{"id":5942,"date":"2020-07-31T12:32:09","date_gmt":"2020-07-31T12:32:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aviancetechnologies.com\/blog\/blog\/how-to-download-and-install-windows-8-1-for-free-updated\/"},"modified":"2020-07-31T12:32:09","modified_gmt":"2020-07-31T12:32:09","slug":"how-to-download-and-install-windows-8-1-for-free-updated","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aviancetechnologies.com\/blog\/how-to-download-and-install-windows-8-1-for-free-updated\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Download and Install Windows 8.1 for Free (Updated)"},"content":{"rendered":"

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How to Download and Install Windows 8.1 for Free (Updated)<\/h2>\n

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Update 7\/31\/2020:\u00a0 <\/strong>Windows 8.1 is long outdated, but technically supported through 2023. If you need to download an ISO to reinstall the full version of the operating system, you can download one from Microsoft here.<\/p>\n

If you are still using Microsoft Windows 8.1, we recommend you at least begin considering what OS you will use in the future. It\u2019s mid-2020 and Win 8.1 will shuffle off the mortal coil in January 2023. You can still\u00a0<\/em>qualify for a free upgrade to Windows 10 if you own a valid Windows 8.1 license, despite the fact that Microsoft formally ended its upgrade program five years ago. Additionally, Windows 10 has the same system requirements as Windows 8.1, so if you can run the latter, you can also run the former.<\/p>\n

If you are somehow still stuck on Windows 8.0 and do not want to go to the hassle of a full OS swap, we recommend running Windows Update immediately and downloading all available patches for your system, including the Windows 8.1 update, which will likely be offered to you by default. If you want to download just the Windows 8.1 update files, you can do so here.<\/p>\n

Original story below, from 2013:<\/p>\n

Windows 8.1 has been released. If you\u2019re using Windows 8, upgrading to Windows 8.1 is both easy and free. If you\u2019re using another operating system (Windows 7, Windows XP, OS X), you can either buy a boxed version ($120 for normal, $200 for Windows 8.1 Pro), or opt for one of the free methods listed below. To download and install Windows 8.1 for free, follow the guide below.<\/p>\n

How to download Windows 8.1 for free<\/h3>\n

\"WindowsIf you don\u2019t want to wait for October 17 or 18, there are two options for downloading Windows 8.1: You can obtain a copy (and a license key) from a friend\/colleague with an MSDN, TechNet, or DreamSpark (student) subscription, or you can download a Windows 8.1 RTM ISO from your favorite file-sharing website (The Pirate Bay, Mega, etc.)<\/p>\n

While we\u2019re not going to write a guide on how to obtain Windows 8.1 RTM from non-official sources, we will at least tell you to check the SHA-1 hash of the ISO that you download to make sure that it\u2019s legitimate. If you hit up the MSDN Subscriber Downloads page, and then click Details under the version that you\u2019ve obtained from elsewhere, you\u2019ll find the SHA-1 hash. If you then use File Checksum Integrity Verifier (FCIV) on the ISO, the hash should match. If it doesn\u2019t, assume the ISO has been compromised and download another. (But do make sure that you\u2019re checking the right SHA-1 hash on the MSDN website; your ISO might be mislabeled).<\/p>\n

The other easier, and completely legal, option is to download the Windows 8.1 Preview from Microsoft. It\u2019s not as snappy as the final (RTM\/GA) build, though, and has quite a few bugs\/missing features. Bear in mind that if you go down this road, upgrading to a real version of Windows 8.1 will require a few more steps (discussed in the next section).<\/p>\n

How to install Windows 8.1 for free<\/h3>\n

Once you have the Windows 8.1 ISO on your hard drive, the installation process is painless. Before you begin, you should consider backing up your important files and documents, but it\u2019s not really necessary. You should also ensure that you have plenty of free hard drive space (20GB+).<\/p>\n

\"WindowsIf you\u2019re already running Windows 8 and you downloaded the RTM ISO from somewhere other than the Windows Store, you can install Windows 8.1 by mounting the downloaded ISO in Explorer by double-clicking it, and then running the installer. If you\u2019re on Windows 7, XP, or (bless your soul) Vista, you\u2019ll need to burn the ISO to a USB thumb drive or DVD, or mount the ISO using a third-party virtual drive tool, like Magic ISO.<\/p>\n

If you already have Windows 8, and you waited for the official release date, installing Windows 8.1 is as simple as visiting the Windows Store and downloading the free update.<\/p>\n

In both these cases, the upgrade process should be very smooth, with your apps and settings fully preserved. If you upgrade from Windows 8.1 Preview, however, you will lose your installed apps, unless you first run a cversion.ini removal utility.<\/p>\n

Once you\u2019ve installed Windows 8.1, you should check out our extensive collection of Windows 8.1 tips and tricks, and be sure to check our Windows 8.1 review and hands-on impressions to ensure that you\u2019re making the most of all the new features.<\/p>\n

Now Read<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

Sebastian Anthony<\/a> wrote the original version of this article. It has since been updated with new information.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n