So what happens to product key when you upgrade to win 8.1?

Orionaut

Orionaut

Orionaut

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Background.

Back when win 8 was first introduced I got upgrades for all my families machines.

(The £25 a pop upgrades)

These were all installed using the product keys provided by the on line store

Subsequently I got the free media player upgrades.

(Which came in the form of a different product key that had to be entered)

(At this point I took it for granted that any re-installation would require me to reload Win 8 using the original key and then upgrade it using the media player key. Though I may well be wrong and it may be possible to do so in one hit by using the media player product code during the original installation - or not of course.)

Subsequently I got the Win 8.1 upgrade.

Now

I have just checked my product code using one of the many utilities that are available for doing so and i now find I have a completely unknown product key:confused:

So.

1) Does the act of upgrading from win8 to Win8.1 generate and store a new product key (I can see why it might)

2) If I wish to do a clean load using a win 8.1 ISO, can I use the product key that is now being reported to activate it or is this a bit of a red herring meaning that I still have to reload my original version of Win 8 with its PK, then apply the MP key, then apply the upgrade via MS Store.

(Or alternatively use one of the other workarounds involving the use of a public place-holder key and then change it to my own old win8/Media Player ones)

3) Why does Micro$oft make it so ****ing hard! :mad:
 
As far as I am aware the Media Centre key is only for that and that the original key which you got when you bought Windows 8 is still the main key you use when doing a reinstall. If you want to add the Windows Media centre add on you can can using the key provided for this.

Best way to do a fresh install is download your correct copy of Windows 8.1, install using a place holder key then once you up and running enter your Windows key then add the Media Centre add-on. (Your Key will work for 8 or 8.1)
 
RJC said:
As far as I am aware the Media Centre key is only for that and that the original key which you got when you bought Windows 8 is still the main key you use when doing a reinstall. If you want to add the Windows Media centre add on you can can using the key provided for this.

Best way to do a fresh install is download your correct copy of Windows 8.1, install using a place holder key then once you up and running enter your Windows key then add the Media Centre add-on. (Your Key will work for 8 or 8.1)
Click to expand...

Thank you for quick response.

While my main concern is about the reinstallation issue (which you have answered nicely)

I am still puzzled about why my current reported product key is totally unlike any of the product keys I have already been supplied with and have previously used?

Part of the problem is that I do not entirely trust my record keeping as regards which keys were used with which computers. I upgraded 5 machines. I was wanting to find out by "Reverse engineering" by using the current product keys to ensure that I dont get them all mixed up. the trouble is that the way MS seems to be doing it makes it really very difficult to do this. :(

(Does MS have a product key/activation history that can be accessesd somehow so that I can find out which keys were originally used with which machines)
 
That is strange, whether Windows has got slight corruption and reporting the incorrect key I am puzzled as well.

I would not worry to much, you may still need to Phone the activation line as sometimes the auto activation fails, least you had a go at trying to get the correct key to the correct machine - nothing never goes easy :D

I don't think there is to the last part of your question.
 
Had the same problem with the wifes key although I upgraded to windows 8 from the consumer preview for £25 I then used the media center upgrade key.....

In Jan she had a major system upgrade and a fresh install of windows only to be met with a wrong key for this version error message. had long misplaced the original key had a lengthy (2.5 hours) phone call to MS being passed from pillar to post and told i would have to buy tech support package for £120 before finally finding hard proof via my paypal account that I had actually paid cash to MS and not brought a dodgy key from a 3rd party. they emailed me my original key but told me it would only work with win 8 and would have to upgrade after to 8.1 they were wrong. worked fine with a win 8.1 iso

hope that helped
 
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Out of interest when you called MS, did you call the US peeps? I remember having two very different conversations with them. The UK were horrendous, but the US help was awesome. (I somehow got through to the US guys by mistake from the UK.)

Good luck with the key. ..i am currently doing the reinstall myself now along with media center etc.
 
Well hope this helps. I originally bought Win 8 Pro which I later upgraded to 8.1 Pro via the store. Then I had to re-install Win and tried the 8.1 Iso via Usb which worked and activated with my original Win 8 Pro key on internet, no phone calls. :D
 
Scougar said:
Out of interest when you called MS, did you call the US peeps? I remember having two very different conversations with them. The UK were horrendous, but the US help was awesome. (I somehow got through to the US guys by mistake from the UK.)

Good luck with the key. ..i am currently doing the reinstall myself now along with media center etc.
Click to expand...

It was a UK number although everyone I spoke to was foreign.
 
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