Solved How to Activate a Second Win 8 Installation

hawkeye62

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I did a clean installation with a Win 8 Upgrade license on a VM per the tutorial. After I activated it, I realized that the virtual HD was too small. So, I deleted the Win 8 VM and created a second VM with a larger virtual HD. I did a second installation per the tutorial. Everything went OK except the activation failed. I get a message that says the key has been used and that I need to get another key.

Is there any way to get this second installation activated without calling Microsoft?

Thanks for any help, Jim
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 7
for future reference if you are using Hyper-V if you turn the virtual machine off you can edit the disk size.
Either by going in to hyper-v manager > edit disk and choosing the action to expand the disk or going in to an elevated powershell and using this command:

Resize-VHD

Example:

Resize-VHD –Path c:\Windows8VHD.vhd –SizeBytes 1TB

Someone may be able to give a better answer on the activation but I believe you will have to call them.

Cheers,
Harry
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows Server 2012 R2 / 8.1
Update to Windows 8.1: FAQ - Microsoft Windows Help

Microsoft said:
Purchasing a full version of Windows 8


If you want to build your own PC and install Windows 8 or Windows 8 Pro, or want an additional operating system running in either a local virtual machine or separate partition (including a Mac), you can purchase the Windows 8 or Windows 8 Pro System Builder products (OEM versions). If available in your country or region, Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro System Builder products can be purchased at participating stores, you'll need to ask a sales rep for more info. This version doesn't include customer support.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4
I did a clean installation with a Win 8 Upgrade license on a VM per the tutorial. After I activated it, I realized that the virtual HD was too small. So, I deleted the Win 8 VM and created a second VM with a larger virtual HD. I did a second installation per the tutorial. Everything went OK except the activation failed. I get a message that says the key has been used and that I need to get another key.

Is there any way to get this second installation activated without calling Microsoft?

Thanks for any help, Jim

This poses a good question. In the past, I often wondered if I should manually extract my product key from the registry before performing a clean installation but came to the conclusion that it shouldn't be necessary as a clean install builds a fresh registry.
Something weird might have happened in your situation though.
You could try the steps in this link:
How To Uninstall Your Windows Product Key Before You Sell Your PC
(the link includes re-install as well)
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 7 Home Premium
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavillion
  • PC2
    Tablet - Windows 10 Home
I did a clean installation with a Win 8 Upgrade license on a VM per the tutorial. After I activated it, I realized that the virtual HD was too small. So, I deleted the Win 8 VM and created a second VM with a larger virtual HD. I did a second installation per the tutorial. Everything went OK except the activation failed. I get a message that says the key has been used and that I need to get another key.

Is there any way to get this second installation activated without calling Microsoft?

Thanks for any help, Jim

This poses a good question. In the past, I often wondered if I should manually extract my product key from the registry before performing a clean installation but came to the conclusion that it shouldn't be necessary as a clean install builds a fresh registry.
Something weird might have happened in your situation though.
You could try the steps in this link:
How To Uninstall Your Windows Product Key Before You Sell Your PC
(the link includes re-install as well)

The link for directions on how to uninstall your product key is the first time I have seen such instructions.

Anyway, I called the MS activation number and got the robot. (I had forgotten about the robot.) The robot asks you how many PCs you have installed the Win 8 on. (Correct answer is one.) Then it asks you to enter a code that is on the activation page. Then it gives you another code to enter. Then you get a message that says You are done, which indicates that the activation was successful. The codes are eight groups of five numbers.

So, my Windows 8 is now activated.

Thanks, Jim
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 7
Good Job Jim :)

Hyper-V is not that sophisticated you will be be able to use no problem :) if you can work virtual box, Hyper-V going to be a walk in a park for you !!

have a good day!

cheers,
Harry
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows Server 2012 R2 / 8.1
Good Job Jim :)

Hyper-V is not that sophisticated you will be be able to use no problem :) if you can work virtual box, Hyper-V going to be a walk in a park for you !!

have a good day!

cheers,
Harry

I checked Hyper-V, gulp, $500 for 25 users is too much for me.

Thanks, Jim
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 7

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro Prieview x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    MacBook Pro Core2Duo
    CPU
    T7600
    Memory
    3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon X1600
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Internal
    Screen Resolution
    1440 x 800
    Hard Drives
    40GB
    Keyboard
    Apple
    Mouse
    Apple
    Internet Speed
    Varies
    Browser
    Various
    Antivirus
    Defender
Sorry Harry, adamf, I don't get it. Hyper-V looks to me like another OS. I am currently using Win 7 Pro 64-bit for my host OS. Then I use either VirtualBox or VMWare Player to install a guest OS (Win 8) in a VM.

Sorry to be so dense. Thanks, Jim
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 7
Hyper V Server is another (free) OS. Hyper V is also an optional component in windows 8 Pro. So if you were running Windows 8 Pro (which you aren't) you could use Hyper V instead of VirtualBox. You'd still need a separate license for the windows 8 installation in the virtual machine.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro Prieview x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    MacBook Pro Core2Duo
    CPU
    T7600
    Memory
    3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon X1600
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Internal
    Screen Resolution
    1440 x 800
    Hard Drives
    40GB
    Keyboard
    Apple
    Mouse
    Apple
    Internet Speed
    Varies
    Browser
    Various
    Antivirus
    Defender
Jim,

With Windows 7 as your host you will not be able to use Hyper-V, it is a free feature built-in to Windows 8 pro and enterprise.

Hyper-V within Windows 8 is a type two hypervisor just like Oracle VirtualBox that you use for your Windows 7 Host.

A little more in-depth information around Hyper-V:

Client Hyper-V

Using Windows 7 Virtualbox and VMWare players are very suitable type two hypervisors! keep doing what you are doing, Good job :)

Cheers,
Harry
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows Server 2012 R2 / 8.1
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