Buy windows 8 Key only

SoundEng · 13 Jan 2013 at 02:17

Hi all,

I'm wondering if its possible to buy a key for win 8 pro off Microsoft just using their £24.99 deal?

I don't have any windows 7 pc's to trick it into thinking I'm upgrading and it giving me a key.

(I basically installed the OS using an ISO and now need to buy a key to activate but the upgrade assistant obviously doesn't work on windows 8...)

Is this possible?

Cheers

Speed · 13 Jan 2013 at 03:01

I came across this issue upgrading a few laptops and what I did was simply install a copy of Windows 7 from a USB stick (which is very quick) with no product code entered. During installation I just left the product code box empty, unticked activate automatically and clicked next. Installed LAN drivers if required, ran the Upgrade Assistant, purchase the key and then used it on what ever system I needed to.

Easier if you have a spare hard drive or SSD, but a partition should do the trick as well. Bit of a pain obviously, but it is the easiest way I've found. The other option is use a Virtual Machine to install a copy of Windows 7, might be less hassle for many but as I have no VM experience I went with what I knew.

chaparral · 13 Jan 2013 at 03:50

hellarda said:
(I basically installed the OS using an ISO and now need to buy a key to activate but the upgrade assistant obviously doesn't work on windows 8...)

Is this possible?

Cheers

I bought my 3 w8 pro keys by using the w8 CP..........

bash25 · 29 Jan 2013 at 21:23

Hi Chaparral,

How much did u pay ?

As microsoft are trying to charge me 49.99 to upgrade from Windows 8 (x64) to Windows 8 Pro (x64)

They are charging 14.99 to upgrade from older OS kike XP to Windows 8 Pro

Bashy

Speed · 29 Jan 2013 at 21:32

£14.99 only applies if you have an upgrade code from a recently purchased Windows 7 machine. The codes are about to expire so often you can pick one up from someone on the forums who doesn't need it.

My suggestion is to do what I suggested.

The Running Man · 29 Jan 2013 at 21:39

bash25 said:
Hi Chaparral,

How much did u pay ?

As microsoft are trying to charge me 49.99 to upgrade from Windows 8 (x64) to Windows 8 Pro (x64)

They are charging 14.99 to upgrade from older OS kike XP to Windows 8 Pro

Bashy

24.99 here

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/windows/buy

HighlandeR · 29 Jan 2013 at 21:52

Ive heard one can install a clean copy of windows 8 and then just upgrade using the key from the £24.99 deal and it activates ?

If that is correct, that sounds a nice and simply way to do it.

The Running Man · 29 Jan 2013 at 22:04

You can download the clean iso from Microsoft when you buy it. You then burn the I so or prepare USB. Format, install win 8. Try to activate if it says no you need to tweak the registrytoactivate it. Some do some don't need to do this part. I did took all of 2 mins.

bash25 · 29 Jan 2013 at 22:15

Right guys I am really confused.

I have purchased an Asus laptop on the 25/01 this year, which came with Windows 8 (x64).

I want to upgrade it to Windows 8 Pro (x64). Can I purchase the Windows 8 Pro pack, which currently cost 24.99 ?

Also does this mean I am correctly licensed ?

Bashy

bash25 · 29 Jan 2013 at 22:30

The Running Man said:
24.99 here

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/windows/buy

I have tried that earlier this morning and it was moaning about not available in the country / region. I believe this is because I ran it on my Windows 8 laptop.

Bashy.

HighlandeR · 29 Jan 2013 at 22:57

The Running Man said:
You can download the clean iso from Microsoft when you buy it. You then burn the I so or prepare USB. Format, install win 8. Try to activate if it says no you need to tweak the registrytoactivate it. Some do some don't need to do this part. I did took all of 2 mins.

thx but whats this tweak?

The Running Man · 29 Jan 2013 at 23:08

HighlandeR said:
thx but whats this tweak?

1. Run the registry editor (regedit)
2. Find the following key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup\OOBE
3. Change the value for 'MediaBootInstall' from 1 to 0
4. Open an elevated command prompt (run as admin)
5. Run the following command: slmgr -rearm
6. Reboot

lsg1r · 29 Jan 2013 at 23:15

The Running Man said:
1. Run the registry editor (regedit)
2. Find the following key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup\OOBE
3. Change the value for 'MediaBootInstall' from 1 to 0
4. Open an elevated command prompt (run as admin)
5. Run the following command: slmgr -rearm
6. Reboot

thats what I did

Downloaded the 'upgrade' iso (on win 7 but makes no difference really).

I wanted a clean install so ended up wiping my drives first as win 8 upgrade kept wanting to 'upgrade' them.

Once I'd got past that I just installed as normal, stuck upgrade code in and when in windows did the above (which misses the imputing of the upgrade code) and then stuck in the free media centre code, not that I'm ever likely to use it

You can just buy another code without redownloading the disc too

gareth170 · 29 Jan 2013 at 23:15

bash25 said:
Right guys I am really confused.

I have purchased an Asus laptop on the 25/01 this year, which came with Windows 8 (x64).

I want to upgrade it to Windows 8 Pro (x64). Can I purchase the Windows 8 Pro pack, which currently cost 24.99 ?

Also does this mean I am correctly licensed ?

Bashy

the Windows 8 Pro pack is £49.99 which is for Windows 8. the MS Windows 8 Pro upgrade offer is £24.99 which is for XP SP3 / Vista / Windows 7