"Banned" Product Key after re-installation?

GageFaulkner

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I purchased a product key from OfficeMax a while back and installed Windows 8 Pro onto my computer no issue at all. However, after my recent purchase of a SSD, I reinstalled my Windows 8 using the same disc and product key, but to no avail. It said my product key had been banned.

The only thing I did differently was try to use a different email address during setup than I used the first time. Does that really ban your product key?

Do I just need to call microsoft?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer
    CPU
    i5
    Memory
    8GB
    Browser
    FireFox
    Antivirus
    MSE
Hello Gage,

Usually that indicates that the product key had already been added to the blacklist on Microsoft's activation servers as an invalidated key for one reason or another. Usually, due to piracy.

About all you can do is call Microsoft using the number to activate by phone to see what they say.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/24636-activate-windows-8-phone.html

If it's blocked for good, then I think I would be going back to OfficeMax armed with what Microsoft tells you demanding another product key.
 

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
I purchased a product key from OfficeMax a while back and installed Windows 8 Pro onto my computer no issue at all. However, after my recent purchase of a SSD, I reinstalled my Windows 8 using the same disc and product key, but to no avail. It said my product key had been banned.

The only thing I did differently was try to use a different email address during setup than I used the first time. Does that really ban your product key?

Do I just need to call microsoft?

You installed an upgrade version of Windows 8 on a clean SSD. You can usually get around this by doing another install over the current un-activated install, and the key should be accepted.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/13375-clean-install-windows-8-upgrade.html

If that fails, call up Microsoft as Brink suggested, you should be sorted within minutes.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Toshiba Satellite
    CPU
    Intel Core Duo P7450 @ 2.13GHz
    Memory
    4Gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Raedon HD3650
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