Has Microsoft thought this through?

robmar0se

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You cannot activate Windows 8 if you do a clean install from the win 8 upgrade disk. You receive the following message when you attempt to activate:

Software Licensing Service determined specific product key can only be used for upgrading and not for a clean install.

So if my hdd went awol and needed to re-install on a clean/new hdd. Under these circumstances you wouldn't be allowed to reinstall with the original product key.

The answer is of course that one needs to retain a disk image of the original install after an upgrade, but like many other professionals we prefer clean installs rather than upgrades. Then what does one do after service packs come out? Wouldn't be able to slipstream them.

Do we love Microsoft?
 

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MS has royally botched this.

Should only EVER have to activate ONCE ONLY.

No phoning MS, no re-activating after a re-install, nothing.

MS' restrictions are driving people away.

It's been getting worse and more annoying since Vista.

No wonder so many still love XP, it's because THEY and not MS control their computers.

Installing Win 8 hands control of your computer to MS.
 

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If you only had the activate once, how would you be prevented from using the same install media and installing Windows on 5 different computers at home?
 

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I'd like to thank you very much for showing me how to do this, but what a blinking palaver - has Microsoft really gone mad?

As for the eula, saying that by using the upgrade we loose the right to use the prior version, what absolute nonsense. Does this mean if I have a retail copy of XP, Vista, 7, or if I have multiple copies I can't use them? What about sole traders that need multiple systems as part of their work? I'd like to see a test case, I expect it would be laughed out of court.

I'm still trying to find my way around 8, my first impressions is that it is much more difficult to find things, I don't particularly like the "metro" style; I deal with a lot of older folks, if they have to move from say XP as many of them are, they will be totally lost. I understand the need to go down the path of phones/tablets, but surely they could have provided a "Classic" alternative GUI.

Personally I withhold judgement, but I'm afraid it will be another Vista, folks other than the very young will resist relearning, and I guess corporates will too.

Kat
MS has royally botched this.

Should only EVER have to activate ONCE ONLY.

No phoning MS, no re-activating after a re-install, nothing.

MS' restrictions are driving people away.

It's been getting worse and more annoying since Vista.

No wonder so many still love XP, it's because THEY and not MS control their computers.

Installing Win 8 hands control of your computer to MS.​

A little strong, I don't mind re-activating when a clean re-install is necessary, some like to do it as a housekeeping exercise on a regular basis, others are forced to re-install because their hdd has died. In these cases there shouldn't be any hassle to re-activate.

What Microsoft has introduced here is a totally unnecessary process, which the workaround provided by Theog rather proves is ill-thought out (but grateful for him/her providing the info - intrigued as to how the workaround was discovered?0
 

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    4gb
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    nvidia 7200
if you tied it to the motherboard (like they do) and have an internet connection they should be able to make it less of a hassle just by verifying your on the same board, if so then you're good to go. but the upgrade copy is a pain in the arse to re-install
 

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    Windows 8 Pro x64
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Well, setting up SLIC tables or activation hashes into non-OEM motherboards isn't something that's really been done before by anyone. It sounds good on paper, but it doesn't actually exist in the real world to lean on, unfortunately.
 

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MS has royally botched this.

Should only EVER have to activate ONCE ONLY.

No phoning MS, no re-activating after a re-install, nothing.

MS' restrictions are driving people away.

It's been getting worse and more annoying since Vista.

No wonder so many still love XP, it's because THEY and not MS control their computers.

Installing Win 8 hands control of your computer to MS.

What??

XP introduced Windows Product Activation. It wasn't that much friendlier than Vista or 7. (Windows 8 seems to have tightened things up a bit more; the old double-install trick may not work in terms of installing 8 on a blank drive using an upgrade license.)

The nice feature I recall about the XP Upgrade version was that you didn't need to have a qualifying OS installed on the drive. All you had to do was insert an installation disc for a qualifying OS in the machine at some point during the XP installation.

Of course, you could use one (copyable) OS disc to qualify any number of XP installations using upgrade licenses, which I wouldn't expect Microsoft to encourage.
 

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As far as loosing your License after upgrading to Windows 8, I installed my OEM Windows 7 Ultimate that I upgraded from and installed it on another Home PC, It only required a quick call to the Microsoft automated center and they activated windows without any problems....I have used the OEM windows 7 disc on 3 seperate Buiilds, 2 upgrades that were complete system builds and now a upgrade from Vista on another..no issues other than making the quick phone call for activation...
 

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As far as loosing your License after upgrading to Windows 8, I installed my OEM Windows 7 Ultimate that I upgraded from and installed it on another Home PC, It only required a quick call to the Microsoft automated center and they activated windows without any problems....I have used the OEM windows 7 disc on 3 seperate Buiilds, 2 upgrades that were complete system builds and now a upgrade from Vista on another..no issues other than making the quick phone call for activation...

That is NOT what you are supposed to do. You are in violation of the EULA.
 

My Computer

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    Windows 7
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    Self-Built in July 2009
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    Intel Q9550 2.83Ghz OC'd to 3.40Ghz
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    Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R rev. 1.1, F12 BIOS
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    15/2 cable modem
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:sarc: True, but Microsofts main concern is that you payed for the software (which I did) and your only putting it on another home PC and your not installing it on Multiple PC's you don't own, they frown on that in a big way..
They consider what I and thousands of others do as just part of doing good business, otherwise the activation process would be a lot harder....believe me microsoft knows all the work arounds including those of 8 so for them reinstalling my old Windows 7 on another home PC is not a big deal, they expect it. They also know most never read the EULA agreement anyway......
 
Last edited:

My Computer

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  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro 64Bit
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    Home build
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    Intel i7 2600K 3.4
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    MSI Z77G41
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    EVGA GTX670
    Sound Card
    7.1 Auzentech Prelude
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2-24.5
    Hard Drives
    1-120GIg Mushken SSD
    3-1TB 7200 HDs
:sarc: ....believe me microsoft knows all the work arounds
.

If this is true, then it rather proves that Microsoft is either mad, or loosing it. Why on earth make the activation of the Windows 8 upgrade on a clean system so complex (actually I would call it illogical)? It only serves to annoy, and loose Microsoft any credibility.
 

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  • OS
    win xp win vista win 7 win 8 win 8.1
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    Memory
    4gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    nvidia 7200
my personal opinion on the upgrade is go to the digital store, when purchasing, ask if you have an old copy of windows, is so enter the product key for it, if its valid then you get the discount to a FULL copy of windows, allowing clean install and everything. if its not valid then you don't get the upgrade price.

there shouldn't be a difference in product, just the way its purchased. it is an upgrade copy after all once you've proven you own an older OS why not be able to do what you please with the new one.
 

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  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro x64
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    CovertDeath
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    AMD FX-8350 @ 4.5Ghz
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    EVGA GTX 670
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    WD 500Gb
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    TX750W Corsair 80 Silver plus certified
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    Corsair H60 Liquid Cooling
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    Logitech G110
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