Activate win8ProWMC without first activate the Pro version

Good to hear it´s working now . Yep, that´s the whole trick in this case. Commands only work for KMS-Activation, not for Retail-Keys, which the WMC-Keys are.

 

let me ask iam confuses: RTM=Retail right?
What is a Retail key and how is it differnt from a Pro key?

 

RTM= Release To Manufacturer, and describes the moment a project is final, not beta anymore.
Rest is a question of activation method. Retail means a bought key is bound to a person, as your freely purchased WMC-Key. These keys are bound to a version like Pro or Enterprise, equal if x32 or x64. In vice versa KMS uses GVLK (Client keys), which are generic, not individual.

 

For the newbies, would this be a good guide?:

1. Install win8Pro with this key: Professional = xxxxx-xxxxxx-xxxxxx-xxxxx-CRYQH – retail key

2. Now move mouse to lower left corner of your screen and from the settings (icon - cogwheel) select 'PC Info'

3. Click on "Get more features with a new edition of Windows"

4. Select "I already have a product key", enter the WMC key. Professional WMC = xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxxx-xxxxxx-QGJXW - retail key for Windows Media Center

5. In the View tab of the Folder Options dialog box, there are two options you need to check:
1) "Hidden files and folder": select "Show hidden files, dolders and drives"
2) Uncheck "Hide protected operating systemfiles"

6. Replace the file data.dat in the store folder with the data.dat in this attachment. Store folder is in windows\system32\spp.

7.Repeat steps 3 & 4 but input your own WMC key obtained from MS, then activate it, you might have to do it twice.

 

Yep, it's a good guide.
Only step 7 should be in Computer Properties click on Activate your computer and enter your WMC key from MS (possibly more than once).


When I did FaiKee's process, I didn't get any notification that my key worked but Windows did activate no problem

 

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Buddy u could have added ur own key in 4th step itself... and all WMC keys are retail... once in fourth step ur key is installed just copy the data.dat file from stores for adding it to ProWMC iso... hence u don't even need that attachment

 

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I don't think adding the data.dat file to the iso is appropriate for the newbie.

 

So it must be from the PC info Click on "Get more features with a new edition of Windows"?
I went to use the system properties "Get new features" or something and it wanted me to activate first before inputting the Microsoft WMC key

 

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what ever u choose... but for sure u can do aleast the first part as I said add directly ur WMC key instead of WMC leaked key and u r done... if u don't want to add data.dat file to install.wim in the iso u will have to fallow first three steps every time and then add ur own WMC key

 

Edit: Won't work!
But maybe you can use the script for something similar/else so I let it in.

I haven't tested it at all. I just wrote it down.
I guess this is working. Or maybe needs some minor changes.
I only provide the structure. I have no time to test this out.

you have to place the data.dat in same folder as the cmd/batch
Untested Batch which might automate all steps for you.

I provide it as it is. Use on your own 'risk'.
Of course this has to be run as administrator.

I see that I missed the last step to activate.
run slui.exe for this. or /ato

Code:

@echo off & cls
:: please complete the first three lines with the keys.

set upg=ENTER-YOUR-UPGRADE-KEY-HERE
set pro=ENTER-PRO-KEY-ENDS-WITH-CRYQH
set wmc=ENTER-WMC-KEY-ENDS-WITH-QGJXW

set vbs=%systemroot%\system32\slmgr.vbs
set store=%systemroot%\system32\spp\store
set tok=%store%\tokens.dat

call :checkw8
call :checkadmin
call :doit %pro%
call :waitff
call :doit %wmc%
call :waitff
call :moddata
call :doit %upg%
call :waitff
shutdown -r -t 0
goto :EOF

:doit
start /wait cscript /nologo //b %vbs% /ipk %*
timeout /t 1
goto :EOF

:waitff
more %tok%
if errorlevel 1 (
timeout /t 1
call :waitff
) else (
goto :EOF
) 
goto :EOF


:moddata
start /wait net stop sppsvc
attrib %store%\data.dat -r -s -h -a
rename %store%\data.dat data_original.dat
xcopy data.dat %store%\data.dat /ghry
goto :EOF

:checkw8
for /f "tokens=3" %%v in ('reg query "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion" /v "CurrentVersion"') do set version=%%v
if not [%version%] == [6.2] (
  echo This is script is only allowed to run on Windows 8
  echo You're trying to run it on an unsupported version of Windows.
  goto :failure
)
goto :EOF

:checkadmin
net session > nul 2>&1
if not %errorlevel% equ 0 (
  echo Not enough priviledges!
  echo Run this script with right click and "Run as Administrator".
  goto :failure
)
goto :EOF

:failure
echo Failure, press any key to exit.
pause > nul
exit

 

KNARZ, your script won't work at all, you can't upgrade from Pro to ProWMC by using slmgr /ipk with the WMC key. You need to go through the "Add Feature" UI and enter the WMC key there.

 

Yep, thought by myself too, that switching via key is only possible between Retail and VL an vice versa, not to WMC.

 

Hm... ok I thought it would work.
So only over slui?
Edited the original post.

 

Nope, you need the "add feature" option in retail pro to upgrade to a pro wmc, in vl-version there isn´t such an option.

 

The option is then just hidden, prohibited by policy...