Easy Windows (8) activation question

hugobosslives · 20 Sep 2013 at 10:30

So I have a full windows 8 license that I installed myself.

I want to use it to install windows and ubuntu on a different ssd.

Question: Do you have to deactivate the licence on the previous installation before installing on the new? How does microsoft know that there are not two computers using that key?

Orcvader · 20 Sep 2013 at 12:23

You don't do anything to the old installation. Just install it over the top. It's ok to use multiple installs with the same key, so long as they're not on at the same time.

hugobosslives · 20 Sep 2013 at 14:34

Since posting I did some googling and lots of people suggest deactivating via cmd:

slmgr.vbs -upk

etc?

Any further clarification on what this achieves then or is it unnecessary?

Orcvader · 20 Sep 2013 at 15:59

It's unnecessary. Yes that command deactivate Windows, but that's all it does. You don't need to do this, all you do is activate the fresh Windows install with the key, meaning you can't use the old install anymore as the key is now used on the new install.

Back to what you're trying to do, is your current Windows install already on the SSD you want it to be? Can't you just leave it and install Ubuntu on the other SSD? I see no reason for you to reinstall Windows.

Deleted member 77746 · 20 Sep 2013 at 16:01

If it was easy WHY did you have to ask.

*sigh*

hugobosslives · 20 Sep 2013 at 16:16

Orcvader said:
It's unnecessary. Yes that command deactivate Windows, but that's all it does. You don't need to do this, all you do is activate the fresh Windows install with the key, meaning you can't use the old install anymore as the key is now used on the new install.

Back to what you're trying to do, is your current Windows install already on the SSD you want it to be? Can't you just leave it and install Ubuntu on the other SSD? I see no reason for you to reinstall Windows.

Nah its currently on a mechanical disk. I don't want all the crap from the old dual boot hence the fresh install. So I will format the HDD and assign a letter to use for storage purposes with the two OS's on the SSD.

Out of interest then. If you say have a computer that runs windows 8. Shut it down and install that key on a new windows 8 activation. Then if the first computer is turned on again (with internet). Does it then say its not activated....?

Orcvader · 20 Sep 2013 at 16:26

I'm not sure with Windows 8, but I remember a friend dual booting 32-bit and 64-bit Vista with the same key and both said they were activated. It was impossible for both installations to be on at the same time anyway...