PC Settings-Product Key. Window keeps opening on its own.

[David Bailey]

David, how do we know if the "Installed Key" is the same as the embedded key? If I run that script on my laptop it shows my Media Center key not the embedded factory key. In robinpe's case the script is just reading the key his PC is currently using and failing to activate with. How do we know if its actually the embedded key? It should be, but is it?

The ID & Key I get when I run it on my PC is the same as the Key & ID I purchased from Microsoft.
What else can I say.
If I'm missing something, enlighten me for everyone's benefit.

You haven't upgraded, I have. I upgraded to 8 Pro and then added Media Center. Each time I enter a new product code and that new code becomes the one my PC activates against. When I run the script it reads my Media Center key as that's the one my PC is using and activating against. When I noticed that it occurred to me that in robinpe's case, it was just going to read the code that's not working for him and that that "may" not actually be his embedded code. It should be but there is no way to tell for sure. It was just an observation. He in effect just typed the same not working product code back in.

I had Windows 8 OEM.

I bought The Pro Pack --- Move up from windows 8 to windows 8 pro with Media Center.
The Pro Pack had its' own key & ID.
The vbs script gives the Pro Pack ID & key.
Not the OEM Windows 8 ID & key.

What I am saying is, it shows what I now have.
Not what I used to have.

Like I said, it is at this point best to communicate with Microsoft to try to resolve the issue.

I used the phone number I linked to & got good help FREE ! for some unknown reason. :shock:

Maybe I just lucked out & got a nice Tech that day.?

 

[alphanumeric]

The ID & Key I get when I run it on my PC is the same as the Key & ID I purchased from Microsoft.
What else can I say.
If I'm missing something, enlighten me for everyone's benefit.

You haven't upgraded, I have. I upgraded to 8 Pro and then added Media Center. Each time I enter a new product code and that new code becomes the one my PC activates against. When I run the script it reads my Media Center key as that's the one my PC is using and activating against. When I noticed that it occurred to me that in robinpe's case, it was just going to read the code that's not working for him and that that "may" not actually be his embedded code. It should be but there is no way to tell for sure. It was just an observation. He in effect just typed the same not working product code back in.

I had Windows 8 OEM.

I bought The Pro Pack --- Move up from windows 8 to windows 8 pro with Media Center.
The Pro Pack had its' own key & ID.
The vbs script gives the Pro Pack ID & key.
Not the OEM Windows 8 ID & key.

What I am saying is, it shows what I now have.
Not what I used to have.

Like I said, it is at this point best to communicate with Microsoft to try to resolve the issue.

I used the phone number I linked to & got good help FREE ! for some unknown reason. :shock:

Maybe I just lucked out & got a nice Tech that day.?

OK, I agree, I think we're both on the same page now. I didn't mean to confuse things. :thumb:

 

[David Bailey]

David, Please don't take what I said the wrong way, it was good idea. And I didn't mean to imply that you don't know what your doing or anything. It might sound like that but that wasn't my intention.

Forget about it.
No offence taken.

A phone call to Microsoft should sort it out.

Donnie Brasco-Forget about it:

[video=youtube;Zf0ZyoUn7Vk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=Zf0ZyoUn7Vk[/video]

 

[robinpe]

I want to thank you all for trying to help me. I had a long phone conversation with a human being at Microsoft, I had a hell of a job getting hold of one. This phone number may be of use to another member: 0844-800-2400 (UK No.). My Product Key No. is apparently accurate, but they couldn't help me activate Windows. We tried several things by phone & on my laptop to no avail. I've sent an email to my retailer but I don't think they're going to be able to do anything either. The girl at MS said the only possible way would to go back to the factory & check their records. I think I'm going to have to put up with the inconvenience of the window opening on its own periodically. Thanks again!

 

[alphanumeric]

I'm not sure what happens in Windows 8 but in earlier versions if you failed activation the longer you wait the worse things get. The nag screens come more frequently, and eventually you may get forced shutdowns. A windows 8 refresh or reset may fix it if its due to a corrupted file. A factory reset with the recovery utility should fix it if the product key is in fact good. Backup your personal files to external media first though.

 

[robinpe]

Alphanumeric, the retailer is going to arrange a free set of recovery discs from Acer. However, I hesitate going back to the factory settings, because I had to do this once already because of something else, & that didn't solve this problem, so why should it, if I do it again? Even though I put most of my files, etc. on flash drives, I still had a hell of a job getting the laptop back to its previous state.

 

[alphanumeric]

What you do is up to you, and I do understand where you're coming from. I just wanted to point out that things could get worse if you don't do anything. If doing the recovery doesn't fix the activation issue I would be calling Acer's tech support. If the laptop is still under warranty I'd consider replacing it or returning it.

 

[whywhywhy]

i have the same issue. My product key does not work as i have reset my computer (recently) so now the code seems to no longer be valid. Does this mean i need to purchase a new product key?