How to Install Windows in Dell XPS 8500

There are no windows 8 downloads.

Download and save the 8.1 ISO, then make the USB using RUFUS

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Read all of this, especially the generic key part:

You can contact the Laptop/Computer Manufacturer and order Recovery Media from them for a small cost.

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Support and downloads for 8 has ended.

Do a clean install of the exact same edition of 8.1 as 8 is.

Windows 8 > 8.1 is a free upgrade released by Microsoft.

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You can download and create your own Windows 8.1 Installation Media to reinstall the Operating System with..

"Create installation media for Windows 8.1"

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/create-reset-refresh-media

"Download Windows 8.1"

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows8

A similar Tutorial which may also assist you

"Create Installation Media for Windows 8.1"

http://winsupersite.com/windows-8/create-installation-media-windows-81

In the first screen of this very simple wizard, you need to choose the following:

Language. English – en-us if you're in the United States.

Edition. Windows 8.1 (Core), Windows 8.1 N, Windows 8.1 Pro, Windows 8.1 Pro N, or Windows 8.1 Single Language.

Architecture. 64-bit (x64 ) or 32-bit (x86).

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"How to Create a Bootable USB or DVD with a Windows 8 or 8.1 ISO"

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2227-create-bootable-usb-dvd-windows-8-iso.html

   Warning

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How to clean install:

"How to Do a Clean Install of Windows 8 or Windows 8.1"

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2299-clean-install-windows-8-a.html

Make sure that you read Section 4 about using generic keys

If you have a retail Windows 8 product key and want to clean install Windows 8.1 or Windows 8.1 Update, then you would need to enter a generic key below to install unactivated with, and change the product key later on in step 22 below to activate with your Windows 8 key.

If you have a retail Windows 8.1 product key and want to clean install Windows 8.1 or Windows 8.1 Update, then you are good.

If you have an OEM Windows 8 product key and want to clean install Windows 8.1 or Windows 8.1 Update, then you would need to enter a generic key below to install unactivated with, and change the product key later on in step 22 below to activate with your OEM Windows 8 COA product key.

If you want to clean installWindows 8 Enterprise, Windows 8.1 Enterprise, or Windows 8.1 Update Enterprise, then you would need to change the product key later on in step 22 below to activate since Enterprise editions do not ask to enter a key at this step.

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With Windows 8/8.1 The Product Key on preinstalled Operating Systems (HP, Acer, etc) is embedded in the BIOS in the Motherboard, so that the lost and/or worn C.O.A. Sticker problem is no more.

When you reinstall it will pick up the Product Key and activate the system automatically.

If it does not, follow these steps:

"How to Activate Windows 8 and 8.1 by Phone"

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/24636-activate-windows-8-phone.html

"Get help with activation errors"

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/activation-errors

"How to activate a Microsoft product by using Microsoft Product Activation Center"

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950929/en-us

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If you do wish to/need to keep a record of it:

"Windows 10 Embedded Product Key Tool"

https://neosmart.net/blog/2014/windows-10-embedded-product-key-tool/

"We’re proud to introduce the immediate release of our newest utility for Windows users: the NeoSmart Technologies Embedded Product Key Tool. Designed for users of Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10, our embedded product key tool will retrieve and display the Windows setup product key embedded in the BIOS or EFI, allowing you to store it for safe-keeping or use it to reinstall Windows with an official Windows setup image."

You can also use:

"Belarc Advisor - Free Personal PC Audit (Version 8.5c)"

http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

Or:

"Product KeyFinder"

https://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/

Cheers.

If the computer came with factory installed Windows 7 or 8 it has an OEM license.

When you participated in the free upgrade to Windows 10 you should have been issued a digital license.

If you had the number for the OEM you could reuse it to return to Windows 7 or 8.

If you want to remain with Windows 10 they you will use the digital license which should be on a Microsoft server.

Having the digital license on a Microsoft server should allow you replace the drive, clean install the operating system, or replace other hardware.

Find a flash drive that you can format ( > or = 8 GB)

On any working computer create a bootable Windows 10 iso:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/9230-download-windows-10-iso-file.html

With the Windows 10 iso you may be able to troubleshoot the boot failure.

There are options for:

startup repair

system restore

command prompt commands

etc.

Other steps that can be performed with a Windows 10 iso are custom install and clean install.

Alternatively you can try to open the Windows advanced recovery menu on the problematic computer using the hardware method.

If you do this then you have additional options of reset save files, reset remove files, safe mode, etc.

An additional option is to the boot the computer using another operating system such as Ubuntu/Linux.

Then you may be able to backup the important files to another drive.

In addition you may be able to test the underlying drive.

These are some links:

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/27649-run-startup-repair-windows-10-a.html

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/4588-system-restore-windows-10-a.html

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/1950-clean-install-windows-10-a.html

https://tutorials.ubuntu.com/tutorial/tutorial-create-a-usb-stick-on-ubuntu

https://www.howtogeek.com/howto/31804/the-10-cleverest-ways-to-use-linux-to-fix-your-windows-pc/

If you wanted to reinstall 10:

The free upgrade to 10 is yours for the life of that device.

The best method to upgrade back to 10 is to clean install it.

Find the Windows 10 media creation tool on the Software download page 

"Start fresh with a clean installation of Windows 10"

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10startfresh

Reinstall Windows 10:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4000735/windows-10-reinstall

"How to Clean Install Windows 10"

http://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/1950-windows-10-clean-install.html

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How to Create Bootable USB Flash Drive to Install Windows 10 from

This tutorial will show you how to create a bootable USB flash drive that can be used to install Windows 10 with or without UEFI.

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When your free upgrade to 10 was  originally activated Microsoft will have kept the Hardware Configuration details of your device on their Servers for recognition purposes if you have to reinstall 10.

"Activation in Windows 10" (Digital entitlement)

https://support.microsoft.com/en-au/help/12440/windows-10-activation

Cheers.