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Anyone can upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for $14.99.

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I wonder why so many are having varied experiences off the same page within a very short time, myself included.
 

[Ion]

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It gives you the option after downloading to save to media, and then to save to USB or iso.

Marvelous. I'm just downloading now :toast:

I wasn't going to get Win8, but for $16 it was hard to pass up.
 

s{orpion

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Important!!!

Win 8 is fine... but is not problem free.
not exactly user friendly for PC... definitely geared toward tablets/mobile.

best item PC users can install:

Classic Shell
http://classicshell.sourceforge.net/

it's free, robust, and easy to use.

* restores start menu, programs, accessories, etc
* skips start screen launches straight to desktop
* highly customizable, user friendly, and 'comfortable'
:toast:



p.s... I got mine using the thread link $14.99... no activation issues on clean install... yet.
(though some driver and installation issues)
 
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Got it installed on my m8s laptop, first impressions is......its horrible

Second impressions coming later.

Thanks Phusius $15 is still a bargin
 
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Thanks Phusius for pointin this out to me. Probably wouldn't have gotten windows 8 if not for this deal.

Installation went smoothly enough, burned the ISO to a DVD and booted from the disk for a clean install, wiping my SSD. I did see a few people had some issues with this method so if I run into them I will either try the registry fix or just to an install over.

I did run into some issues with crashing while I was installing drivers getting a particular error I can't recall the name of =/. This may have been caused by my having my HDD for storage with all previous stuff on it, I think my drivers are there rather than on the SSD.

Otherwise everything has been working fine. The new windows is certainly fast and slick though I'm certainly not sold on the Start menu removal and what not I'll either get used to it or get one of the tools that restores it to win 7 style.
 
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It's nice but none of the features are really "necessary." They literally just added Apps on top of Win7. Maybe some day I will learn to love it but for now I just use the desktop without a start menu
 
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So does this make your win7 cd key garbage?
 

HammerON

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Thanks Phusius:toast:
Getting it now!!!
May not upgrade for a bit, but at least I will have it:)
 

fmills15

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Can a kind sir, please pm the sign up the promo email for windows 8. I've tried every method imaginable and everyone of them requires a windows 7 validation method.
 

snowbound

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Can a kind sir, please pm the sign up the promo email for windows 8. I've tried every method imaginable and everyone of them requires a windows 7 validation method.

So you are getting a Windows7 serial number even when you choose OTHER as the manufacturer of the computer because I did not.
 

Mussels

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[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup\OOBE]
"MediaBootInstall"=dword:00000000


try this.
Change it from 1 to 0
then reboot and activate

If this does not work alone, continue with

1. Open elevated command prompt (Right click -> Run As Administrator)
2. Type slmgr -rearm <enter>
3. Reboot

After that it should be activated.


i saw this online and tried it earlier - but the key was missing.

after doing the slmgr re-arm and rebooting, the key has now appeared and i'll give it another shot.


you get a key for win 8 pro. (and i works for me for a clean install)

i don't really know if you can upgrade the win8 preview with the key (microsoft "free" preview OS tend not to be upgradable..) you can try, nothing lost. if it does not work, reinstall win8, and you could do the files and settings thing, reinstall all the programs etc... "a clean install"

clean install works, but only for about a day. then it asks for the key again and it wont accept the upgrade key (testing the regedit method people have mentioned, to see if that works)
 

Mussels

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Yes. I still got asked for the serial.

i did not get asked either. Either you've put something in incorrectly, or they've patched the loophole we all used.
 

Mussels

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the registry trick didnt work, windows is still un-activated
 

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GLD

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^ Well that sucks! I hope you get it figured out.
 

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Did it ever say activated?

i did a fresh install and the key was accepted, so i assumed it was activated. it wasnt. i can fix it by simply upgrading over the top.

^ Well that sucks! I hope you get it figured out.

see above.



not that i'm bothering atm - back to my windows 7 drive, because i'm really not liking metro at all.
 

Phusius

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Yeah, it is kind of tricky to check to see if Windows is activated, I right clicked an App, then went to bottom right hand corner on Start Page, All Apps, then My Computer, then highlight my C Drive, then at top it says System Properties.

That is the only way to see if it is activated and mine says it is.

Sorry your having such a hard time Mussels. I recommend most people just upgrade straight with Win 7 still installed like I did, just choose Do nothing when it comes to files and folders, etc. Then it is still a fresh install, just everything is put into a windows.old folder, and you can pick and choose what you want to keep, then delete it with Disk Cleanup.
 

miguefer

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Can a kind sir, please pm the sign up the promo email for windows 8. I've tried every method imaginable and everyone of them requires a windows 7 validation method.

pleaseee im from venezuela and i wont let me do it always ask me de validation key please someone sing me up for the code :(
 

jimborae

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Hi All, just to say I was getting the key validation thing on page 2 as well and tried all the mentioned work arounds. What worked for me was to do the upgrade from the correct location page. When I tried and failed I was trying to do it from the US update page however when I switched location to the United Kingdom, (correct for me being UK based), it worked and didn't ask to validate my W7 key.
 
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Yeah, it is kind of tricky to check to see if Windows is activated, I right clicked an App, then went to bottom right hand corner on Start Page, All Apps, then My Computer, then highlight my C Drive, then at top it says System Properties.

That is the only way to see if it is activated and mine says it is.

From the desktop is easier. Mouse on the bottom right corner, settings then PC Info.
 

Huddo93

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Just did this for my custom PC, worked like a treat. Thanks for the thread!
 

Mussels

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to all the people signing up asking for help: dont.

we are NOT going to help you cheat the system, if this deal isnt available anymore, or not available in your country.
 
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