

Strange...

 

Maybe there was an update they wanted to include but did not have time to customise the ISO, interesting.

 

Maybe, the disc is quite old, even before SP1, so maybe that's when Alienware through in their customization.

I totally forgot about it till I read this thread.

 

I have Windows 7 (original) and SP1 Ultimate x64 DVDs from Alienware and all of them have the customizations. How odd that yours didn't install the extra stuff.

You can do it manually. Here is a "kit" that is extracted from my OEM branded installation. [ LINK]

I'll have to test that tool. Thanks for the link. Do you know if it produces an ISO with UEFI/GPT support? I have needed to use Rufus for creating that type of media. I'm not thrilled about having to do that for 980M. I doubt I will get over being miffed that I can't use Windows 7 with 980M on my Alienware anytime soon.

Question bro: why all of the sudden interest in the Windows 8 feces? I thought you were a Windows 7 fan boy like me.

 

This is the one I have, and it does install all the Alienware stuff. even the setup start has Alienware all over the place, you know the initial setup before you choose clean install or upgrade or choose your partition...

 

1) It does give you the option to create the ISO on the fly onto a USB flash disc or create an ISO, since I stopped trusting RUFUS lately as it was buggy, I chose the safe play method (ie. burned the ISO onto a DVD and got done with it)

Alternatively, since it is able to create a bootable USB Flash disk, no need to use RUFUS

2) I've changed 2 laptops, one of them had a CPU change, and I get the CPU Cache Hierarchy error still every restrt in event viewer, so it's not my computer, it's something not playing nice with Haswell and Windows 7. Help me fix that, and I'm back to Windows 7 you know how much I despite 8 but I just want something that works you know bro...

3) On a positive note, this laptop didn't come with the crappy Windows 8.1 Single Language like the 2 others before, it came with Windows 8.1 PRO, so having Group Policy Editor is just 1% better towards the overall experience since now I can easily disable stuff like:

- Do not show new application installed notification popup
- Disable this computer from joining a Home Group, I use user accounts for my folder sharing so I hate that Home Group thing, with Windows 8.1 Single Language, I had to disable the service entirely which cripples the sharing sometimes. With 8.1 PRO, you can keep the service, but disable Home Group
- Disable the usage of CrapDrive for file storage
- Disable "Save documents by default to CrapDrive"

 

Yeah, that's really strange that you are having the CPU Cache Heirarchy error on every machine. I am thinking that it has to be something caused by Haswell. It's sad that nobody else responded when you asked for feedback on whether others were getting the same error.

Well, I am just about ready to pull the trigger on a couple of 980M GPUs so I will be stuck using Windows 8 unless svl7 can do his vBIOS magic and fix whatever NVIDIA broke with Legacy BIOS support. I am hoping he can so I can go back to using Windows 7 again. If not, maybe Alienware will release a new machine with 980M that has a vBIOS that is Windows 7 compatible. The extent to which the OEMs are cooperating with Micro$haft on this UEFI security bull crap is extremely disturbing to me. I wish they would tell them to cram it up their bottom side. These OEMs are all just a bunch of worthless eunuchs.

I cannot imagine using a crippled "Home" version of Windows without things like Group Policy Editor.

This tweak really helps with some of the goofy Windows 8 networking issues...

 

can you please elaborate more on that tweak bro? I didn't get it,

a) which one exactly? the one highlighted in grey?

b) what does it d0?

 

Yes, " Limit local account use of blank passwords to console logon only" set to disabled. Click on the "Explain" tab for the official Micro$lop mumbo-jumbo. Short version is that I prefer using blank passwords on everything on my home network and give access to "Everyone" account when sharing. Windows 8 does not like that kind of setup much and tries to insist on each machine having an account with matching names and passwords. My user name on everything is "Owner" with no password, (using local accounts, no Microsoft Accounts for Windows 8) but even so connecting Windows 7 machines to Windows 8 machines without using Home Groups (which I also hate) is inconsistent and unreliable. This tweak helps with those issues. You also need to disable Password Protected Sharing in the Network and Sharing Center.

 

I see, interesting, the reason I never needed this is, here's how I do it bro:

- As soon as I install Windows 8, when prompted to connect to a Network, I skip that, otherwise it would force me to use a Micro$4ft account
- So I create a local account named "BLA BLA BLA (you know my username) "
- First thing I would do, is launch gpedit.msc, and enable "prevent this computer from joining a Home Group", that way, 2 things happen:

a) you don't see the annoying HomeGroup icon in any open explorer Window
b) you get to keep the Home Group Provider service running but not have Home Group enabled, The Home Group Provider service is vital for the proper file sharing on other devices such as iToys (AKA iPads or iPhones) or BlackBerrys, etc

- Now the folders I want to share, are folders which don't contain personal info such as Software, Drivers, Wallpapers, Logos, Avatars (pics), Movies, Music, etc

I would right click on the folder, then click sharing, then before I hit the SHARE button, I would add the EVERYONE user group to it, then hit share. That way, no password or account is required.

The fugly thing about this is, if you format again, you would need to right click on any folder you previously shared, then go to the security tab, you would find an account with jiberrish names.....that was the last owner account that initiated this share on the previous install.

Not a big deal, just worth letting you know every tiny detail so you don't come hunting for me

 

Yeah, I really hate using a Micro$ucks account for Windows logon. I always skip that part during setup and use a local account as well. Sounds like I share folders the same way you do. I don't need to have that service running because I don't share files with my phones and don't own any iToys. (I have a corporate issued iPhone 5s that has solidified my personal opinion that crApple products are boring and unimpressive.) I only have to care about simple PC-to-PC network sharing.

I don't need to care about Modern Apps working, since I don't use them for anything (most are simply adware/bloatware garbage) so not using a Micro$ucks account and disabling UAC is inconsequential. It's disgusting how they are trying to force the Cloud connectivity crap down our throats with Windoze and Office products. I really hate having to look for the obscure links to avoid that trash when setting up the latest versions of Micro$hat software. In principle, it is just as bad as having to watch for the checkboxes on shareware to avoid installing extra garbage like browser toolbars and adware filth.