Solved 8.1 Pro W/ Media Center Repair Install Product Key fails

cfourkays

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Have a couple of different problems with my 8.1
When I try to use the tutorial, (thanks, Shawn), I get as far as the Product Key entry.
The install was an original 8 I downloaded when it first came out.
I then installed 8.1, probably from the Store.
I recently downloaded and install 8.1 Media Center Pack.

Had a real problem with activation.
MS Support finally had me go to where there was a long activation string and then he gave me a new Product Key, which is now on the machine and Activated.

When I get to the "Product Key" page and enter the Media Pack key, "This product key didn't work. ....."

Any remedy for this? My only other option I have is a reinstall.

PC is a Dual-boot with Windows 7 Pro.

Pete
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Built
    CPU
    2.90 gigahertz AMD A8-3850 APU with Radeon HD Graphics
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd. GA-A75-UD4H
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon HD 6550D
Hello Pete,

You will not be able to activate Windows 8 or 8.1 with the Media pack key.

Your original product key was for Windows 8, so you would need to install Windows 8 first, and enter the Windows 8 key during installation.

Afterwards, you would update to Windows 8.1 from the Store again.

Next, you would add WMC again, but select the I already have a product key option, and enter the media pack key.

Hope this helps, :)
Shawn
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Hi Shawn,
The problem is I did activate it with the Media Pack key.

You're right, I couldn't activate it with the MP key originally after installing it.

I got stubborn and on my 3rd MS call with a level 2 guy, he got me to a string, that long thing with about 10 sets of numbers which I read to him. The old manual activation.
He then read a key to me which then activated.

So what you're telling me is that by doing this I screwed myself up to do a Install/Repair??

So now I have to locate both the original W-8 key and the 8.1key and then follow your:

"Next, you would add WMC again, but select the I already have a product key option, and enter the media pack key".?

Pete
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Built
    CPU
    2.90 gigahertz AMD A8-3850 APU with Radeon HD Graphics
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd. GA-A75-UD4H
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon HD 6550D
No, you're fine to reinstall again in the future if needed. MS basically just did a phone activation with you for your current installation.

Yeah, that round about way to install everything is the supported method if your were to do a clean install to start over, and get back to 8.1 w/WMC. :(
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Shawn, thanks for your help, as usual.:eek:
That still leave my original problem.
I can't do a Install/Repair since it won't recognize my key.
Also, can't make a recovery drive because "Copy the recovery partition from the PC to the recovery drive" is blanked out.

I'm probably ready for a new install if I can find my original keys.

Thanks
Pete
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Built
    CPU
    2.90 gigahertz AMD A8-3850 APU with Radeon HD Graphics
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd. GA-A75-UD4H
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon HD 6550D
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