Windows 8 Full Version Purchase and Download?

So MS has Windows 8 Pro upgrades available for $39.99 D/L only and $69.99 for the physical copy. They don't seem to be selling full versions, though. Since I just built a desktop (currently running Win 8 RC), I need a full copy of the OS, not an upgrade. Since MS's upgrader obviously has to have the full OS on it so you can upgrade from older versions, it's not an issue of them offering the media, but I can't find anywhere to purchase a full license. You'd think they'd be on that from day one for BootCampers and system builders, but maybe I'm expecting too much.

So, any way to buy a (hopefully discounted for early adopters) license for Windows 8 online? I'd much rather get it delivered digitally than have it shipped - since I live in China and retail copies aren't in any stores here yet (and English language licenses cost a ton here anyway), I'd be losing a lot of time getting a retail copy shipped. Even if I were in the States, I'd rather get it now than wait for shipping. Any ideas?

 

Look for Windows 8 (whatever version you want) system builder copy.

 

Yes and its $99.99 dvd or this $139.99 Windows 8 Professional System Builder DVD 64-Bit

Edit: $30 off coupon code "WIN8SYST"

 

Thanks for the tip on the system builder thing. I didn't know that MS had opened up the OEM version for anyone to buy and install - I thought I would have to prove to a retailer that I had bought all the parts for a computer before I could by an OEM version (which is what I've heard you had to do to buy previous Windows as OEM versions). That'll definitely save some cash.

I did a system builder copy search and searched a couple shopping sites as well - everything seems to be physical copies and/or upgrades. What I'm looking for is a seller who will email me a license and a link to download the installation media as an ISO. Since MS seems to be doing that for upgrades, I'm a little perplexed why I can't get the same offer for the full license. The best price for a physical copy seemed to by Frys - $85 for the full version of 8. A few sites (Dell Small Business, Best Buy...) said $69.99 for 8 Pro, and they were mixed in with the full licenses on the shopping sites, but that's the upgrade price MS is offering, so I think they just left that information off their store pages.

 

I was wondering if there was any update to this?
I am trying to install a full version of Windows 8 through bootcamp on my MacBook Air, yet I can only find the upgrade versions for purchase.
Since I have never had Windows installed through Bootcamp before I have to install the full version. Any help is definitely appreciated.

 

I've read in a few places that you might be able to use the $40 upgrade to go from the Release Preview to the full version without owning a full XP, Vista, or 7 license. When I get home tonight (in 8 hours) I'll run the upgrade assistant on my newly-built PC to see if this is the case. If so, score!

 

Is there any update on this?

 

I never found a full version for download, but I was able to confirm that you can upgrade from the Release Preview for $40.

 

That System Builder thing was started when Vista came out. Naturally they are physical copies, since you are supposed to slap the physical sticker on the computer and provide installation media for the customer who you are selling the newly built computer to.

Be extra careful with those random sites selling keys with download links. I've never seen a legit seller do that cheap (just a little bit less than official retail prices). Remember those 5-10USD Win7 licenses that eventually were just MSDN licenses and got burned batch by batch when sellers got busted. Oh well, don't pay retail price for MSDN key either... it won't work any better

 

Problem is I don't have the Release Preview.
Any way to get it from Microsoft's site still?

 

You can use the $40 thing on a system without any OS. Paul from newegg made a video about it on his channel.

 

Do you happen to have the URL?

 

How to Clean Install Windows 8 Upgrade Retail Versions - YouTube

He doesn't say you can, but as clearly shown from the steps, nothing relies on your previous install.

 

While installing upgrade on empty machine is technically possible, you are supposed to own a previous license that entitles to use that upgrade.

 

Well that's the thing, I got it installed via bootcamp on my Macbook Air no problem, but it eventually just kept asking for the key, and when entered it says that it couldn't validate because Windows wasn't previously installed on my Macbook Air.

 

I'm not sure how Bootcamp works exactly, but you can see clearly in the video he reformats his hard drive and deletes the old system partition, so I don't see how it would know there was Windows there or not. I kind of assume most people own at least one copy of Windows somewhere, so I'd have no moral qualms about using this on any machine.