Windows 8.1 Pro Activation Lost

Here is the story, please help.

My Computer came pre-installed with Windows 7 and when Windows 8 Pro was launched I had bought it initially and also got the Media Center key as free offer. I upgraded to Windows 8 Pro but never used and activated Windows Media Center. Recently I upgraded to Windows 8.1 Pro and by bad that I used the media center key to add features. later I realised that the key was expired after Feb 2013. Now the Windows activation is lost everytime I restarts it asks me to Activate. the old key is replaced with the Media Center key and as it is expired it asks to activate. I tried to follow the steps to remove Media Center but I guess it applies for Windows 8 Pro because when i try the steps, it never give me option to keep files, settings and apps only gives the option to keep nothing. Any help, I dont need Media Center, I just want to go back to Windows 8.1 Pro, I want to keep my files, settings and apps.

Thanks, please advice.

Hey i would just bite the bullet and buy new mediacenter pack key from Microsoft, at least here in finland it is just 9,99€ so compared to that extra work what installing all your apps and backing up your data 9,99€ isn't that bad deal.

Other thing that you could try is to call to Microsoft helpline and ask that if they could re-activate your media center key, but I bet that just by calling to their helpline and telling all this would cost almost the same amount of money so...

It would be more easy to you just to go and buy new media center pack key than explaining to Microsoft that why didn't you activate your previous key before that deadline.

Hi, even am ready to buy a new key, I tried the option buy new key online and got the message that in my country I can not buy key online which is India. I have to go to some retail stores now and buy a complete DVD pack? I already tried calling MS support, they were of no help as u predicted.