Yes, I did originally do it that way. Then the links were posted here in the past to download 8 or 8.1. You need to enter the 8 product key, start downloading 8, then stop it and download 8.1. To do the clean install of 8.1 you use a generic key to install it and then enter the 8 product key, once inside of Windows 8.1. I just can't remember Microsoft's link for the 2 downloads.