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I may be too early with this question but here goes - I would like to do a clean install of Windows 8.1, and I have a product key for Windows 8 Pro (the boxed "upgrade" they sell retail).

The RTM bits released on MSDN and Technet and such are designed to be installed standalone but they require a key that is specific to the 8.1 bits. You can't plug in a Windows 8 key and have it work.

The RTM bits released on MSDN and Technet also refuse to allow you to install without a key so the idea of trying to plug in the Windows 8 key after the fact isn't possible, and the ei.cfg things that would work with Windows 7 don't seem to apply anymore.

It could be that a really obvious way to do this will become apparent in October but if I wanted to do a clean install of Windows 8.1 with a Windows 8 Pro key, is that possible?

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Insert the generic key which is available in the Product.ini on the DVD (sources folder) during setup.

In Windows, follow the old hack and use slmgr.vbs -ipk <YOURKEY> to install your key, change the MediaBootInstall from "1" to "0", run the rearm command and now try to activate Windows 8.1

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