VLK Activation -> Retail Activation

Discussion in 'Windows 8' started by Asturia, Jan 3, 2013.

  1. Asturia

    Asturia MDL Novice

    Aug 9, 2012
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    I activated my Windows 8 with the KMS Nano program.
    I've finally purchased my retail key.

    How can I change from one activation to another?
    Do I simply change the key, or do I need to reinstall windows.
    Any advice would be helpful.
     
  2. NICK@NUMBER11

    NICK@NUMBER11 MDL Expert

    Mar 23, 2010
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    #2 NICK@NUMBER11, Jan 3, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 20, 2017
    Remove the current key using this command

    Code:
    slmgr.vbs /upk
    Install your new Key using this command

    Code:
    slmgr.vbs -ipk xxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx

     
  3. rrohela

    rrohela MDL Expert

    Sep 1, 2009
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    If installed win 8 is not VL edition then above will work else reinstall...
     
  4. Asturia

    Asturia MDL Novice

    Aug 9, 2012
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    How can I check which version is installed?
     
  5. Shenj

    Shenj MDL Expert

    Aug 12, 2010
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    Just input your retail key.. if it gets accepted you have the right Version :rolleyes:
    You only need the /ipk command, the upk command is pointless in this scenario, once you input your new key it's overwriting the old data, so using /upk before you /ipk is stupid/useless, you can do /upk after it if you don't want tools to be able to read the key.
     
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  6. rrohela

    rrohela MDL Expert

    Sep 1, 2009
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    Simple check is "Windows 8 Pro volume license version does not have "Add Features", if its there then its retail version..
     
  7. rrohela

    rrohela MDL Expert

    Sep 1, 2009
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    I think you confused something, for above purpose command is /cpky & /upk is to uninstall current key & its good to use it before installing another key..

    @Asturia... Please don't use /upk as suggested by Shenj, you will lost your activation if run after activation.
     
  8. Asturia

    Asturia MDL Novice

    Aug 9, 2012
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    Thanks for all the advice!
    I will try tomorrow evening.
     
  9. mondragonboy

    mondragonboy MDL Novice

    Dec 14, 2012
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    U MUST INSTALLED WIN8 PRO REMOVE KEY SLMGR/UPK INSTALL KEY SLMGR /IPK XX=xx=xx==xx
    or u installeed win8 vl U MUST REINSTALL.
     
  10. Asturia

    Asturia MDL Novice

    Aug 9, 2012
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    With your help and advice, I've successfully changed the key on my Windows installation.
    It has been activated with success!
     
  11. clalima

    clalima MDL Novice

    Jan 3, 2010
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    Is there a way to check from the ISO if a pro image is VL or retail?
     
  12. 100

    100 MDL Expert

    May 17, 2011
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    #12 100, Jan 10, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 20, 2017
    There is a file named \sources\ei.cfg on the Pro VL DVD. It looks like this:
    Code:
    [EditionID]
    Professional
    
    [Channel]
    Volume
    
    [VL]
    1
    
     
  13. pisthai

    pisthai Imperfect Human

    Jul 29, 2009
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    AFAIK: No! It's the key used to install Windows 8 from RTM which would be installed, Core or Pro and Retail or VL. If use an "pirated" ISO which has an client key build in, it will use that Key. For to be sure to know what you install, the use of an untouched ISO is strongly recommended!
     
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  14. pisthai

    pisthai Imperfect Human

    Jul 29, 2009
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    #14 pisthai, Jan 10, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 20, 2017
    You're talking about modified ISO's and not untouched ISO.

    By modified ISO you'll never really know what you get while installing, there could had made a lot of changes and also ad ons to the ISO! I wouldn't touch any of them.
     
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  15. 100

    100 MDL Expert

    May 17, 2011
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    You're wrong.

    You're right.
     
  16. pisthai

    pisthai Imperfect Human

    Jul 29, 2009
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    Maybe you're wrong?!

    Tell me where you could buy an Original Microsoft VL Version as an Retail Product in an MS or Retail Shop? You could buy them from Microsoft directly only if you've an Corporate Contract with MS, which also applies to Education institutes, like schools and Universities etc.!

    Here we're talking about Original and available for anybody to buy!
     
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  17. 100

    100 MDL Expert

    May 17, 2011
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    What? The question was whether you could determine from the ISO which release it is.
     
  18. pisthai

    pisthai Imperfect Human

    Jul 29, 2009
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    That's right, I didn't deny that.

    I was writing that, in Original Public RTM the ei.cfg file didn't exist, that's used by modified ISO's.

    The ISO's delivered from Microsoft to the corporate channel for VL Activation also didn't contains an ei.cfg file. Those ISO's coming with an pre-inserted Client Product Key and NOT an ei.cfg file. a few of my customers having that version bought from MS and just for to be sure, I had just called one of them to re-check! It's 9:48am in Thailand by the way! I also hardly believe that in Austria are different Versions than in Asia, except in the Core SL version because of language.
     
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  19. 100

    100 MDL Expert

    May 17, 2011
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    I checked the MSDN VL release for ei.cfg, so you were wrong about me talking about modified ISOs.

    I see. Seems that MLF and MSDN VL releases are different then. I have the MSDN VL ISO, so that's what I used to check.
     
  20. BTOR

    BTOR MDL Addicted

    Nov 18, 2009
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    +1 , AFAIK ei.cfg is present in all downloadable MSDN VL iso.