Right. And further down in that paragraph, the OP indicates he "already purchased Windows 8.1 from Microsoft" which is what led to my last post. Also from his first post the quote below.

He's been informed by two members and a moderator that he won't get help with pirated versions of software so there isn't much else we can do. If a member assumes he is lying, then don't help. If we take him at his word, we can help. I doubt I'll be any help as I haven't installed any windows other than in Virtualbox for over ten years. Might need to overwrite the mbr or create an ntfs partition but that's only a guess on my part.

i get your point and i am honestly trying to help. its just hard to help a moving target. his latest post can be transliterated like:
"i need help buying windows 8.1 ... i already purchased a version of windows 8.1 ..."

maybe they speak another language and their translation software fouled up ?

i assume most of us arent windows experts (my latest install would be win-xp) but we try to help anyways when possible. i feel bad because my post #11 sounds condescending but i think the op mite be confused that the windows installer is not started from within linux-mint and doesnt realize you would have to boot up with the windows cd in the cd-drive.

Yes, this seems to be a problem description in evolution. I'm seeing that they're going to college, dental school, have no money, but yet college costs money. And honestly from what I see, the cost of some books is just about the same as the cost of a very cheap computer from a discount store. Fact is the college computer purchase programs are not the best, they do specify a computer which is fully supported by their on campus persons (maybe) but they also specify something which was negotiated between the college and some large computer supplier, and hence it's a bit more money. Meanwhile you go online or to a discount store and can get way better deals.

Either case OP, you have a copy of W8. Sorry if that copy came on CD/DVD. I'd say your best options are to either get the ISO onto a thumbstick or get a USB connected CD/DVD drive for the purpose of reading media of that type. After all, the cost of a drive like that is likely way less than the cost of W8.

ok, that clears up a lot of confusion. op has a cd but no cd drive and is asking for help on how to install. why does microsoft still sell cd's. my last 4 pc's i bought for myself and as gifts do not include cd-drives. also i have to buy all my music online since none of my mp3 players play cd's.

Maybe they don't, I don't see where they said they had it on a particular media so that was a guess on my part.

They seem to be using the reveal method in asking their question though. So unfortunately it's a case of G.I.G.O.

Someone once said, "Never attribute to malice what may adequately be explained by incompetence."

OP -- get smart! you're in college, after all.

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