Can a Windows 8 Pro DVD be used to install Windows 8 non-pro on a fresh HDD?

Hi,

I am hoping somebody on this forum might be able to enlighten me on this.

I have heard that the difference between Win8 and Win 8 Pro is just in the license key that 'unlocks' more features. Basically both the DVDs are the same.

The reason is, my system came with Win 8, but I am planning to upgrade the HDD. This means that I will be doing a fresh install of the OS onto a new SSD. Issue is, I don't have a hard copy of the Windows 8, but am able to get a hold of a win 8 pro dvd.
The license key for my win8 is already embedded in my system Bios, so I would not have to activate it again. I am hoping that when I use the Windows 8 Pro dvd to install the OS, the OS will recognize the embedded non-pro key, and allow the regular WIndows to be installed but leave the pro features still locked.

SO, I am wondering if this was possible?

Thanks for any thoughts.

 

That was the case with Vista and 7, but I don't know if 8 follows suit. I do believe the disc has to be tied to the OEM key though, regardless of the edition; so if you were installing to a Dell/Alienware system, you probably won't be able to grab a system builder disc or other branded Windows 8 disc (like HP) and install it onto the system. It needs to be from the OEM.

 

hmm..thanks for your thoughts on this.

Guess the only way I can find out is to try it out. I read that for some windows 8 laptops, the OS license key is embedded into the Bios, and so I have read many people successfully downloading regular windows 8 Iso's and doing a fresh install onto new SSD HDD without the installation having to prompt for a license key. It seems to be an automatic activation when the OS install 'sees' the key in the Bios.

This is why I was wondering if a windows 8 Pro dvd could be used instead...

 

Not unless you have a Windows 8 Pro product key. The Product Keys are saved in the BIOS ROM now instead of being printed on a label on the bottom of the system. That makes each system have a specific product key tied to it. If Windows 8 was what came installed on the system, then that's the product key the BIOS will have saved. And no it will not activate Windows 8 Pro with that product key.

 

I realize that, but what many are saying is that if you try to install using windows 8 pro, on a system with only windows 8 non-pro key embedded in the Bios, than a user can successfully install windows 8 non-pro...just have the pro features still locked.

This is what I was originally asking. If it was possible to install windows 8 non-pro and get it activated automatically by non-pro key in the Bios when you try using a windows 8 Pro iso for the install.

 

Ah. Now I get your question. Data wise, a Windows 8 Pro DVD/ISO is nearly identical to a regular Windows 8 DVD/ISO. It's one file inside which tells the installer which version of the data to install (or at least that file was present with Windows 7). With Windows 8 OA 3.0, they may have made that process automated and removed the differentiating file altogether. So, yes. It's very possible a Windows 8 Pro DVD will install regular Windows 8 if that's the product key that the system's BIOS contains.

 

lol. I am glad you got my question. I think your theory is correct too.

 

The file name is ei.cfg and is still present in Windows 8 images.

 

So the question is does the installer ignore the channel and version settings in the ei.cfg file and install whichever version it verifys the product key for?