Converting a bogus Win8 Pro setup to legal on a dual boot

[lewist57]

Bought a used HP laptop that originally had Win7 Ultimate, and the previous owner had split the hard drive into two partitions and put Win8 Pro on the second partition. The boot up process is controlled by Win8 and you select at startup whether you want to go to Win7 or Win8. Pretty neat. BUT it turns out the Win8 Pro was not legit (the Win7 installation is legit). Sigh.

So I have purchased a full standalone copy of Win8 Pro and it is on the way to the house. In the meantime, how does one "reset" the Win8 Pro to the new key value without messing up either the installation or the bootup process on this dual boot machine?

Thanks.

 

[Superfly]

Once you have your new key just run slui 3 - and activate with your new key.

 

[theog]

Product Key Number - Uninstall and Deactivate in Windows - Windows 7 Help Forums
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/8855-product-key-number-change-windows-8-a.html

 

[alphanumeric]

How is it not legal? I ask because if an activation cheat or bypass was done it could be tricky to undo it. It would also make me wonder what else has been modified? Do you trust that install?

 

[lewist57]

How is it not legal? I ask because if an activation cheat or bypass was done it could be tricky to undo it. It would also make me wonder what else has been modified? Do you trust that install?

See my other posting [h=2]Activation error 0xC004F074 and 4 ways that don't fix it[/h]
It keeps saying Windows 8 is not activated, and No Key Management Service could be contacted after 6 month with no problems.

 

[alphanumeric]

8 Pro or 8 Enterprise? Press the Windows key and the pause/break key to bring up the system screen. What does it say under Windows Edition?

 

[SIW2]

Sounds like a volume license.

I would advise you reinstall clean with a regular retail/upgrade 8 Pro.

 

[alphanumeric]

Sounds like a volume license.

I would advise you reinstall clean with a regular retail/upgrade 8 Pro.

From the other thread he mentioned, it sounds like its using (or trying to use) KMS activation. And failing. To be safe I'd recommend a clean install with clean unmodified install media.

 

[lewist57]

Product Key Number - Uninstall and Deactivate in Windows - Windows 7 Help Forums
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/8855-product-key-number-change-windows-8-a.html

Thanks for input, but as noted in the original post, the Win7 installation is legit and OK.

 

[lewist57]

8 Pro or 8 Enterprise? Press the Windows key and the pause/break key to bring up the system screen. What does it say under Windows Edition?

Just says Windows 8 Pro, no mention of Enterprise. I have a legal Win8 Pro DVD and key on the way to the house now.

 

[alphanumeric]

8 Pro or 8 Enterprise? Press the Windows key and the pause/break key to bring up the system screen. What does it say under Windows Edition?

Just says Windows 8 Pro, no mention of Enterprise. I have a legal Win8 Pro DVD and key on the way to the house now.

If its 8 Pro you may be able to just change the product code, if it was Enterprise it would likely reject it. I still recommend a clean install but that's up to you.