Windows 8.1 Media Creation Tool and the OEM License

I have given full instructions on how to use the Windows Media Creation Tool with an OEM License:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meWKm6lWtmw

The accompany written guide may be found here::

http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/download-microsoft-windows-and-office/download-microsoft-windows/download-windows-8-1-retail-and-oem-iso/

Please vote on my Windows Uservoice idea so Microsoft are made aware of the remaining limitations of the utility:

https://windows.uservoice.com/forums/265757-windows-feature-suggestions/suggestions/6968237-windows-media-creation-tool-fixes

The Windows Media Creation Tool Supports:

• Windows 8.0SL OEM/Retail
• Windows 8.1SL OEM/Retail
• Windows 8.0 OEM/Retail
• Windows 8.0N OEM/Retail
• Windows 8.0 OEM/Retail
• Windows 8.1N OEM/Retail
• Windows 8.0 Professional OEM/Retail
• Windows 8.0 ProfessionalN OEM/Retail
• Windows 8.1 Professional OEM/Retail
• Windows 8.1 ProfessionalN OEM/Retail
• Windows 8.1 Professional with Media Centre Retail

It does not Support:

• Windows 8.1 with Bing OEM
• Windows 8.1SL with Bing OEM

Note:

• Windows 8.1 (Core/Home) ≠ Windows 8.1 N (Core/Home) ≠ Windows 8.1 SL (Core/Home) ≠ Windows 8.1 with Bing  ≠ Windows 8.1 SL with Bing
• Windows 8.1 Professional ≠ Windows 8.1 Professional N

I give instructions on:

• Determining your Windows 8.1 Edition.
• Determining your Windows 8.1 OEM Key (not necessary to know with the new .isos).
• Downloading the Windows 8.1 .iso
• Creating a Bootable USB
• Evaluation/installation with a generic key.
• Interchangability of Single Language .isos.
• Adding Features to get Media Centre.

With the Windows Media Creation Tool as I have helped support many Windows installations (> 2,500,000 views on my guides) I've noticed the following limitations:

• Users do not know what version of Windows they have, the distinction between Pro is easy due to the sticker but the distinction between Core, Single Language and Windows 8.1 with Bing is less clear. I have given instructions for determining the version, if the users previous install is up and running but this won't help users who are reinstalling Windows due to it not booting or due to hard drive failure.
• There is no .iso for Windows 8.1 with Bing. These users too need a means of reinstallation.
• There is no direct download link to the .iso, this makes Apple bootcamp and installations from Linux difficult.

Thus having direct download links would help (aswell as the media creation tool which works quite nicely and checks the .iso).

We need the .iso of Windows 8.1 with Bing.

I would rather one .iso for all versions which would save the user from a lot of confusion when deciding what .iso to select and an official Microsoft utility one can use to make a bootable USB to check what version of Windows their BIOS has.

Windows Vista was the best for this in the fact that the installation DVD could install all Vista versions, unfortunately its very obsolete and hard to construct the .iso from the 3 setup files. Windows 7 was also an example but to a lesser extent as the .iso had the annoying ei.cfg file.

Please leave feedback if you have experienced any of these problems or found workarounds for them - my current recommendation is downloading all .isos of your language and going by trial and error.