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Create Windows 8 USB Bootable Pendrive For UEFI Boot

Earlier, with my old laptop in use and legacy BIOS, it was a piece of cake to format Windows using any kind of preferred media. I was never aware of this UEFI Boot Mode (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) until I upgraded to Alienware 14x. Nowadays, most of the new laptop comes bundled with Windows 8 OEM but there are times when you might prefer a clean installation rather than a recovery.
Why Choose UEFI boot mode? UEFI boot is faster than the conventional BIOS boot. The problem with UEFI boot is that it will not detect your pendrive when created by Win7 USB/DVD Tool or any other tool. This is because UEFI boot only recognizes FAT 32 and will not show up NTFS Partitions during boot selection. USB boot creation tools will format the Pendrive in NTFS before loading Windows 8 Files on it.

• Do Not try to perform clean install if you are not sure of what you are doing. For a basic user it’s really better to have the recovery partition. If you do not have an original Windows 8 Clean Installation Serial Key then do not remove Windows 8 OEM.  

Coming back to the topic, I decided to clean install Windows 8 with custom partition sizes and extract each Megabyte of space in recovery drives. Also, I wanted to dual boot Ubuntu using UEFI boot. So in this post I will Start with my experience, how did I proceed and what problems were faced. These tutorials will be given in parts and in proper sequence of the way I performed the tasks. And they are:

1. Create Windows 8 USB Bootable Pendrive for UEFI Boot.
2. Solve Windows 8 Clean Installation Product Key Do Not Match Problem.
3. Error 0xC004C008: Cannot Activate Windows 8 Using Already Owned Serial Key on new PC.
4. Dual Boot Windows 8 With Ubuntu 12.10 in UEFI Boot Mode.

So in this post, we will be focusing on creating UEFI USB Windows 8 bootable Pendrive. This is particularly helpful for people already using Windows 8 via update or Clean Installation with old BIOS ( legacy BIOS) but it was not the OEM version.
Once you are ready with the Pendrive (4GB atleast) and Installation ISO, jack it in and follow the given instructions. If you have an installation disk, then it can be used directly instead of ISO. Open Command Prompt and type:

• diskpart.exe – This command will open diskpart in another CMD Window. Below commands will be typed in diskpart window.
• list disk – With this Command you can view the list of storage devices. Select the pendrive, be careful!
• select disk 1 – With this command you are selecting the your Pendrive. In my case its 1 but it may vary if you have more than one internal storage disks or several pendrives jacked in.
• clean – Clean the selected partition.
• create partition primary – Set the partition as primary.
• select partition 1 – Select partition. Number depends on your disk usage.
• active – Make the disk active.
• format quick fs=fat32 – Format pendrive in fat 32.
• assign – It will automatically assign a letter to drive. Check the drive letter. In my case it was I.
• exit - This will the exit diskpart window.

Now that the pendrive is prepared, mount the ISO file. If you are already using Windows 8 then just right click on ISO image and directly mount it. You can use any mounting software for this purpose. Just notice the Mount Drive letter. In my case it was F. Now in CMD type:

• xcopy F:\* I:\ /s /e

This command copies all contents of the ISO file to USB pendrive. Instead of using command prompt you can use 7 zip and extract the ISO file directly to the Pendrive. Now you are ready with UEFI bootable Windows 8 pendrive. Before you can start the process, Go to BIOS and disable Secure Boot. Reboot saving the changes and on next start up bring up the Boot media Selection menu. Now you will see the boot USB option under UEFI. Select it.
So this sums up tutorial 1. In the next tutorial, we will see how to Solve Windows 8 Clean Installation Product Key Do Not Match Problem. Key mismatch problem will be faced only by users with OEM Windows 8.

Solve Windows 8 Clean Installation Product Key Do Not Match Problem

In my previous post, I wrote about how to make a Windows 8 installation pendrive bootable in UEFI mode. Now, if you were on an old laptop with UEFI boot which did not came pre-installed with Windows 8 OEM then you are good to go. But if your system came pre-installed with Windows 8 OEM then you will be facing loads of trouble. Well, its not that of a mountain of troubles. Its just that people like me, who bought new laptops are not familiar with the new things that have been introduced. 

They may be called as new features or even logical restrictions from my point of view. OK, as a very basic home/office user I may be happy to use my laptop without making any sort of changes to it. Changes are with respect to hard disk partition, clean installation, dual booting with Linux etc. So whats the rescue when we fall in trouble? What if I need my custom partitions on hard disk and hate to see the recovery drive taking up almost 10 GB of my valuable hard disk space. The only answer that I could figure out was to play with all possible settings in BIOS and UEFI mode and keep trying.

• Please DO NOT remove pre-installed Windows 8 OEM if you don’t have a genuine Windows 8 Serial Key separately. 

My ultimate aim was to dual boot Ubuntu 12.10. For the same purpose I had to perform a clean installation as Ubuntu was not appearing anywhere with Windows boot option. So, I needed a clean installation of Windows 8 with Secure boot disabled.
The experiences I gained after wondering on several forums and trying various methods myself will be presented in form of different tutorials as given below. There may be other optimized solutions but these steps are tested by me and they work.

1. Create Windows 8 USB Bootable Pendrive for UEFI Boot.
2. Solve Windows 8 Clean Installation Product Key Do Not Match Problem.
3. Error 0xC004C008: Cannot Activate Windows 8 Using Already Owned Serial Key on new PC.
4. Dual Boot Windows 8 With Ubuntu 12.10 in UEFI Boot Mode.

Tutorial 1 is good enough for people installing Windows 8 in UEFI separately (no pre-installed Windows 8). People with Windows 8 OEM will face a irritating error if they just make a Windows 8 UEFI bootable using Tutorial 1 and boot computer directly with it. The error is:

• ” The product key entered does not match any of the Windows images available for installation. Enter a different product key ”

This error will just appear before you can even type your actual genuine Windows 8 serial key. there is no other option left other than cancelling the Installation. This error will occur in all new systems coming with pre-installed Windows 8. It does not matter at all whether you are booting from Legacy BIOS or UEFI.

Reason behind Windows 8 product key entered does not match error?

The reason is pretty simple. The serial key to the Pre-installed Windows 8 OEM is integrated within the BIOS. So whenever you are trying to clean install Windows 8, it will automatically seek the serial key in BIOS. Now, you have a retail Windows 8 copy and the serial key stored is for Windows 8 OEM. Hence the serial key Mismatch error.

Solve Windows 8 Clean Installation Product Key Do Not Match Problem

Solution to this problem is very simple. If you are booting in Legacy boot then you can use Win7 USB/DVD Tool else for UEFI boot use the steps in Tutorial 1. In either was you are getting a bootable Windows 8 pendrive. the only difference between them is that, one is in NTFS other one is in FAT 32.
What we need to do
We need to integrate our serial key within the Windows 8 Installation Itself. So that there is no need for checking the BIOS for serial key. Lets see how to do it.

• Create a text file named PID.
• Open it and enter the values as shown in figure below.

• Here you need to replace the xxxx with your own serial key.
• save the file and copy it to F:\sources. Where F is my bootable Windows 8 Pendrive.

The next time when you boot using the Pendrive, you will be able to perform clean installation of Windows 8. In the next tutorial I will be covering Error 0xC004C008 faced while activating Windows 8.

 

Cannot Activate Windows 8 Using Already Owned Legal Serial Key on New PC

If you have clean Installed Windows 8 on a new PC then activation might be a troublesome job. This case arises for two reasons when you are trying to activate Windows 8 on a new PC, using a key that you already used on other PC earlier. Another event when its likely to get an error is during applying an upgrade key to a fresh Windows 8 installation. Now, lets see in details what are these errors. How to identify and make an approach to solve them.
This post is the 3rd major problem that I faced after Installing Windows 8. Below is the sequence of events that I faced while Clean Installing Windows 8 on new PC which was pre-installed with Windows 8 OEM.

1. Create Windows 8 USB Bootable Pendrive for UEFI Boot.
2. Solve Windows 8 Clean Installation Product Key Do Not Match Problem.
3. Error 0xC004C008: Cannot Activate Windows 8 Using Already Owned Serial Key on new PC.
4. Dual Boot Windows 8 With Ubuntu 12.10 in UEFI Boot Mode.

• Just after Installation of Windows 8, connect it to internet and check whether its activated or not. 

Windows 8 Fresh Installation Activation Errors

Commonly encountered Windows 8 activation error codes are:

• Error 0xC004F061
• Error 0xC004C008

Error Code 0xC004F061

Error Code 0xC004F061 states “You upgraded to Windows 8, but didn’t have a previous version of Windows installed“. If you encounter this error it means, you have purchased an upgrade key but you have entered it on a fresh Windows 8 installation.
The official solution to this problem is to install the base OS first and then upgrade it to Windows 8. For instance, if you had upgraded from Windows 7 ultimate then for a clean installation, first you have to install Windows 7 then again upgrade it to Windows 8 using your upgrade key.

Solution in Forum

While searching for a solution to this problem, I found it after digging Microsoft Support Forum. Follow the steps given below.

1. Run the registry editor. press WIN+R then type regedit.
2. Navigate to the following Key entery: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup\OOBE.
3. Change the value for ‘MediaBootInstall‘ from 1 to 0.
4. Open an elevated command prompt. This can be done by opening command prompt as admin.
5. Run the command: slmgr -rearm.
6. Reboot system.

• I have not tried this trick personally as I did not face this activation error. Many of the forum people have confirmed that this trick works. 

Error Code 0xC004C008

Error Code 0xC004C008 states “One copy of Windows might have been installed on multiple PCs“. Well, this is the problem I faced. Logically it’s explainable that the product key we are buying is only meant to be used on one PC. At the same time there are few things that don’t go well with the logic. To understand this, lets take a look at the things I did to reach the destination Error 0xC004C008.

• Bought a new laptop and completely removed Windows 8 from old one by clean installation of Windows 7.
• Performed clean Installation of Windows 8 Pro with my Previous genuine product key.
• After Clean installation of Windows 8, found it was not activated.

What is the solution to Error 0xC004C008?
Practically, I haven’t found any solution yet! But there are few things that you can try to get back your activation.

1. Disconnect Internet and try Phone Activation.
2. Call Microsoft Customer Care and let them know the trouble you are facing.

My Experience performing the above steps
Phone Activation didn’t work. After entering all the details, I always got to heard the same automated error ” Technical error, Please try Later”. Gave up hope and tried to call Customer Care.
Well, that’s another painful experience worth half a day’s time. Called them nearly 20 times out of which 3 were attended and once had complete conversation without disconnecting. The customer service directly told that I need to install previous Windows first and then upgrade to Windows 8.  But this was not my real problem. I tried to tell them my error code still there was no positive response. So it was clear that they are not even trying to help, except practicing their parrot speech. Particular Representative was even not sure about the upgrade Prices.
Above was the call in which I had a complete conversation. In the previous call attempt, told the same things to the customer care representative, she asked for my serial key and was on the way  to give me phone activation (or whatever) but the call went blank, though I was in full coverage area. From the call experience I have 2 questions for Microsoft:

1. How can 2 different Customer Care Representative say 2 different things, when my problem is the same! ?
2. Before the Customer Care Representative starts the conversation, they collect our details along with phone n.o. Why the hell do you collect phone numbers if you cannot call back when a call has abruptly ended between an important conversation?

After this I didn’t have enough stamina left to call again and test my luck. Tried the same product key on my old laptop again after performing a Windows 8 clean installation and it worked like a charm.

What Actions can take away Windows 8 Activation?

• If you are using Windows 8 on 1 PC then forever you have to use it on the same PC.
• Even upgrading the hardware of a PC might take away Windows 8 activation (according to many users on MS forum).
• Fresh Formatting a new PC with OEM Windows8. Many manufacturers are not providing Windows 8 installation Disk.

At this moment, I can only say that situations are not that favorable for an authentic Windows 8 user. After investing your hard earned money you wont like to get restricted by simple things like this. Obviously this goes for a user who loves to try different things on his PC. For a basic user its OK, as they may prefer being stable without performing any stunts, for instance, trying to full format Hard disk and remove recovery partitions.
Do let us know if you successfully solved Error 0xC004C008 and activated your copy of Windows 8 PRO.

Error Code 0x8024001E on windows 8

While you are attempting to install or update an app in Windows 8, you may get the error 0x8024001e similar to the following message:

Something happened and this app couldn't be installed. Please try again. Error code: 0x8024001e

To fix the Windows 8 error 0x8024001e, try these steps below: 

1. Uninstall and reinstall the app that you want to. If the error still exits, go to step 2. 
2. Press the "Windows + C" to activate the charms menu, and click the "search". 
3. Click the "settings", and type "location", and then choose "Allow apps to use my location".
4. Open the "Allow apps to use my location". 
5. Press the "Windows + C" to activate the charms menu and click the "search" again. 
6. Click the "settings", and type "location", and then choose "change location". 
7. Change the "Home location". 
8. Restart your computer, and then reinstall the app that you want to.

Error Code 0x800F0906 on windows 8

While installing the Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 on Windows 8, you may receive the error code 0x800f0906 like the following message:

Windows couldn't complete the requested changes. 

Windows couldn't connect to the Internet to download necessary files. Make sure you are connected to the Internet, and press "Retry" to try again. 

Error code: 0x800F0906 

This issue was usually caused by network, proxy, or firewall failures. To fix the error, try the following steps: 

1. Open "My computer" on the desktop. 
2. Insert the Windows 8 installation media, right-click on the Windows 8 client ISO. 
3. Click the "Start" button, and type "cmd" in the search box. 
4. run the following command: In the command prompt, type "Dism /online /enable-feature /featurename:NetFx3 /All /Source::\sources\sxs /LimitAccess" and press Enter. Eject the Windows 8 client ISO, and install Windows Live component.
5. Click the "Start" button, and click "All Programs", and then click "Windows Update". 
6. Restart your computer and install the Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 again.

Error Code 0xC00000E9 on windows 8

While you are attempting to install Windows 8, you may get the Windows 8 error code 0xc00000e9 similar to the following message:

Recovery
There was a problem with a device connected to your PC
An unexpected I/O error has occurred.
Error code: 0xc00000e9
This problem can happen when a removable storage device is removed while it’s in use or is failing. Properly connecting any removable storage and restarting your PC may fix this problem.

If you want to fix the error, try these steps given below:

1. Remove any recent changes to the system prior to the error.
2. Try Window recover from the following site:
   you can click here
3. Click the "Start" button, and type "cmd" in the search box.
4. In the new Command windows, type "C:" and press Enter, type "chkdsk /r" and press Enter.
5. Go to the computer manufacturer's website to update the computer BIOS to the latest version.
6. Replace storage media and restart your computer.

Go to the computer manufacturer's website to update the computer BIOS to the latest version.

Replace storage media and restart your computer.

- See more at: http://infosoftone.blogspot.in/2012/12/error-code-0xc00000e9.html#sthash.xTZUNCHd.dpuf

Error Code 0x8007007B on windows 8

While attempting to install and activate Windows 8, the Windows 8 error code 0x8007007B may crop up similar to the following message:

Error code: 0x8007007B Error description: The filename, directory name, or volume label syntax is incorrect. 

To resolve this issue, try these steps below:

1. Click the "Start" button, and typ "cmd" in the search box.
2. Right-click the command prompt, and then choose "Run as administrator".
3. Type "slmgr.vbs / ipk xxxxx-xxxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx" (X is your 25 digit product key) to update the key, and then press Enter.
4. Type "slmgr.vbs / ato" to activate Windows 8, and then press Enter.
5. If the error still exists, go to step 6.
6. Click the "Start" button again, and typ "run" in the search box.
7. Type "Slui 3" in the Run box, and enter your 25 digit product key, and then click "Activate".
8. Open the command windows again, type "sfc /scannow" and press Enter.