Okay, here I am hours into messing with this thing and wiser but not certain of the truth.
Asus say they don't supply software. I'm going to test this statement. But I just pour in W8 and it'll go.
Forums say you have to obtain the Key with some free software and have that ready. Time and time again I was taken to getting the key from the existing OS despite searching for CLEAN install.
Best Buy have the discs and they would just port it on. Yesterday, young man said they don't have to enter the Key. He said he'd do it for me, but I'm expecting his manager to levy a charge. (family together has spent several thousands in that store and I was hoping for a freebie) So, I pressed on.
Got through to MS in double-quick time!! Nice man a long way away said it will work - but I was totally confused. Not during the conversation, but when I entered this link he gave me.
Microsoft Corporation (that has to be com, surely)/en-us/windows-8/upgrade(yes, I questioned that)-product-key-only
It didn't run. More
However, he did two things. One was to refer me to the Office 2010* and the other was to say they might make me a special case and issue me with a temporary Key should all else fail. So, there's hope.
Even so, there is confusion on weather I can load 8.1 right away. Some say yes, and some no. It's a loooooong upgrade from 8 to 8.1, and I'm sure stuff is left behind.
I need 8.1 in particular because this upgrade allows making a USB stick recover backup - freeing the miniscule 123gig SS drive of three partitions for recover.
*Since I'd been a bit quick loading Office on the Asus I'd returned to Best Buy, I was worried about losing one of my installations. MS Office-specific department took some minutes to check but then confirmed I had another 'seat' available on my 3 seat copy.
