OK just to add to the questions... 1. If I use my data.dat file on, lets say 100 WMC installs like the one I've just done, will this have any bearing on the very first install where I got the data.dat file from? 2. I notice that the activation date on subsequent successful installs is the activation date from the data.dat file. What other data is contained within data.dat? Is there anything in there to tie it in to the host PC? 3. Surely M$ would be able to tell if the data.dat file has been "used" before? Maybe...
CMD as admin Licensingdiag.exe -report %userprofile%\desktop\report.txt -log %userprofile%\desktop\repfiles.cab view the text file on the desktop.
Just tried that exactly in an elevated CMD (with my userprofile name) which returned the following error:- Please verify command parameters Error 0x80070003
Just 1 question will this change by M$ have any affect on users that upgraded through windows 8 upgrade offer that also added WMC with a free key (I guess not as their windows 8 pro was already activated with a key they received from M$) But can a genuine user format & re-install windows 8 & add WMC & restore the activation either by restoring data.dat file that's backup or re-apply the genuine keys for windows 8 pro & WMC any info could be useful to users here
Damn - just when you think you're getting somewhere along comes slmgr /ato and rains on the parade... After the initial euphoria of getting a fresh WMC installation activated with a unique free wmc key, now after punching in slmgr /ato my installation is now "Not Genuine" If that's all it takes to become Non Genuine then M$ will soon do it for us.. Soooooo close..
Yes, I appreciate your advice but even if I don't actually run that command won't it be easy for M$ to, at some point check this on the PC to get the same outcome?
Not shared.... Only possible if someone has already activated few system with same method on VM for fun or testing & has backup of those tokens & ready to share one on them..
I have 2 systems -- one was RTM DVD / KMS + WMC free key online activated before block, the other was RTM+xdelta to ProWMC clean install & online activate w/ WMC free key before block. Without reinstalling (I have 2 different, legit dreamspark Win Pro keys and 2 free WMC keys), am I able to make these 2 installations genuine? Edit, if need be I can reinstall dreamspark key+free wmc key via internet on one system, since it's not my daily driver. Can the data.dat token from this newly legitimately activated system be used to pass slmgr /ato on the second system after replacing with data.dat with the legit one?
No you can't. Both activation paths that you used include KMS at some point (the xdelta ProWMC iso has a data.dat inside it with a KMS history). It may or may not pass "slmgr /ato" on the second system. Some people have reported success with this scenario, some (including me) failed.
Guys, sorry for my ignorance but I got lost between all this information here. My question would be if it is still possible to activate W8 with free WMC code? If yes, which guide should I follow? Thanks!