Upgrading from Windows 8.1 with Bing to Windows 8.1 Pro

I am trying to understand if the process I have followed is incorrect or the product key I have purchased is unreliable.

My Dell machine came with Windows 8.1 with Bing and a Dell Recovery Partition. I only have a 32GB hard drive, the partition uses 8GB. I wanted to create more space on the drive by removing the partition.

After attempting several other approaches, I concluded that the best way to delete the partition was via a clean install of Windows.

As I understand it, with the Bing version the product key is in the BIOS and you can't use it to do a clean install. I therefore purchased a Windows 8.1 Pro product key.

Using the Microsoft Media Creation Tool, I downloaded and clean installed Windows 8.1 Pro. Upon completion all is working but Windows Activation is not accepting my new product key so I have an unactivated version and a Build 9600 logo on the desktop.

Before I blame the product key, I wanted to seek assurance that the process I have followed is valid and should work. Or perhaps the Bing version product key in the BIOS is the problem?

Try this:

Andre Da Costa replied here: Windows 8.1 with Bing upgrade to Windows 8.1 Pro - Microsoft Community

Can i simply buy a Windows 8 Pro license update it to 8.1 and there i have Windows 8.1 Pro on my tablet?

Can i just wipe the drive and install Windows 8 Pro and then update it?
i can get that for 50% of the Pro pack price

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Click to expand...

You can purchase a retail Windows 8 Pro license and use the Windows 8 Pro product key and update your Windows 8.1 installation to Windows 8.1 Pro.

Press Windows key + X
Click System
Under Windows Edition, click the link:
Get more features with a new edition of Windows
Click the 'I already have a product key link'
Enter your product key and you will be upgraded to Pro.