As I say in my post, it works for both. You add data.dat between the "Dism /Image:C:\win8aio\mount /Set-EditionrofessionalWMC" and "Dism /unmount-wim /mountdir:C:\win8aio\mount /commit" commands always.
Sounds good!! But could you answer these questions please: You say: "You need a data.dat file from a Pro WMC installation that was successfuly activated with an upgrade key before." - This installation is done with a *different* ISO, right? So for this procedure to work, you need (1) an ISO to install, upgrade and activate and (2) and ISO for later "clean installs" (I hope you understand what I mean). "The result is a Pro WMC disk that allows clean installation, asks for a product key during install (which can be skipped) and accepts a free MS upgrade key both during and after install. This can be used to install a new system (with a new key), and can also be used to reinstall an existing system with the matching key that was activated on it. I tested both thoroughly, they both result in successful activation." So you mean that *your* new ISO is not bound to *one* specific key? That's new/ different, right? The previous solution was bound to one specific key/ set of activation files (again, this is how I understand it). That would be sweet!! Thanks! Credit: Big thanks to ambidav for all the info
Must you change C:/win8aio into C:/win8 ? because the foder in my C is win8 and not win8aio. With this iso you can activate with your WMC email key till januari when the free key offer ends, right ? Can I use this iso also in combination with advanced token manager backup method, after januari and use the same "Free key"who was already activeted before januari ? What i mean is : Make this iso activate windows 8 with the free email key make backup with token manager when you want to instal after januari, use this iso, use the same free key, and restore your windows with the backup ? sorry for the maby stuppid questions
I understand you perfectly, and you are absolutely correct. Someone somewhere in the world has to perform the steps in (1) once, so install Win 8 Pro with regular iso, activate it, and upgrade it with a free WMC key. You can do so yourself if you are able to. Once that is done, you take the data.dat file from that system. All future installs on any system are done with (2). Again, correct. There is no unique key embedded anywhere. The iso accepts any upgrade (and retail) WMC keys. If you choose to skip the product key step during installation, a well-known (available all-over the internet) default retail WMC key gets applied to the system, and it's not activated. This has to be replaced by your own upgrade key when you choose to activate.
That is possible and correct, but not even necessary. If you have a licence backup, you don't even need to use this iso, you can use the "regular" iso available from the first post. You can install from that, restore the licence backup, then apply your key to it (which you may have to do twice). The only advantage of using this iso would be that you can already enter your product key during installation, and then the only step left to do is restore the licence backup.
Yup the WMC key will continue working on that machine even after 31 Jan.. This definitely is the way to go post 31 Jan - Even with a new PC install that requires a purchased key, the WMC key will be much cheaper than the Pro upgrade key
@kelorgo, thanks! Yesterday, I made the Ambidav ISO that's "bound" to 1 specific key, so I understand about the data.dat etc. Things are just moving so fast, everyday there's a new ISO to test (ProWMC, Virtual machines, etc.) Actually, it's a lot of fun. Can you please tell us what you think will happen after january 2013? Do you think we can still use your ISO for fresh installs? I received 6 ProWMC keys, I'm a bit confused what's the best way to activate them. If it's necessary, I'll use all 6 on one system before the expiry date, just to make sure they don't go "off".... And the last question for now: If I insert the key in autounattend.xml, would that result in a pre-activated system you think? That would be great for installs using JFX's WinNTSetup. With that tool, you can do a clean install using your new ISO, and attach an Autounattend.xml from a seperate file (so the autounattend.xml is not set in stone, like on DVD). That also sounds pretty good to me.... Thanks!!
AS i understood this so far: Keys must be activated till 31. Jan 2013. Once activated they´re normally bound to that machine. They will act like the WMC-Keys you can buy for 10$. So it should be possible to activate your system with it even after Jan 2013. Regards
I'm sorry to ask again, but it is possible ... as long as you activated it once *before*, right? And that *before* has to be be before jan/2013? I'm asking because of the very nice kelorgo ProWMC iso that allows you to enter the free "email-" key at setup, which makes it as easy to use as a full install-iso. But if this really is the case, anybody can request 20 ProWMC keys, put them on USB together with kelorgo's ISO, and hey presto, good to go for 20 systems. (That can't be right?)
The problem is u get only one key for one email id... and if u apply twice... u gat the same key back... I tried that today...
I got 6 (on 6 different email addresses, of course). If I wanted, I could request 20 different keys. So my message #315 still stands...
@Atari800XL: The keys that are being given out at the moment are probably going to "go off" after Jan/13 as you suggest. So indeed you have to activate them *before* then for them to remain usable afterwards. However, when you activate a key, it gets bound to the machine it's activated on (at least for the purposes of online activation). So you can't just request 20 keys now, activate them all on the same system, then be ready to use them on other machines after Jan/13. The only thing you can do now is get as many keys as you have systems now and activate them. I can't see a way to "stockpile" keys for use after Jan/13. Any keys that you activate now should remain usable after Jan/13 as well, for the purposes of reinstalling on the same system.
I am with kelorgo... if u can't activate systems after jan 13 then there is no use of requesting keys for systems to be bought after jan 13... and atari800xl I don't think any one has 20 email id's
kelorgo, adit123tya, thanks for your replies. This is the way I understood is as well, just wanted to make sure (so I can tell others, as well). No way to stockpile the keys, now it would be strange if this *was* the case, right? So I'll make the Kelorgo Win8ProWMC iso that accepts the free upgrade code(s) and use it on any and all systems I can until jan/2013. Adit123tya: I don't have 20 email id's myself, but combined with companies and [volunteer-] organizations I'm involved in, family and friends (90% of them don't have any use for a key like this), I can use a *lot* of email addresses, and just ask them to forward the key to me. But I think 6 is about right for now... Thanks!!!
Just for info I made the iso Windows 8 Pro with WMC as in this thread. I installed Windows 8 pro with WMC from the iso. Skiped the screen what asked for a key. went to see the activation by "my computer"- not activated Clicked on activation details and tapped "give activation code" Went to my email and used a free WCM key , who was not used before. After a restart- Activated on 1-11-2012 I just go to test a new free WMC key and use this key in the begin screen during installation see what happend , i will report this back Thank all of you for the work and the good help to make this possible UPDATE: When you put a new "" WMC email key" during installation it is straight activated when installation is done. Make a backup with Advanced Token Manager and you are done
Just wonder.. if u activate like 20 keys.. after 1 Feb phone them and spin a story that u needed to upgrade and they send u a new key?