Bought a new Acer all-in-one and immediately upgraded it to 8.1 via a 3GB DL. Went perfectly. Cleverly (I thought) I saved the update files should I ever need to do the update again. Then the Acer had a hardware problem so I returned it to Best Buy for a replacement. Now, I try to apply the 8.1 upgrade files that I previously saved from the store DL to the replaced computer. It asks for a key, but won't accept either the one from the new replaced machine, nor the one that I returned. Are these licenses now tied to an individual computer, via a unique code embedded in the BIOS or some such?? I really don't want to do the DL again, since my bandwidth is metered and 3GB takes a good percentage of my total monthly quota. Ideas anyone?? If this is covered in another post that I've missed, then I apologize in advance. Boobear
yes activation is tied to machine. A download/upgrade maybe in store for you man unless you can convert that esd.
Are the keys for windows 8 or windows 8.1? and what's your upgraded edition? core, pro, core single language?
Both keys are for 8.0. I do not (and never did for the upgrade to the first machine) have an 8.1 key. As far as the version I'm sure it's not PRO, but one of the core versions (not sure which one). Thanks Boobear
Would love to do that, IF I knew how. Where do I find this "generic" 8.1 key?? EDIT: I found something on the MS site about this, but the keys they listed for 8.1 were either pro or pro N Boobear
You have to know for sure try the EI.CFG trick: Code: [EditionID] Core [Channel] Retail [VL] 0 add it to "sources" folder then run setup.exe file as admin (the one inside "sources" folder) if the above contents doesn't work, you can try: Code: [EditionID] CoreSingleLanguage [Channel] OEM [VL] 0 After upgrade use yor win 8 key to activate
OK, tried both in the ei.cfg No Joy..... Get message "something happened...... setup has failed to validate the product key" This is before it even asks for a product key. Boobear
So in fact "Nothing happened" ... Geez, this ESD thing of theirs is a total POS! Bit surprised the EI.CFG thingy not working tho'..so you can't even check that you d/l is hash proper
Agreed!!! They've gotten the anti-piracy stuff so intense, that even us with legal copies can't get it too work. What a CF!!! I'm not very happy with this whole "cloud" computing thing. It's just a way for them to dig deeper and deeper into our privacy. I've got my firewall screwed down so tight, nothing comes in or out unless I know about it. I trust nothing/nobody anymore. Boobear
You should have downloaded the full ISO instead of the store update, then you wouldn't have had to worry about your monthly quota Might be worthwhile doing that now anyway, even if it does cut you short for the rest of the month
That's what I already wrote, you can't use the saved files for another update unless you know how to launch the setup procedure, not setup.exe. Maybe something like WebSetup.exe /late elevate, didn't try it however. You have a valid key, so download the ISO via the WindowsSetupBox.
I have a valid eight point zero key; NOT and eight point one key. Is this all I need?? EDIT: Just checked out WindowsSetupBox. Per this page: betanews.com/2013/10/21/download-the-windows-8-1-iso-using-a-windows-8-key-and-some-simple-trickery/ it won't work with an OEM key which is what I have.
With install.esd, i can confirm that EI.CFG thingy is working for boot setup (boot from dvd) but apparently it deosn't work for in-place upgrade.