Anyone can upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for $14.99.

silkstone · Nov 15, 2012

I have a student with a laptop that was bought about 6 weeks ago try to use this offer, i typed all the information in for him, but it still would not accept the Key

Edit- I got it to work. The laptop was bought in the US, so i had to set my location to the US

Jetster · Nov 15, 2012

Success. First try, burned ISO to a DVD for a fresh install later.

So it leaves the ESD folder on your hard drive. Can you just delete it with non issues? I have a SSD and space is limited. I burnt the ISO and saved it for later

Mussels · Nov 15, 2012

Jetster said:
Success. First try, burned ISO to a DVD for a fresh install later.

So it leaves the ESD folder on your hard drive. Can you just delete it with non issues? I have a SSD and space is limited. I burnt the ISO and saved it for later

you can fresh install, but trust me - upgrade over the top of that fresh install.

Jetster · Nov 15, 2012

Mussels said:
you can fresh install, but trust me - upgrade over the top of that fresh install.

That doesn't make sense. Please explain. I was going to fresh install

silkstone · Nov 15, 2012

Jetster said:
That doesn't make sense. Please explain. I was going to fresh install

apparently, with a fresh install windows 8 becomes deactivated after a week or two. Crappy system if you ever need to re-install an upgrade edition.

brandonwh64 · Nov 15, 2012

silkstone said:
apparently, with a fresh install windows 8 becomes deactivated after a week or two. Crappy system if you ever need to re-install an upgrade edition.

The fix I found in the OP worked great for me on a clean install. I would try it out before doing two installs.

tacosRcool · Nov 15, 2012

I have upgraded my laptop which I bought in 2010 for $15.

I know sometimes when you upgrade it will ask you a valid windows product key code before you enter it. There were some other problems that happened with other people. For me it was absolutely no verification of whether i had windows 7 or not. I actually did all the stuff on my other windows 8 desktop and still ended up installing it on my laptop later on.

Norton · Nov 15, 2012

Jetster said:
That doesn't make sense. Please explain. I was going to fresh install

A windows upgrade needs something to upgrade from- If you install and don't activate (don't even bother to hook up to the net, install drivers, etc..) and then install again as soon as you get it to boot to the desktop (or whatever it is now) then the Windows 8 upgrade will upgrade the previous install, which is Windows 8.

Needed to do this every time I used my Win7 HP upgrade disk to do a fresh install... worked every time

Bit of a pita but it works.

Jetster · Nov 15, 2012

So a ful install wont work. You have to install and then reinstall. Or use the fix in the first post?

TheMailMan78 · Nov 15, 2012

Jetster said:
So a ful install wont work. You have to install and then reinstall. Or use the fix in the first post?

Not true. You can do a full clean install and activate. You do not have to install twice.

Norton · Nov 15, 2012

Jetster said:
So a ful install wont work. You have to install and then reinstall. Or use the fix in the first post?

The fix probably works fine but I've not tried anything else since it only takes maybe 15 minutes to drop a rough install onto the hard drive before doing the second one.

Just enough time to wash the dishes in the sink and make a nice snack to have while loading everything up, activating, installing, updating, etc, etc,. :cool:

TheMailMan78 · Nov 15, 2012

Here......

http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2770951&postcount=462

IF it doesn't activate just use the automated service in the system properties. Much quicker and less wear on your SSD.

Jetster · Nov 15, 2012

TheMailMan78 said:
Here......

http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2770951&postcount=462

IF it doesn't activate just use the automated service in the system properties. Much quicker and less wear on your SSD.

Thank for the help. I haven't installed it yet but feel I'm prepared now when I do

So i have a HTPC and a gaming PC which one should I install it on?

Crap Daddy · Nov 15, 2012

jetster said:
thank for the help. I haven't installed it yet but feel i'm prepared now when i do :d so i have a htpc and a gaming pc which one should i install it on?

htpc

Nordic · Nov 15, 2012

Norton said:
A windows upgrade needs something to upgrade from- If you install and don't activate (don't even bother to hook up to the net, install drivers, etc..) and then install again as soon as you get it to boot to the desktop (or whatever it is now) then the Windows 8 upgrade will upgrade the previous install, which is Windows 8.

Needed to do this every time I used my Win7 HP upgrade disk to do a fresh install... worked every time Bit of a pita but it works.

TheMailMan78 said:
Here......

http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2770951&postcount=462

IF it doesn't activate just use the automated service in the system properties. Much quicker and less wear on your SSD.

I have been unable to activate at all. The fix in the OP does not work for me. I will try these.

GLD · Nov 15, 2012

So to install this Win8 it's just like the usuall upgrade disk path. Clean install then turn right around and clean install over it. You just have to install twice to make it read the key/activate correctly?

Had to do this with Vista upgrade before. A pain but worth it for the $.

voyager1 · Nov 17, 2012

32 to 64 bit upgrade

So, How can I DL a 64 bit version of 8 on a 32 bit Windows 7 ?

qfox · Nov 18, 2012

anyone can share spare promo code kindly pm me t.y.

seems other countries can't get rid of the valid key confirmation so anyone can try it and share it. t.y.

TRWOV · Nov 18, 2012

silkstone said:
apparently, with a fresh install windows 8 becomes deactivated after a week or two. Crappy system if you ever need to re-install an upgrade edition.

I don't know what I did but the install in my main rig is still activated :confused:

I haven't used the reg fix or anything. Straight fresh install since Oct 27th.

Maybe it reads a hardware hash or something? I installed W8 in the same machine I ran the Upgrade Advisor, I've seen others try it in their laptops or secondary systems first. Maybe that's something to take into account? :ohwell:

The install on my HTPC became inactivated after a few days. Didn't really notice any change until I tried to run Windows Update today.

TRWOV · Nov 22, 2012

Agility said:
Hey guys, just double confirming. So if i were to buy the upgrade to windows 8, i am provided with a key right? This upgrade thingy is only checking if you have compatible hardware and either XP/Vista/Win7 to enjoy the discount. So what we're buying now is A.K.A full Windows 8 PRO w/ its own key and not some Windows 8 PRO upgrade only (Meaning i need to install my XP/Vista/Win7 first before upgrading to Win8)

Can't seem to find any FAQ for that. Kick my nuts if you found em

You're getting an upgrade version (same thing you can get in stores for $69.99) but some people (me

) have had luck in getting a fresh install. for others the install doesn't activate unless you use the registry edit detailed in the first post.

Nordic · Nov 22, 2012

TRWOV said:
You're getting an upgrade version (same thing you can get in stores for $69.99) but some people (me ) have had luck in getting a fresh install. for others the install doesn't activate unless you use the registry edit detailed in the first post.

For some, like me, the registry edit still does not work.

TRWOV · Nov 23, 2012

james888 said:
For some, like me, the registry edit still does not work.

I think I've come across the answer: if there is a previous W7 install in the HDD, a fresh W8 install will activate with no problems (delete the W7 partitions in the W8 installer).

I noticed when installing W8 in my AGP rig and wouldn't activate even though my HTPC and main rig activated with no problems. I noticed that the only difference was that I used a previously formatted HDD and the other two had W7 installs in them. So I installed W7 Starter in the AGP rig's HDD and then made a fresh W8 install and it activated fine.

Also, only OEM keys work as validation for the $15 upgrade offer. Retail keys don't work and it seems that Starter can't get into the offer too.

Nordic · Nov 23, 2012

TRWOV said:
I think I've come across the answer: if there is a previous W7 install in the HDD, a fresh W8 install will activate with no problems (delete the W7 partitions in the W8 installer).

I noticed when installing W8 in my AGP rig and wouldn't activate even though my HTPC and main rig activated with no problems. I noticed that the only difference was that I used a previously formatted HDD and the other two had W7 installs in them. So I installed W7 Starter in the AGP rig's HDD and then made a fresh W8 install and it activated fine.

Also, only OEM keys work as validation for the $15 upgrade offer. Retail keys don't work and it seems that Starter can't get into the offer too.

I installed it on my laptop which had windows 7 pre installed. I could not just install windows 8. I had to use gparted to delete all partitions and then use the windows 8 installer to reformat it. Then I could install windows 8. Whenever I get around to it I plan on reinstalling windows 7 and then upgrading. I tried once but it would not accept my windows 7 key that is on the bottom of my laptop.

TRWOV · Nov 23, 2012

them I'm out of ideas. I really thought I had hit the nail in the head

Mussels · Nov 23, 2012

james888 said:
I installed it on my laptop which had windows 7 pre installed. I could not just install windows 8. I had to use gparted to delete all partitions and then use the windows 8 installer to reformat it. Then I could install windows 8. Whenever I get around to it I plan on reinstalling windows 7 and then upgrading. I tried once but it would not accept my windows 7 key that is on the bottom of my laptop.

you need to activate via the phone method, to use OEM keys with a retail installer.

System Name	Gaming System / HTPC-Server
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Video Card(s)	Galax RTX 3090 SG 24GB: Underclocked to 1700Mhz 0.750v (375W down to 250W))
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System Name	Juliette // My HTPC
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Video Card(s)	ASUS RTX4070 OC// ASUS RTX 4060 OC
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Case	Seasonic SYNCRO Q7// Silverstone Granada GD05
Audio Device(s)	Focusrite Scarlett 4i4 // HDMI to Samsung HW-R650 sound bar
Power Supply	Seasonic SYNCRO 750 W // CORSAIR Vengeance 650M
Mouse	G903 and a Master Mouse MM710/No mouse, MS game copntroller
Keyboard	EVGA / Logitech K400
Software	Windows 11 Pro // Windows 10 Pro

System Name	Gaming System / HTPC-Server
Processor	i7 8700K (@4.8 Ghz All-Core) / R7 5900X
Motherboard	Z370 Aorus Ultra Gaming / MSI B450 Mortar Max
Cooling	CM ML360 / CM ML240L
Memory	16Gb Hynix @3200 MHz / 16Gb Hynix @3000Mhz
Video Card(s)	Zotac 3080 / Colorful 1060
Storage	750G MX300 + 2x500G NVMe / 40Tb Reds + 1Tb WD Blue NVMe
Display(s)	LG 27GN800-B 27'' 2K 144Hz / Sony TV
Case	Xigmatek Aquarius Plus / Corsair Air 240
Audio Device(s)	On Board Realtek
Power Supply	Super Flower Leadex III Gold 750W / Andyson TX-700 Platinum
Mouse	Logitech G502 Hero / K400+
Keyboard	Wooting Two / K400+
Software	Windows 10 x64
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Anyone can upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for $14.99.

silkstone

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