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Question

Windows 8 to Windows 8.1 Problem

Aug 24, 2013 8:26AM PDT

I bought a new Dell laptop earlier in the year with Windows 8. I didn't like Windows 8 at that time and re-installed my copy of Windows 7 Pro I had. Now I am trying Windows 8.1 Preview and have decided that when the Update comes out in October that I may want to go to Windows 8.1. My question is: Will I be able to update the Windows 8.1 Preview to Windows 8.1 Pro without any trouble? I want to keep Windows 7 running on another partition but have Windows 8.1 on another in a dual boot situation. If I re-formatted and overwrote Win 8 with Win 7 will I have to buy a new product key to activate it since the product key was embedded in the BIOS of Win 8?

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Let's look at the past for this one.
Aug 24, 2013 1:10PM PDT

If you look at the past, there has never been such an event without trouble. That's not new and all it means is we backup what we can't lose.

Why bother with 8.1 today? We have Classic Shell and the only advantage of being out front are arrows in your back?
Bob

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Answer
No you won't be able to
Aug 27, 2013 2:36AM PDT

the preview doesn't include alot of functionality that will be in the released version of 8.1. You have to do a full install that will even wipe out your data. 8.1 will be cost unless you have 8.0. Like I said you will probably be able to do an upgrade from Windows 7. The upgrade from 8.0 will be through the Windows store via a download and will be free.