[How to] Upgrade from Windows 8 to Windows 8.1 without phone activate again

Discussion in 'Windows 8' started by maxb2000, Sep 4, 2013.

  1. meda4

    meda4 MDL Novice

    Aug 6, 2012
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    What was the name of the iso you used, can I use MICROSOFT.WINDOWS.8.1.RTM.X64.ENGLISH.DVD-WZT to upgrade my WMC version of 8.1?
     
  2. ambidav

    ambidav MDL Guru

    May 14, 2008
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    I used MICROSOFT.WINDOWS.8.1.RTM.X64.ENGLISH.DVD-WZT Converted the pro image to wmc via dism..
    Clean installed wmc 8.1 restored my windows 8 wmc backup from the instructions on the op :
     
  3. BTOR

    BTOR MDL Addicted

    Nov 18, 2009
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    and please tell how the win 8 wmc was activated , to be precise, the base pro edition activation method?
     
  4. ambidav

    ambidav MDL Guru

    May 14, 2008
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    Correct yes
     
  5. BTOR

    BTOR MDL Addicted

    Nov 18, 2009
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    do you mean it was retail activated? or was it mak/kms ?
     
  6. orca99

    orca99 MDL Junior Member

    Nov 30, 2012
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    Nothing new here. The OP edited the post indicating that it will only work for the RETAIL key activated system which is no different than several other methods already mentioned in this forum.
     
  7. ambidav

    ambidav MDL Guru

    May 14, 2008
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    Retail activated
     
  8. kelorgo

    kelorgo MDL Addicted

    Oct 29, 2012
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    In step 5., which data.dat is the instruction referring to? The one in the Windows 8 activation backup, or the one currently in the store\2.0 folder already?
     
  9. maxb2000

    maxb2000 MDL Member

    Aug 5, 2012
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    That from the backup,rename it to cache.dat and then replace it in the 2.0/cache folder
     
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  10. kelorgo

    kelorgo MDL Addicted

    Oct 29, 2012
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    So what happens to the data.dat file that's already in the store\2.0 folder? Do I just leave it as it is?
     
  11. maxb2000

    maxb2000 MDL Member

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    That file you will replace it with the renamed file from the backup
     
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  12. kelorgo

    kelorgo MDL Addicted

    Oct 29, 2012
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    #33 kelorgo, Sep 4, 2013
    Last edited: Sep 4, 2013
    This contradicts your instructions, which say that I am supposed to replace the cache.dat file.

    To be absolutely clear:

    My backup contains two files:
    * data.dat
    * tokens.dat

    The Windows 8.1 store\2.0 folder contains:
    * data.dat
    * tokens.dat
    The Windows 8.1 store\2.0\cache folder contains:
    * cache.dat

    If I understand the instructions in the first post correctly, then I'm supposed to:
    1) Replace store\2.0\tokens.dat with tokens.dat from my backup
    2) Replace store\2.0\cache\cache.dat with data.dat from my backup
    3) I do not touch store\2.0\data.dat
    Is this absolutely correct? It doesn't make much sense to me to replace cache.dat with data.dat (they have different structure, size etc.)

    At any rate, for the life of me I can't get this working, even though I am following the instructions exactly to the letter.

    I have a machine and a Pro retail key. This key activates successfully both online and over the phone on that machine.
    I make a clean install of Windows 8 Pro.
    I activate the system, and take a backup. (See note below)
    I make a clean install of Windows 8.1 Pro.
    I try your method: Fails.

    I have tried this whole process 3 different ways:
    1) Activate Windows 8 online only.
    2) Activate Windows 8 over phone only (never go online).
    3) Activate Windows 8 over the phone, then online as well.
    I therefore have 3 sets of activation backups, which are all slightly different in size.

    I try the procedure with all 3 sets, and none of them work.

    I normally know what I'm doing, so I'm reasonably certain that I'm not making a big mistake anywhere along the way. Does anyone have any extra ideas?
     
  13. meda4

    meda4 MDL Novice

    Aug 6, 2012
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    #34 meda4, Sep 4, 2013
    Last edited: Sep 4, 2013
    "and insert the key wich you activated over the phone by using command pormpt with slmgr -ipk command." ​how do we do this part? Thanks.
     
  14. orca99

    orca99 MDL Junior Member

    Nov 30, 2012
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    Just as written above:
    1) start command prompt (with admin privileges)
    2) type slmgr -ipk "your key" (without quotes)
     
  15. kelorgo

    kelorgo MDL Addicted

    Oct 29, 2012
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    Something just occurred to me. For anyone in this thread that was actually successful with this procedure, was your system online while you were doing this, or was it offline (i.e. disconnected from the Internet)?

    I performed the procedure fully offline, and at the end of it, I either end up with 0xC004F200 (non-genuine), or 0xC004F009 (grace time expired), depending on which activation backup I use.

    In other words, can anyone confirm that performing the procedure offline, you successfully reach the Licensed state?
     
  16. kelorgo

    kelorgo MDL Addicted

    Oct 29, 2012
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    After lots of experimenting, I am still not successful. Given that neither rrohela nor I can get it working, but a lot of people can, I think there must be some factor somewhere that we just don't know/see yet.
     
  17. win_seven

    win_seven MDL Member

    Aug 26, 2009
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    perhaps because it is not the same material
    same motherboard same processor same harddisc etc....