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The "System Builder" version of Windows 8.1 is for installation on a new computer (with no operating system installed) or on a computer that is NOT currently running Windows 8, Windows 7, Vista, or XP. This product ("System Builder") is NOT for upgrading; if you are upgrading from a previous version of Windows, then get the upgrade package. This is the "OEM" version of Windows 8.1. Perform a web search for: Windows 8.1 OEM license. According to Microsoft, if you are building a computer for personal use, then the "Full packaged retail product is needed." With the OEM version, you cannot get technical support from Microsoft; also, you can activate it on one and only one computer (the license is linked to the hardware). If you want technical support and/or the potential to transfer the license to a new computer, then look at the "full" version (Microsoft Windows 8.1 - Full Version). This is NOT the "Professional" version of Windows 8.1. Make sure you are selecting the version you need/want. To learn more, just perform a web search for: Differences between Windows 8.1 and Windows 8.1 Professional. Windows 8.1 Professional also comes in an "OEM" version and a "full" version: Windows 8.1 Pro System Builder OEM DVD 64-Bit and Microsoft Windows 8.1 Pro - Full Version. I just installed Windows 8.1 System Builder on a newly-constructed computer. It loaded very quickly (approximately 20 minutes). Loading Window Updates took roughly another 30 minutes. I gave Windows 8.1 a five-star rating because it is much faster and much more stable than the Windows 7 that I use every day on another computer. My Windows 7 machine crashes at least five times per week; in contrast, my Window 8.1 Professional machine and my Windows 8.1 machine have never crashed, frozen, or reset. I did have one mishap as I loaded software on my new Windows 8.1 machine. As I went to load an old version of Roxio, Windows 8.1 warned me that it was not compatible; but I loaded it anyway. Upon rebooting after that, Windows 8.1 was somehow compromised, and its Auto Repair function initiated a complete wipe and reload of Windows 8.1. Lesson learned: I will not attempt to load old software and hardware on my new Windows 8.1 machine. Windows 8.1 has many powerful features that were completely new to me. The easiest way to learn about these new features is to read a book (just search Amazon books for "Windows 8.1"). I liked Windows 8.1 Inside Out, but it is more in-depth than most people probably want. THE "DESKTOP" IS STILL THERE: A lot of folks I know HATE the new "Start" screen ("metro style") user interface. I spent several weeks learning how to use it; but in the end, I abandoned the Start" screen in favor of the (old familiar) "Desktop" app. So, to all you folks who hate the Start screen: Just use the Desktop instead. You can switch to the Desktop simply by pressing the key combination [WINDOWS key]+D. Or, as I did, you can setup Windows 8.1 to boot to the Desktop instead of the Start screen. Simply (1) go to Desktop; (2) move the cursor to a blank area of the Toolbar at the bottom of the screen; (3) right click and select "Properties"; (4) select the "Navigation" tab; (5) place a tick mark in the box next to "When I sign in or close all apps on a screen, go to the desktop instead of start." You can setup up your Windows 8.1 Desktop to be just like your old Windows 7 Desktop, except there won't be a Start button. (Quite frankly, those Microsoft folks made a huge mistake taking away the Start button.) On the Desktop, you can also setup the Tool Bar (Quick Start icons) and System Tray just like you did in previous versions of Windows. In short, you can make your Windows 8.1 look just like Windows 7, but the underlying operating system will be much quicker and a lot more stable. Speaking of the Start button; Windows 8.1 adds a modified Start button of sorts (a Windows-Flag) at the lower left-hand edge of the Desktop toolbar. If you left-click on it, it opens the "Start" screen (the same effect as pressing the Windows key on your keyboard); if you right-click on it, it opens the "Power User" menu (the same effect as pressing Windows Key plus X simultaneously). Once on the "Start" screen, if you click on the little arrow at the bottom left, you will get a listing of your programs/apps (essentially providing the functions of the old Start Button, and more). I found it helpful to add the following icons to my Windows 8.1 Desktop: Computer (formerly "My Computer"), Control Panel, and Network. To do this, right click on any clear area of the desktop and select the Personalize option. In the left pane of the Personalize window, click Change desktop icons. Tick the boxes for the icons you want displayed on the desktop (Computer, Control Panel, Recycle Bin, User's Files, Network). Click the Apply button. I have read that "Windows 8.1 Update 1" will boot computers without touchscreens to the desktop by default and will use desktop apps by default. Of course, Microsoft (OBVIOUSLY) should have had this feature in the original Windows 8. That's enough about how to set up the Desktop. Once you get Windows 8.1 working on the Desktop app, take some time to learn how to use the new "metro-style" user interface. On my dual monitor system, I have the Desktop on my center monitor and the "Start" screen (TileWorld) on the side monitor. You should probably get a book to help you customize the Start screen by learning how to add (pin), delete (unpin), resize, move, and group tiles. I think most non-business users will prefer the new Start screen interface. WINDOWS 8.1 IS EASY - BUT ONLY AFTER AN HOUR OR SO OF TRAINING: Let me just say: Microsoft made a huge mistake by not including a very simple and obvious tick-box to provide users with the option to "Use Classic Windows." Now, it only takes about 10 minutes to get Windows 8.1 to look and function just like Windows 7; but that's 9.5 minutes longer than it should take! Also, Microsoft should have provided a simple and obvious tick-box to allow users (especially business users) to completely disable the new Metro (Modern) interface. It takes some effort for the new user to learn how to setup Windows 8.1; but after you get it setup, your Window 8.1 machine will be very easy to use (you won't even think about it). You should probably get a friend, grandchild, or book to help you on your first day. Just about everybody should get some Windows 8.1 training, even if that training is nothing more than watching some youtube videos. Obviously, Microsoft should have produced some videos (maybe eight 5-minute videos) to orient the new user! The user interface is so different most folks will get angry with it if no one has explained it to them first. You see, very little is obvious or intuitive; all of the menus are initially hidden, and there is no clue as to how to display them. But don't get angry! Just spend a short time (less than an hour) learning some basic Windows 8.1 tricks and secrets. When I built my new gaming computer fifteen months ago, I read the book Windows 8 Secrets in its entirety before loading the operating system. It's a good thing I did, otherwise I would have been lost (and, yes, probably angry). Luckily for new users, lots of nice people have posted some great youtube videos that can potentially teach you most of what you need to know. You could also go down to your local computer store and play with Windows 8.1. You can save yourself a lot of (first-day) anger and frustration by immediately configuring Windows 8.1 to use the Desktop user-interface instead of the new Metro-style user-interface (per the instructions above). Do this immediately after your computer boots to Windows 8.1 for the first time. If you do, you'll find yourself in a (relatively stress-free) familiar environment . . . something that looks and behaves just like Windows 7, but without the "Start" button. Other than that, printout and use the Windows-Key shortcuts discussed below (especially Winkey+C and Winkey+I). WINDOWS-KEY SHORTCUTS MAKE LIFE EASY: Memorize and use the "Windows Key" (Winkey) keyboard shortcuts! (The Winkey is the key on the bottom row with a depiction the Microsoft flag; my Winkey is just to the right of the CTRL key.) For example, if you hold down the Winkey and press C, the "Charms" bar will be displayed. The "Charms" bar is perhaps the most important interface in Windows 8.1. If you learn the Winkey keyboard shortcuts first thing, you will be able to get most things done in Windows 8.1 right away! Helpful Winkey keyboard shortcuts: Winkey: toggles between Start Menu and last app Winkey + D: opens Desktop Winkey + C: opens "Charms" bar Winkey + E: opens file explorer Winkey + F or Winkey + W: searches for files Winkey + I: opens the Settings charm (to shut down your computer, for example) Winkey + Z: opens "app bar" (the menu user interface that is normally hidden when interacting with a Windows 8 app) Winkey + X: opens the "power user" menu (which includes programs and features, power options, event viewer, system, device manager, network connections, disk management, computer management, command prompt, task manager, control panel, file explorer, search, run, shutdown or signoff, and desktop) Winkey + R: opens run-program window (like when you used to go to Start, Run) LESSONS LEARNED ABOUT WINDOWS ACTIVATION: Windows 8.1 activated over the internet just fine. I had read that Windows 8.1 activation was tied to the specific motherboard; but, apparently, Windows 8.1 loses its activation if you change the memory or hard drive. When I changed out the memory modules (for larger capacity), Windows gave me a message that I would need to re-activate within three days. When I decided that I wanted a larger hard drive in this new machine, I cloned the smaller drive to the larger drive; in the process, Windows activation was lost on the larger drive. Lesson learned: Your life will be easier if you finalize your hardware installation BEFORE you activate Windows 8.1. LOCAL ACCOUNT VERSUS MICROSOFT ACCOUNT You can setup Windows 8.1 user accounts to be either a "local account" or a Microsoft account. Just perform a little web research for: Difference between local account and Microsoft account. There are pros and cons associated with each option. Quite annoyingly, it is NOT obvious how to choose "local account" during the installation of Windows 8.1. Understandably, some folks are angry because they feel that Microsoft is FORCING their new Windows 8.1 machine to be linked a Microsoft account. Actually, it is simple (but not at all obvious) to setup Windows 8.1 with a "local account" (so the operating system is not linked to Microsoft). During installation of Windows 8.1, when you get to the "Sign in to your Microsoft account" screen, don't enter the log-in information (account and password), instead: (1) at the bottom of the screen click "Create a new account"; (2) on the resulting "Create a Microsoft Account" screen, just skip over all of the empty fields and select "Sign in without a Microsoft Account"; (3) on the resulting "Your Account" screen, setup your "local account" user name and password. To switch from a Microsoft account to a "local account": (1) Get to the "Start" screen (toggle Windows key); (2) type "Users"; (3) select "Add, delete, or manage other user accounts"; (4) on the resulting "Accounts" screen, select "Your Account"; (5) select the "Disconnect" option and then setup your "local account" user name and password. To switch from a "local account" to a Microsoft account, perform Steps 1 through 4, then at Step 5 select "Connect to a Microsoft account." You can also setup Windows 8.1 to use a four-digit PIN.