I'm trying to install Windows 8 Pro 64 bit using a CD purchased from Microsoft. The system is Windows 7 Professional SP1 64 bit running on a Dell 435T/9000 delivered in and maintained as a Raid 1 configuration. The BIOS is up to date. The Windows installation should be sound as I just started over with a Factory Recovery. System reports that Windows is activated. I installed all the Windows updates, reinstalled and updated all the user programs, and updated all the drivers. CHKDSK finds no errors on the system hard disk.  The only hardware changes have been installation of a USB 3 card which I have disabled and a replacement video card which I obviously cant disable. Windows Upgrade Assistant says all devices and programs are compatible; it also has two items to review. The first says I may need an application to play DVDs I guess since Windows Media center is an add-on for Windows 8. The second says that Secure Boot isnt compatible with my PC so I wont be able to use it in Windows 8. I take it that these are informational items only since they have an i in front and should not impede the installation. I have tried various combinations of Install updates,No Thanks, and I want to help in starting the installation but always get the "Sorry, we're having trouble determining if your PC can run Windows 8. Please close setup and try again." message. I have disconnected all external devices but mouse, keyboard, and monitor. I have disabled (but not uninstalled) Norton 360 firewall and antivirus, disabled all non-Windows services, used selective startup every hint I can find by searching for the message. The fact that I cant find any recent articles suggests that the problem has been solved, but, if so, I cant find the solution. I first posted this on Windows community but an engineer there suggested I post here because of the Raid configuration. I realize this is a Windows 8.1 forum and I have a Windows 8 problem, but this is the forum suggested.

always get the "Sorry, we're having trouble determining if your PC can run Windows 8. Please close setup and try again." message.

Have you tried looking at the log messages from the install, e.g. in the Panther directory?

have disabled (but not uninstalled) Norton 360 firewall and antivirus.

There's something more to try then.   <eg>

Here is what I guess is the summary log. I have no idea what to do with this.

2014-02-28 16:49:24, Error  CONX   ConX::Compatibility::CSystemAbstraction::GetDiskFreeSpaceW: Failed to retrieve disk space info for E.[gle=0x00000015]
2014-02-28 16:49:24, Error  CONX   CFreeSystemPartitionDiskSpaceChecker failed. Failed to determine the free disk space on the system partition. . HRESULT = 0x80070015[gle=0x00000015]
2014-02-28 16:49:24, Error  CONX   ConX::Compatibility::CCompatibilityHost::SetScanResult: Compat scan from provider wsc:setup: failed. HRESULT = 0x80070015
2014-02-28 16:49:24, Error  CONX   An error occured during the system requirement check. HRESULT = 0x80070015.

Here is what I guess is the summary log. I have no idea what to do with this.

The code means device not ready.  So I guess we should suspect your drive's RAID status....

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_8-windows_install/windows-8-0x80070015-during-install/4eec3eaa-82be-4628-941e-864b024625ef

(Microsoft search for
    install RAID 0x80070015
)

The same search would work here but the stupid OR logic for the "relevance" filter gets more than may be useful.

Oh.  The second hit from the above search was for W7 but I think its information could be relevant for you anyway:

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windows/en-US/ebecf2fa-a0e8-44e8-8903-595fc88d27be/problems-installing-windows-7-on-new-ssd?forum=w7itproinstall