Since Windows 8.1 is called an update for Windows 8, its obvious that Windows 8 product key should work for Windows 8.1 too but that’s not true! When Windows 8.1 was under development, it was said that Windows 8.1 will accept Windows 8 product keys and Windows 8 users will be able to install Windows 8.1 using the same Windows 8 product key.
Now Windows 8.1 RTM has been released and people can download Windows 8.1 ISO files for clean installation as described here but when they try to install Windows 8.1 and it asks to enter a valid product key, the entered Windows 8 product key doesn’t work.
Is it possible to activate Windows 8 with a generic key?
^^ Upgrading from Store will always work as its official method but installing Windows 8.1 using generic key and then activating using Windows 8 key also works. I have checked it many times.
Will windows 8 drivers work on 8.1?
It is highly unlikely that the W8 AMD graphics driver will work on W8.1. Normally you can use some of the W7/W8 drivers on W8.1, but the graphics is highly doubtful–not the switchable graphics anyway. You may want to run the windows 8.1 upgrade assistant and see what it reports.
Windows 8.1 may have some newer drivers inbuilt however. Some Windows 8.1 drivers can be taken from newer Latitudes or directly from vendors such as Intel.
Another common query is “Can I install Windows 7 drivers on a Windows 8 laptop?”.
Installing Windows 7 drivers on Windows 8.1 will break the performance of your PC. Even more problems arise with the display and performance. HP do support Windows 8.1 unless your laptop is older than 4 years. However, you can find drivers for Windows 8.1. Just Google it.
Is Windows 8 1 free to upgrade?
Almost all of us know that Windows 8.1 is an update for Windows 8 operating system and Windows 8 users can upgrade to Windows 8.1 absolutely free through Windows Store. Other Windows version users need to buy a license of Windows 8.1.
Will Windows 8 drivers work on Windows 10?
So if a driver… …it might function. Those are many IFs. Will all drivers for windows 8.1 work on windows 10? With almost complete certainty, NO, not all.
Another thing we wondered was; can I Use my Windows 8 printer in Windows 10?
If no Windows 8.1 driver is available for a component, use the Windows 8 or Windows 7 driver. Note: Not every printer has Windows 10 or even Windows 8 or 8.1 drivers, some only have older Windows drivers, these may still allow you to use your printer in Windows 10 using compatibility mode.