I hope people don’t think I’m really actually implying pirating here, which I’m not.
I upgraded to Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center Pack from my Windows 8.1 Pro Preview. For convenience, I grabbed it through the Store app. For more convenience, the address was ms-windows-store:WindowsUpgrade. Type that into your address bar, and you’ll see.
The problem I am having here is, after I installed 8.1 Pro with Media Center, it asks me for a product key. But I don’t have one, I just upgraded it through the Store. So I need help getting a product key or at the very least getting rid of this annoying message and not have it restrict access to some of my settings.
For even more convenience, my computer’s original OS was Windows 7 Ultimate. Then I upgraded it to Windows 8 Pro with Media Center Pack. After that, Windows 8.1 Pro Preview, then Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center Pack. For much more convenience, I installed 8 Pro over 7 Ultimate using a genuine copy, then installed 8.1 Pro Preview over 8 Pro with the ISO file Microsoft had available on their website at the time. They also provided people with the product key.
So basically, TL;DR, when I upgraded to 8.1 Pro from 8.1 Pro Preview via the Store, it asks me for a product key, but I don’t have one. The Store URL I entered in was ms-windows-store:WindowsUpgrade. You just copy that into your address bar and enter it in.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
ohaikthxbai and stuff ~~~
lol/Rant/Whatever of the…!: Beyond: Two Souls is a sad/depressing game. Not like the ending of Mother 3 isn’t more sad.
Since IPBoard loves to glitch out, I’m forced to use the limited powers of copy and paste to show a quote from someone.
> BKrenz said:
>> I believe OP's issue lies in he thinks he needs a separate key for 8.1 than 8. Should just be able to use the same key.
Windows doesn’t accept the 8.1 preview product key for the 8.1 final build, yes, that is my issue. Since I just downloaded the final build from the Store, I never got a product key.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
ohaikthxbai and stuff ~~~
lol/Rant/Whatever of the…!: Beyond: Two Souls is a sad/depressing game. Not like the ending of Mother 3 isn’t more sad.
> fm87 said:
>> IIRC it should be the same product key as your windows 8 install.
>>
>> 8.1 is just a service pack, essentially.
Microsoft gave me a key when I was downloading the 8.1 Preview ISO from their website (8.1 Preview isn’t available to download anymore), and it worked, I’m assuming they won’t give me a specific product key if it didnt matter.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
ohaikthxbai and stuff ~~~
lol/Rant/Whatever of the…!: Beyond: Two Souls is a sad/depressing game. Not like the ending of Mother 3 isn’t more sad.
The key they give you with the preview is to get like a 60 day trial instead of a 30 day trial or something like that.
You should be able to use the Win8 key in the box you bought it in (Assuming you didn't buy it from Microsoft's website)
Then, if you went for the free media center thing with Win8 that Microsoft had for a while, you use that key after the first one in the add features section of the control panel.
I upgraded to Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center Pack from my Windows 8.1 Pro Preview. For convenience, I grabbed it through the Store app. For more convenience, the address was ms-windows-store:WindowsUpgrade. Type that into your address bar, and you’ll see.
Upgrading to Windows 8.1 Pro With Media Center Pack from 8.1 Pro Preview is not a valid install path.
The problem I am having here is, after I installed 8.1 Pro with Media Center, it asks me for a product key. But I don’t have one, I just upgraded it through the Store.
Windows 8.1 has a different Product Key from Windows 8.
It looks more like the Windows 8.1 Pro With Media Pack installer has a loophole that lets it install on Pro Preview; the Pro Preview does not have a Product Key (it was a free preview installation). In fact, upgrading from the 8.1 Preview was distinctly not supported at all; even upgrading to Windows 8.1 RTM from the Pro Preview was not possible and required a reinstall, so I'm not sure what you did. I cannot help but see the similarities since the Media Center Packs have been used to turn unlicensed/'demo' versions of Windows into illegitimate versions that think they are licensed.
The 8.1 Pro Preview doesn't give you a Product Key; only the upgrade from Windows 8 to the official RTM of Windows 8.1 will actually 'install' the proper license information for the release version. Your install path was basically a loophole. You were able to install the software (Windows 8.1 Pro With Media Center) without a legitimate key.
After the upgrade you of course are prompted for a key because there isn't one.
For even more convenience, my computer’s original OS was Windows 7 Ultimate. Then I upgraded it to Windows 8 Pro with Media Center Pack. After that, Windows 8.1 Pro Preview, then Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center Pack.
I cannot help but find this install path strangely coincidental, since the Media Center Pack installers don't do a full license check- Windows 8 Pro with MEdia Center Pack's installer will let you upgrade to Windows 8 without a Key. The Windows 8.1 Pro With Media Center Pack however fixes this partly by re-instating some license check logic, which you are now encountering. Congratulations, it was a good run.
For much more convenience, I installed 8 Pro over 7 Ultimate using a genuine copy, then installed 8.1 Pro Preview over 8 Pro with the ISO file Microsoft had available on their website at the time. They also provided people with the product key.
Windows 8 Pro Preview didn't update License information for Windows. You had to upgrade to the RTM of 8.1 from windows 8 itself to do that. Pro Preview's License keys expired recently. I believe they were static (on MSDN the 8.1 Previews were listed as "No Product Key Required")
The only supported Upgrade path from Windows 8.1 Preview versions to 8.1 Release version is a clean install. You've tried to circumvent that, either on purpose or by coincidence, and you've discovered that it doesn't work.
Another theory is that you used the Windows 8 Media Center key to add the Media Center components to Windows 8.1... which replaced your existing 8.1 Product key with the product key for Windows 8.0 Media Center Edition, which is not a valid Windows 8.1 Product key, thus you get the prompt.
I upgraded to Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center Pack from my Windows 8.1 Pro Preview. For convenience, I grabbed it through the Store app. For more convenience, the address was ms-windows-store:WindowsUpgrade. Type that into your address bar, and you’ll see.
The problem I am having here is, after I installed 8.1 Pro with Media Center, it asks me for a product key. But I don’t have one, I just upgraded it through the Store. So I need help getting a product key or at the very least getting rid of this annoying message and not have it restrict access to some of my settings.
For even more convenience, my computer’s original OS was Windows 7 Ultimate. Then I upgraded it to Windows 8 Pro with Media Center Pack. After that, Windows 8.1 Pro Preview, then Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center Pack. For much more convenience, I installed 8 Pro over 7 Ultimate using a genuine copy, then installed 8.1 Pro Preview over 8 Pro with the ISO file Microsoft had available on their website at the time. They also provided people with the product key.
So basically, TL;DR, when I upgraded to 8.1 Pro from 8.1 Pro Preview via the Store, it asks me for a product key, but I don’t have one. The Store URL I entered in was ms-windows-store:WindowsUpgrade. You just copy that into your address bar and enter it in.
lol/Rant/Whatever of the…!: Beyond: Two Souls is a sad/depressing game. Not like the ending of Mother 3 isn’t more sad.
You never bought windows 8, so it is asking you for a product key, since you do not have one because you upgraded from the preview.
You aren't going to just get windows for free like that.
He said he bought W8 and installed that. Then upgraded to 8.1 Preview. Then upgraded to release 8.1. He should still have his W8 key.
"Programmers never repeat themselves. They loop."
In that case why is he saying he doesn't have a key?
That's what I interpreted this to mean:
I believe OP's issue lies in he thinks he needs a separate key for 8.1 than 8. Should just be able to use the same key.
"Programmers never repeat themselves. They loop."
> BKrenz said:
>> I believe OP's issue lies in he thinks he needs a separate key for 8.1 than 8. Should just be able to use the same key.
Windows doesn’t accept the 8.1 preview product key for the 8.1 final build, yes, that is my issue. Since I just downloaded the final build from the Store, I never got a product key.
lol/Rant/Whatever of the…!: Beyond: Two Souls is a sad/depressing game. Not like the ending of Mother 3 isn’t more sad.
8.1 is just a service pack, essentially.
>> IIRC it should be the same product key as your windows 8 install.
>>
>> 8.1 is just a service pack, essentially.
Microsoft gave me a key when I was downloading the 8.1 Preview ISO from their website (8.1 Preview isn’t available to download anymore), and it worked, I’m assuming they won’t give me a specific product key if it didnt matter.
lol/Rant/Whatever of the…!: Beyond: Two Souls is a sad/depressing game. Not like the ending of Mother 3 isn’t more sad.
Did you ever at one point purchase windows 8?
>> I meant your original windows 8 key, not the 8.1 preview.
>>
>> Did you ever at one point purchase windows 8?
Yes. But why would they give me a specific key for 8.1 Pro Preview if you could just use a Windows 8 Pro key?
lol/Rant/Whatever of the…!: Beyond: Two Souls is a sad/depressing game. Not like the ending of Mother 3 isn’t more sad.
You should be able to use the Win8 key in the box you bought it in (Assuming you didn't buy it from Microsoft's website)
Then, if you went for the free media center thing with Win8 that Microsoft had for a while, you use that key after the first one in the add features section of the control panel.
Upgrading to Windows 8.1 Pro With Media Center Pack from 8.1 Pro Preview is not a valid install path.
Windows 8.1 has a different Product Key from Windows 8.
It looks more like the Windows 8.1 Pro With Media Pack installer has a loophole that lets it install on Pro Preview; the Pro Preview does not have a Product Key (it was a free preview installation). In fact, upgrading from the 8.1 Preview was distinctly not supported at all; even upgrading to Windows 8.1 RTM from the Pro Preview was not possible and required a reinstall, so I'm not sure what you did. I cannot help but see the similarities since the Media Center Packs have been used to turn unlicensed/'demo' versions of Windows into illegitimate versions that think they are licensed.
The 8.1 Pro Preview doesn't give you a Product Key; only the upgrade from Windows 8 to the official RTM of Windows 8.1 will actually 'install' the proper license information for the release version. Your install path was basically a loophole. You were able to install the software (Windows 8.1 Pro With Media Center) without a legitimate key.
After the upgrade you of course are prompted for a key because there isn't one.
I cannot help but find this install path strangely coincidental, since the Media Center Pack installers don't do a full license check- Windows 8 Pro with MEdia Center Pack's installer will let you upgrade to Windows 8 without a Key. The Windows 8.1 Pro With Media Center Pack however fixes this partly by re-instating some license check logic, which you are now encountering. Congratulations, it was a good run.
Windows 8 Pro Preview didn't update License information for Windows. You had to upgrade to the RTM of 8.1 from windows 8 itself to do that. Pro Preview's License keys expired recently. I believe they were static (on MSDN the 8.1 Previews were listed as "No Product Key Required")
The only supported Upgrade path from Windows 8.1 Preview versions to 8.1 Release version is a clean install. You've tried to circumvent that, either on purpose or by coincidence, and you've discovered that it doesn't work.
Another theory is that you used the Windows 8 Media Center key to add the Media Center components to Windows 8.1... which replaced your existing 8.1 Product key with the product key for Windows 8.0 Media Center Edition, which is not a valid Windows 8.1 Product key, thus you get the prompt.
>> You aren't grasping what I'm saying.
I am, actually. And this is where using my 8 with Media Center key gets me:
(Ignore the comments about my favorite pairing pls)
> BC_Programming said: …erm well idk stuff
So should I just have upgraded to 8.1 Pro w/ Media Center by buying it instead of downloading it directly from the Store?
lol/Rant/Whatever of the…!: Beyond: Two Souls is a sad/depressing game. Not like the ending of Mother 3 isn’t more sad.