How to change WMC key to the free legit one?

I've already installed Win8 Pro with WMC, using a key. But now I have a legit key from the Microsoft giveaway. How do I change the key on my WMC Windows, to the legit one? There is no more option to "upgrade" to WMC using the legit key, because I already installed it previously.

 

In order you probably used a leaked key to activate, there is afaik no info so far if this way works. To activate windows with a new key only type

Code:

slui 3

in an administrative CMD.
Regards

 

Is it as simple as just slui 3? Has anyone done it, and confirmed it is that easy?

Will entering the free WMC key in slui 3 just work, or does the key have to be "activated" in some way, during the process of installing the WMC addon (which I can't do anymore because I already installed it)?

I really don't want to reinstall Windows 8 again in case something goes wrong.

 

open run command > Win+R
type: slui 3

will open a window to enter/paste you new key

 

Would be interested in this info too . Typing this command is as simple, but the question is, what the MS-Server is saying to your entered key.

 

Come on, nobody can confirm how to do it safely and properly?

500 views on this thread, so I'm sure a lot of people are interested in the answer...

 

If you're that impatient, try it yourself. Stop looking for guinea pigs if you're the only one who needs it.

 

Give it a try in a virtual machine and you wil know .

 

I can confirm, going from a "non"-legit key to a "legit" key using : "slmgr -ipk YOUR-KEY-HERE" works, it auto activates after about 10 seconds

 

slmgr -upk

slmgr -ipk (your new key here)

slui

(click "activate now")

 

Thanks, you two are lovely

 

So far i see no prove, that it will work in this case (maybe i´m blind). Procedure, was mentioned above. You can do this even directly via:

no difference. Question is still what happens, if WMC is installed at this moment .
Regards

 

It says the key can only be used for upgrades not clean install. Work around?

 

More info needed are you trying to do a clean install, is it a free upgrade WMC Key, are u in the same position as the OP

 

Downgrade

A downgrade to non-wmc-version might be a solution.

Open regedit and navigate to:

Code:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion

Change values for

Code:

EditionsID

to

Code:

Professional

and

Code:

ProductName

to

Code:

Windows 8 Pro

.

To perform a so called In-Place-Up/Downgrade start

Code:

Win8Install\sources\Setup.exe

not the one in main folder of install-media.

Install should assume your settings and programs. After Installation is done only delete

Code:

C:/Windows.old

via your systemdrives properties and "Disc Cleanup" >>> "Clean up system files". There should be an entry like "Previous Win Installations" or similar and hit "OK".




To downgrade to normal Enterprise version if installed Evaluation Copy:

Code:

EditionsID

to

Code:

Enterprise

and

Code:

ProductName

to

Code:

Windows 8 Enterprise

.

 

No such problem for me. After I removed the key using the -upk command , a Windows metro UI app popped in and asked me for a new key, I entered the free key, and it activated. No need to type anything else to get it done.