Updating Win 8 /w WMC to Win 8.1 /w WMC and actvating

Purchased Win8 when released............. $40 /free WMC
Installed Win 8........... activate without issue
Installed free WMC..... it deactivated Win 8
That problem was web wide but finally resolved.
Win 8 and WMC running fine without issue until Feb 2014
Win 8.1 update posted to Windows Store.
I installed update............ over seven hours of downloading
Update trashed IE11, Skydrive, and most installed apps
Found source for ISO for Win 8.1 which was supposed to use original Win 8.0 key
Installed from DVD over the top of the corrupt Win 8.1 upgrade
Installed fine... worked fine... activated with my old Win 8.0 key
set up Win 8.1 to my satisfaction...
proceeded to features to add WMC using "already have product key"
my original product key for WMC was supposed to work
Key was accepted... WMC installed fine..... received confirmation that "I was all set!"
Windows is displaying "Windows 8 Pro with Media Center....... activated.
Hours later a pop-up that I had to activate Win 8.1
WMC install de-activated Win 8.1........ repeat of the original install in Oct problem
Properties is displaying Win 8.1 /Windows Media Center and Produkey shows the same with my original Win 8.0 key and the original Windows Media Center key.
I have other unused WMC keys... tried to change.. Activation Server won't buy it.
Tried for two days to call........ won't work
They won't buy my numbers in PC Settings, I can't talk to customer service and I'm being constantly nagged to "activate"
My system is legal as it sits but won't activate.
Help would be appreciated.

How did you add WMC to 8 ? Did you go through the Add Features To Windows to do it ? If no, that's the problem. I have WMC and it lasted no problems from the 8 Pro to 8.1 Pro update.

Here's the way I did it. 1. I clean installed 8 Pro 2.I added WMC through Add Features To Windows 3. I ran Windows Update and got all updates 4. I got 8.1 from the Store 5. I ran Windows Update again **Tip** Disable your antivirus software during the WMC install & 8.1 upgrade install. Other wise issues will occur.

brkkab123 said:

How did you add WMC to 8 ? Did you go through the Add Features To Windows to do it ? If no, that's the problem. I have WMC and it lasted no problems from the 8 Pro to 8.1 Pro update.

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WMC was added through Add Features, the free WMC key was accepted, WMC was installed and the system was activated. No problems.
I know of no other way to do it?

brkkab123 said:

Here's the way I did it. 1. I clean installed 8 Pro 2.I added WMC through Add Features To Windows 3. I ran Windows Update and got all updates 4. I got 8.1 from the Store 5. I ran Windows Update again **Tip** Disable your antivirus software during the WMC install & 8.1 upgrade install. Other wise issues will occur.

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I too got Win8.1 update from the Windows Store, installed it to a perfectly good install of Win8.0 /WMC.
The update trashed a stable system.
A fresh install with the Win8.1 ISO also installed correctly and activated without issue. I added WMC, per instructions, using the original free WMC key.
It too installed without issue and again activated without issue.
It also DE-activated Win8.1.
I'm now operating Win8.1 /WMC with all my original keys.
BUT, the system won't activate.
MS won't accept my keys and I tried for two days to reach them by phone without success.

How do I activate the system and stop the nag screen???

The problem was the 8.1 source disc. To my knowledge, If you install using a Windows 8.1 disc, it will not accept an 8 WMC key.

The same thing happened to me. Every thing was fine until I installed WMC. It de activated 8.1. MS was no help. My fix was to do a reinstall and forget about WMC. Download VLC media center and install and it's free.

Mr Sardonicus said:

The problem was the 8.1 source disc. To my knowledge, 8.1 will not accept an 8 WMC key.

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The source ISO was downloaded from Microsoft as Win.iso with a confirmation that my original keys were the ones to use?
Both Win8.1 and WMC installed correctly and activated without incident.
It was a few hours later the MS Activation Server determined that the keys weren't legit and started nagging for new keys.
A little research will disclose that the media and the method that I used is perfectly acceptable and being done as we speak.
The Activation Server and the automated phone activation system is the problem but I can't seem to find a way to get to them!
The problem is going to mushroom as more people use the downloaded Win8.1 iso and again when Win8.1.1 is released on 8 Apr.
It will take people attention to solve it!

IMHO when I did a clean install over the top of the stable install trashed by the Windows Store Win8.1 update the Activation Server assumed it was a new install.
Not new! A re-install to patch the problems created by the Windows Store update.
and the keys used were not used before by another machine.............
This is the same machine, same HDD, and the same, original keys that I used on the original install of Win8.0 /WMC.

Clint said:

The same thing happened to me. Every thing was fine until I installed WMC. It de activated 8.1. MS was no help. My fix was to do a reinstall and forget about WMC. Download VLC media center and install and it's free.

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Clint, one of the rejection notices that came back informed me that that original key had been used before.
If I re-install using the Win8.1 iso I would more than likely get the same msg.
My Political Science professor over 50 years ago had an expression he used to explain this type of situation "we're being nibbled to death by piddle-ants"
First we have to forget WMC and move on; then IE11 can be replaced by Maxthon (I did that after the Windows Store flop), then who knows what's next?
This a simple problem but it needs people attention.......... not an automated phone that keeps repeating the same thing over and over.
Thanks for the idea but I would like a fix......... not a workaround!

Did you do a clean install or a reset?

A clean install with a Windows 8.1 ISO will allow you to reinstall using your Windows 8.0 key.
8.0 WMC cannot be added to it.

A reset will revert 8.1 PRO/WMC to 8.1 PRO.
Your 8.1 PRO/WMC activation will become deactivated.

Mr Sardonicus said:

Did you do a clean install or a reset?

A clean install with a Windows 8.1 ISO will allow you to reinstall using your Windows 8.0 key.
8.0 WMC cannot be added to it.

A reset will revert 8.1 PRO/WMC to 8.1 PRO.
Your 8.1 PRO/WMC activation will become deactivated.

Click to expand...

I did a clean install with Win8.1 ISO freshly burned to a dvd.
So, is Clint's solution above the only viable solution other than buying a new key for WMC??

Well, it may just be easier to buy 8.1 Media Center Pack for $9.99.
Add features - Microsoft Windows

Mr Sardonicus said:

Well, it may just be easier to buy 8.1 Media Center Pack for $9.99.
Add features - Microsoft Windows

Click to expand...

Thanks for your time and effort.
It appears that the old professor's analysis still holds true even after all these years............
we're still being nibbled to death.
It will be interesting to see what we lose when the Win8.1.1 update is released on Apr 8.
Thanks guys!