Windows 8.1 Core to Pro upgrade question

maharadhi

New Member
Messages
3
I recently bought a desktop which came with Windows 8.1 Core. I have an old desktop running Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center (retail). Can I deactivate the license on old desktop and use it on the new one via "Change product key"? Or I need to do a fresh install? Thank you in advance!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
WMC keys are not transferable... You could try using WDT to backup your current activation and restoring it on a new Pro with WMC install - then try phone activation... I doubt it will work though.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    PC-DOS v1.0
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    IBM
    CPU
    Intel 8088, 4.77MHz
    Memory
    16K, 640K max
    Graphics Card(s)
    What's that?
    Sound Card
    Not quite
    Screen Resolution
    80 X 24 text
    Hard Drives
    dual 160KB 5.25-inch disk drives
Are you wanting to just move just Media Center or Pro + Media Center? I ask because you can't add Media Center to Core, it has to be Pro for the key to be accepted through Add Features.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Education 64 Bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition Deneb 3.7GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS M4N68T-M V2 µATX Motherboard
    Memory
    8GB 4GBx2 Kingston PC10600 DDR3 1333 Memory
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Geforce GT640 2 Gig DDR3 PCIe
    Sound Card
    VIA VT1708s High Definition Audio 8-channel Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    22" LG E2242 1080p and 2 19" I-INC AG191D
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024 - 1920x1080 - 1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    Crucial MX100 256 GB SSD and 500 GB WD Blue SATA
    PSU
    Thermaltake TR 620
    Case
    Power Up Black ATX Mid-Tower Case
    Cooling
    Stock heatsink fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless K350 Wave
    Mouse
    Logitech M570 Trackball and T650 TouchPad
    Internet Speed
    80 Mbps Down 30 Mbps Up
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    HP DVD1040e Lightscribe - External USB2
You can transfer "Retail" product keys - Pro and WMC - via phone activation

Transferring both keys will require two phone activations.. one for pro the other for wmc
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 3.1 > Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700
    CPU
    I7
    Memory
    24 GB
WMC keys are not transferable... You could try using WDT to backup your current activation and restoring it on a new Pro with WMC install - then try phone activation... I doubt it will work though.

I just completed a Clean install of 8.1 Pro and WMC on a new motherboard and CPU, My Keys were the free upgrade to 8 Pro and free WMC that MS let go back in 2012 with the releases of 8. I used the MS downloaded ISO for 8.1 Pro and Added WMC, I had to phone activate Pro and then WMC so it can be moved and will work from a Clean Install Situation
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro MC
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus G75VW / Z97 Pro
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-3610QM / I7-4790K
    Motherboard
    Z97 Pro
    Memory
    16 GB Hyundai HTM315156CFR8C-PB PC3-12800
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVIDIA GeForce GTX 670M (GF114M)
    Sound Card
    VIA 6.0.10.1600
    Screen Resolution
    1080
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 850 Pro 256, Samsung 850 Pro 1TB
    Internet Speed
    30 down 3 up
    Browser
    Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    NIS and Malwarebytes
No, no need for clean install. Just use add features and type in your Pro key. The Pro features will be unlocked with no need for a reinstall. Then do the phone activation if it doesn't activate automatically. Once its activated you enter your MC key in add features to add MC. Then phone activate that if it doesn't activate automatically. http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/6673-add-features-windows-8-a.html
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Education 64 Bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition Deneb 3.7GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS M4N68T-M V2 µATX Motherboard
    Memory
    8GB 4GBx2 Kingston PC10600 DDR3 1333 Memory
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Geforce GT640 2 Gig DDR3 PCIe
    Sound Card
    VIA VT1708s High Definition Audio 8-channel Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    22" LG E2242 1080p and 2 19" I-INC AG191D
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024 - 1920x1080 - 1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    Crucial MX100 256 GB SSD and 500 GB WD Blue SATA
    PSU
    Thermaltake TR 620
    Case
    Power Up Black ATX Mid-Tower Case
    Cooling
    Stock heatsink fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless K350 Wave
    Mouse
    Logitech M570 Trackball and T650 TouchPad
    Internet Speed
    80 Mbps Down 30 Mbps Up
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    HP DVD1040e Lightscribe - External USB2

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 3.1 > Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700
    CPU
    I7
    Memory
    24 GB
WMC keys are not transferable... You could try using WDT to backup your current activation and restoring it on a new Pro with WMC install - then try phone activation... I doubt it will work though.

I just completed a Clean install of 8.1 Pro and WMC on a new motherboard and CPU, My Keys were the free upgrade to 8 Pro and free WMC that MS let go back in 2012 with the releases of 8. I used the MS downloaded ISO for 8.1 Pro and Added WMC, I had to phone activate Pro and then WMC so it can be moved and will work from a Clean Install Situation

Thanx for confirming, been a while since I used WMC... good to know phone activation is still working.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    PC-DOS v1.0
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    IBM
    CPU
    Intel 8088, 4.77MHz
    Memory
    16K, 640K max
    Graphics Card(s)
    What's that?
    Sound Card
    Not quite
    Screen Resolution
    80 X 24 text
    Hard Drives
    dual 160KB 5.25-inch disk drives

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
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