Broken Win8.1 ISO

[MarcoJones]

I downloaded the very popular and seemly safe https://thepiratebay.se/torrent/11116438...CELLENT%29 but it isn't working for me. I'm trying to upgrade my WinXP box that I'm running on VirtualBox. But the ISO doesn't boot and when I try to run the setup.exe I'm told "D:\setup.exe is not a valid Win32 application". I might have thought that the torrent isn't finished, but I'm told it's at 100%. Is it possible to get support for this sort of problem?

[RobertX]

Yeah, just try another ISO of Windows 8.1 as far as I know.

EDIT: What I meant was that you might want to try another Windows 8.1 ISO first. I would recommend OnlyByTheRain's torrents for this exercise. His/her torrents are usually updated and pre-activated.

Hope this helps, but I'm sorry if it doesn't.

[MarcoJones]

Hope you weren't waiting up for me.
Wow! Sure has a lot. I was wondering if I could get some help choosing one. My host machine is 64-bit, but VirtualBox is running a 32-bit version of XP, so I guess I'd better stick w/that.
I see a lot in the line of:
Windows 8.1 Pro Vl Update 3 x86 En-Us ESD Dec2015 Pre-activated-

What's "VI" and "ESD"? I also see "OEM" on some of them. What's to be expected w/OEM? And what's the date on it for?

[RobertX]

VL stands for "Volume Licencing." It's a scheme for corporations to install Windows for a discount. A popular example of Volume Licencing was the popular Windows XP Pro version that had no activation. Activation for big businesses meant loss of affordability and convenience as well as immediate migration to GNU/Linux, so Microsoft took exception and waived activation requirements for corporations while the other lowly buyers will still need to activation. Of course, pirates got around that with a VL copy... I won't say anything more because I don't want to incriminate myself.

ESDs are simply, I think, copies that use a hacked Windows 8 installer. That's all I can tell you. I just know that some circulated copies of Windows 7 use Windows 8 installers too. as well as Windows 10. Don't quote me on that one. In fact ask for more answers in this forum. Sorry.

EDIT:

Code:

http://www.win8forums.com/threads/what-is-an-esd-file.254/

Microsoft uses the ESD file format to deliver install files needed. ESD stands for Electronic Software Delivery, the Windows install.esd file contains the usual Windows install.wim file (WIM = Windows Imaging), encrypted and compressed. Install.wim file, in its turn, contains everything needed for a complete Windows installation.​

OEM, I believe you know, but, if you don't, it's a copy that is made ready for buyers of computers from companies like Dell, HP, and the like. They solve compatibility issues with those computers and will add wallpaper art with logos of the respective computer builders.

The date, as the kinds that I think you are referring to, indicate the dates of the updates that are slipstreamed on the Windows copies. It will be beneficial to you to find the latest versions, which will normally concur with the month that you are downloading the Windows copy.

Normally though, if you already installed a Windows copy, you can just install the updates then and there. I think .

Hope this helps... even a little.

[MarcoJones]

I know what OEM is, but from what you're telling me, the implication of trying to use one of them is that you could be setting yourself up for trouble if you try to use one of them for a generic system. So I guess it's good to avoid those.

[RobertX]

No, no, no, I don't think you'll get in trouble.

It's just not for "generic" systems.

I use it because I have a Dell.

[MarcoJones]

(stupid win7 laptop reposted. Please ignore)

[MarcoJones]

I seem to have struck out again. I tried https://thepiratebay.se/torrent/13645728...-activated- but when I downloaded it and tried it on my virtual machine again, I get "The entry point __CxxFrameHander3 blah blah blah". Anyway, it isn't working.
I ran an MD5 sum on it and it is the same as W_8.1_Pro_Vl_x86_ En_Us_ESD_Feb_2016.md5, so I guess the download completed successfully. Interestingly, the file's page lists this "info hash", which is different from the MD5 sum. Is that supposed to tell me anything?

[RobertX]

As far as virtual machines go, I'm out of my element. I don't use virtual machines because my systems are old.

I wholeheartedly apologise.

[dolly_cat]

Virtual Machines don't support all features. They're like Wine (executable emulator on linux).

Don't expect everything to work. They're always beta because Windows OS has been designed to work standalone, not in a virtual machine, box etc..

If it points errors, break the operation and switch to an earlier version of Windows.