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Unable to Activate Win 8

MxPhenom 216

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I got Win 8 isntalled on my file server, but I am unable to activate it with the key. Says the key is invalid. Since I work at microsoft I got a retail version from the employee store. I have been doing some reading, and to be able to activate Win8 with the key there needs to be a previous version of Windows installed for it to work. WTF, so you can't do clean installs?

And the box says nothing about Upgrade version. Straight Windows 8 Pro.
 
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I don't get why you're not asking your employer what is going on? My answer for you is to install Linux.

I have been doing some reading, and to be able to activate Win8 with the key there needs to be a previous version of Windows installed for it to work.

Oh, and no, false, wrong.
 

MxPhenom 216

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I don't get why you're not asking your employer what is going on? My answer for you is to install Linux.



Oh, and no, false, wrong.

Well apparently I have an upgrade copy, so doing clean installs won't activate. And too bad Microsoft doesnt label the damn boxes.
 
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Well apparently I have an upgrade copy, so doing clean installs won't activate. And too bad Microsoft doesnt label the damn boxes.

Okay, so get a different one? I don't understand what you need from this thread.
 
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You may be able to install Windows 8 consumer preview and upgrade from that. With older Windows versions, I could easily install the upgrade version and then upgrade that version and automagically have a full copy of Windows that I could activate. Windows 8 is evil in that you have to have a product key entered before you can even install it.
 

MxPhenom 216

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Okay, so get a different one? I don't understand what you need from this thread.

Wondering more or less if anyone else has made the same issue.
 

MxPhenom 216

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You may be able to install Windows 8 consumer preview and upgrade from that. With older Windows versions, I could easily install the upgrade version and then upgrade that version and automagically have a full copy of Windows that I could activate. Windows 8 is evil in that you have to have a product key entered before you can even install it.

im doing a little work around real quick that i just found.

And that fixed it.

What I did:

1.In Windows 8, open the Registry Editor
2.Search for MediaBootInstall and set the value to 0.
3.Open an elevated command prompt (run as administrator) and enter:
slmgr /rearm
4.If you get an access denied error message, you’re not running the command prompt with administrator privileges
5.Restart the computer
6.Open a command prompt and enter:
slui 3
7.Enter your Windows 8 upgrade license key and activate it
8.Done!
 
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newtekie1

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I was just about to post that fix.

Yes, doing a clean install with an Upgrade edition is as simple as doing a reg tweak after install to get it to activate.:toast:
 

TheMailMan78

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Well apparently I have an upgrade copy, so doing clean installs won't activate. And too bad Microsoft doesnt label the damn boxes.

1. Ok I have the upgrade copy and I do clean installs.

2. Just use the phone activation.

I was just about to post that fix.

Yes, doing a clean install with an Upgrade edition is as simple as doing a reg tweak after install to get it to activate.:toast:

You can do clean installs with an upgrade version all day long without doing anything to the registry.
 

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1. Ok I have the upgrade copy and I do clean installs.

2. Just use the phone activation.

That actually won't work, it won't even let you bring up the phone activation window if you do a fresh install using an upgrade key. I've tried.
 

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Just one more reason for me to skip Win 8 completely. :laugh:
 

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That actually won't work, it won't even let you bring up the phone activation window if you do a fresh install using an upgrade key. I've tried.


I guess I have some kinda magical upgrade copy then. Because I've done it about 5 times already.

My guess would be you guys are not doing proper formats. IF I was guessing.
 
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I was about to suggest run CMD as Admin and then do a "slmgr -ipk xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx" activation...does anyone know if that works with win8?
 
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I guess I have some kinda magical upgrade copy then. Because I've done it about 5 times already.

My guess would be you guys are not doing proper formats. IF I was guessing.

I'm with MailMan on this one. Both of my systems at home were fresh installs of Win 8 Pro Upgrade without any activation issues. Also did a clean install of Win 8 Pro Upgrade here at work without issues.
 

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I'm with MailMan on this one. Both of my systems at home were fresh installs of Win 8 Pro Upgrade without any activation issues. Also did a clean install of Win 8 Pro Upgrade here at work without issues.

I guess that's two of us with magic Windows 8 upgrade disks. :laugh:
 
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