Activate win8ProWMC without first activate the Pro version

After installing Windows 8, I created a VHD and applied the WIM directly to the VHD. I was able to activate both installations with the same product key. This information may be useful for users that aren't ready to upgrade yet.

 

You need to login to view this posts content.

 

I installed Windows 8 using this guide on my laptop which worked great.
Now I screwed out the SSD harddrive and put it in my desktop because I'm not planning to use the laptop anymore
and too lazy to do a reinstall (+software and settings)
Windows found all new hardware, but of course I'm deactivated.
I removed my key (slmgr /upk) and installed the Win8 Pro WMC volume key, tried to activate using MKSmicro
but this doesn't work (Win8 Pro WMC is not supported I read on another forum).
How can I solve this?
Get an additional WMC key from MS, replace data.dat and activate in control panel?
Or can I somehow revert back to Win8 Pro without WMC?

 

You must activate W8 pro before upgrading to WMC. Try rearm first, then activate W8 pro via kms and then activate with WMC key.

 

Correct, no KMS activation possible for WMC.

Yes, get an additional WMC key, it's free afterall. No need to replace data.dat, a fresh key should activate just fine if you are already running a WMC that was successfully activated before.

 

But how do I go back to win8 pro without WMC
I tried slmgr /ipk <win8_pro_key> but it fails, only slmgr /ipk <win8_pro_wmc_key> works.

EDIT

Ok, will try that.

 

No matter what Win8 version you activated viua KMS you can replace data.dat pput in a free WMC key and you are done.

When a activation patch gonna be found there will be no need for these action right?
I wont matter if you have a key or not correct?

 

Has anybody got the WMC keys lately. I used 3 different email address and submitted them on Wednesday and still did not get them.

 

You'll get them, it's a question of time, 72 hours in most cases.

 

I prau for help, I'm new to the forum!
I do not understand:
7. Move your mouse to lower LEFT corner of you desktop and RIGHT CLICK, select Command Prompt (admin) then type in the prompt window:
slmgr -ipk xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxxx-xxxxxx-xxxxx
Instead of 7 points I did like this:
Mouse to the top right corner/ Settings/ Change PC Setings/ I added the key to the Microsoft WMC/ Activate
Everything was OK, my Windows ProWMC is activated.
Is it wrong?

 

both the things are same accept that the one given in 7th step is commandline and the one u used is using GUI

 

Thanks adit123tya.I thought so.

 

this thing worked.. installed and activated on a spare laptop.

 

For me, this is the cleanest way to activate a W8 computer.
For educational purposes, of course.

 

There are three or four threads plus a sticky on this. Why?

 

Just want to thank FaiKee, hbhb, French frog - well the list goes on and on.... (didn't mean to leave anybody out)

In the long run I just desired to try out an install of Windows 8 without 'wasting' my Product Key and this has helped out immensely... I've installed the WMC no prob and will continue to use this for my VM. I'll use this on my other computers also until I know that they'll support it, then install with my own PK's.

FYI: installed using the 16-in-1 disk and used a WMC key. Done dealio.

For any newbies just read the entire post and you'll have no problems - just read it and pay attention to the details!

 

Agree - and yes everything we do here is for educational puposes

 

Ya - such a simple solution does not require a gazillion threads - perhaps ambidav could update the title of his sticky to include activation?

 

I have Windows 8 Pro installed but I don't see the "Add new features" option in system. :/