Ok so how can i force installation on WMC version. what changes do i need to make to the ei file [Channel] ProfessionalWMC [VL] 0
If you follow the second portion, then you have only one index in install.wim i.e ProWMC. So no need to 'force' it.
How sure is everyone that unspent keys will be locked out of activation after 31st Jan? I think, once you have a key, you have a key with no expiry. Only offer page will cease to exist.
read the instructions below in the email... it clearly states that the key must be activated before 1st Feb
Hehe, yesterday I did the whole "Kelorgo- how to create a clean data.dat" (make a VMware W8 Pro non-VL VM, activate with KMS, go offline, enter a free Pro key, grab the data.dat, discard the VM) just to get a data.dat that's as clean as possible. Now you're telling me I forgot to "slmgr /ckms" just before entering the upgrade key.... (right?) Sigh.... Oh well, maybe next weekend.... [Funny thing is, for a while I couldn't get the data.dat "out" of the VM. I disconnected the network, so I had no way to take it from the VM to the host. Even USB didn't work. Luckily after a while I found out how to mount my USB thumbdrive in the VM (and dismount it from the host PC). Oh well, I'm learning something new every day!]
I use "host-only" networking connection to get the data.dat out. It is very easy to do in VirtualBox. I am not too familiar with VMWare, so I don't know how easy it is to set it up there, but it must be possible.
Yes, that's what i was told, but I don't think I care enough to do it again. Also no "evidence" data.dat contains that info.
I have a question about creating AIOs. Can I create these using only 32-bit Windows 8 (Core) and 64-bit Windows 8 Pro: 32-bit and 64-bit: Windows 8 Windows 8 Pro Windows 8 Pro with Media Center Windows 8 N Windows 8 Pro N (though I know this won't be included but I'm not sure) Please somebody provide me the commands I put into deployment kit command prompt. The commands on the first page requires Enterprise ISO, which I don't have. Thanks in advance!
The host os will not matter... and where ever there is a ent related command just skip it and u are done
I haven't made a AIO (with more than one edition) yet, just the ProWMC-with-ultra-cleandata.dat (which I like VERY much, thanks everybody, once again). But now I would try my luck to combine: - Enterprise x86 (for using on systems without a free WMC key, to be activated with my own KMS server) - ProWMC x86 (with data.dat, for systems with a free WMC key) Right now, I have the two seperate ISO's, but my next goal/ project would be to combine them (to save space on my USB thumbdrive). I guess my only question is: Are there any pitfalls in this, or can I use the normal procedure as described in the first post? THANKS!!
go for it... but note that if add 64bit windows as well u won't be able to get recovery tools and upgrade support for those 64bit editions
Guys the data.dat file that we add can from any windows 8 system even core... but note that the system should be activated aleast onceafter install of fresh os...
adit123tya, rrohela: Thanks! I will take a note this in my own little HowTo... fardeen, kelorgo: A lot of mystery around "data.dat", will we ever find out exactly what is stored inside (and what's not?). I already did the whole "tin foil hat" thing of creating a VM etc. just to get as clean a data.dat as possible. And that was *before* kelorgo's tip of using the *default* retail WMC key instead of your own... So maybe another run... Still, very interesting stuff... @kelorgo: Do you also use "slmgr /ckms"?
I didn't use it. I activated against my private KMS host with a nondescript name, so I don't think there is any harm in leaving that name in there. I would certainly not redo the procedure just for this step, but if I have to do it again in the future for some other reason, I will use slmgr /ckms, as it won't hurt.
Thanks for your reply. Oh well, the only time we'll worry about our data.dat's again might be in 180 days, at least we have a clear description of how we built the damned thing. Again, I'm not worried about losing activation, it's just a matter of interest to me.