So, does it mean that I can have a clean install of Windows 8.1 Pro with WMC using my own data.dat and tokens.dat and then reactivate right? If ever time comes that I need to clean install I will do this procedure> Install Windows 8.1 Pro with defaullt key>add WMC feature with default key>Insert my own data.dat and tokens.dat>insert my WMC key and activate online. Please correct me if I'm wrong. Thanks!
However seems to work when using backup for reactivate. Not tested on 8.1 yet ( I intend however to change my HDD this month ), but tested 6 months ago on an other computer with windows 8. After reinstalling on a new HDD, I've reinstalled activation with ATM - it gived an error, but Windows sais it's activates. However updates didn't work. The solution was to delete the tokens.dat, and restart the computer in order to build another tokens.dat. After that, it still was activated, and updates worked. Now it's also updated to 8.1 without any issue. I think that online activation may work for minor hardware changes, like new HDD, video card change. As in other versions - but depend on number of activations in a year. Changing the motherboard will deactivate computer. That's sure.
I had to replace my motherboard after my old one failed, I did a recent install of Win8.0 and was able to reactive my WMC key using Phone activation. I backed up my tokens and now I have a fully activated Win8.1 ProWMC install
Phone activation will work even for mainboard change. Considering it was replaced under warranty, this will work. But changing the mainboard even with same model deactivates Windows. Need to be reactivated again as key becames related to mainboard identification after first activation. Also if using an upgrade/retail key, will activate if mainboard change as it is transferable. WMC free key is not transferable.
Erm guys so in short. If I do the KMS to WMC to W8.1 Pro with WMC, I will get a genuine and activated W8.1 retail plus the token?
That's the thing, I was able to re-activate my free WMC key I originally got during the 2012 give away. My key was first activated against my Asus motherboard which I swapped out for a Gigabyte board.
Oh, so I must do the first chunk of steps first to get the token, then do a retail installtion, wmc upgrade and put the token? So it will have a retail activation?
That is incorrect, and the whole point of my original post is that you can upgrade to 8.1 via the Store even if you used KMS activation on 8 before adding WMC. Also, you can then use the 8.1 resulting Pro WMC tokens for a clean installation of 8.1 and it will accept WMC key. Whether you use your own WMC key or a default key to upgrade 8 Pro to WMC doesn't matter. In summary, both of these paths work: 1) Install 8 Pro, KMS activate, WMC upgrade with default key, store upgrade to 8.1, backup tokens, insert your WMC key, activate 2) Install 8 Pro, KMS activate, WMC upgrade with your own key, activate, store upgrade to 8.1, backup tokens In both cases, you end up with an activated 8.1 Pro WMC, and a set of tokens which in the future allows this path: * Install 8.1 Pro with default key, WMC upgrade with default key, restore tokens, insert your WMC key, activate The bottom line: the only thing that was the issue before is having a clean install of 8.1 accept your WMC key. By going through the process of installing 8 Pro WMC first and upgrading it to 8.1 via the store you end up with a set of tokens that solves this issue.
Yes. You do have to insert your own WMC key at some point. Either when you upgrade 8 Pro to 8 Pro WMC, or after you are done with the upgrade to 8.1.
I can use mine own WMC key for both the instrutions (KMS-WMC-8.1) and the (RETAIL-WMC-8.1+TOKEN) right? It does not have the default key ending with the letters and number in the first post .
Fiddle Stick! I reinstalled my Windows 8 Pro with the default volume key, activate it with MS Toolkit, Activated WMC with default key, installed the update, upgraded to 8.1 and its not activated. So I then proceed to remove the tokens after stopping the Software Protection Service and activate windows with my own WMC key. It didn't work :/ Did I do everything correct?
Sounds like you more or less did things correctly, but I have two questions for you: 1) What do you mean by "remove the tokens"? Did you delete them before inserting your WMC key, or do you mean you took a backup copy of them? 2) When something "didn't work", you should post more details. Do you get an error message? What is the error code? Post these and you can get help.
Its okay. I backed up my token before inserting WMC. But its okay. I think I made a mistake some where :/
i do everything like (The procedure (duration 1.5+ hours depending on Internet speed) (the use of a Virtual Machine is highly recommended) 0) Disconnect from the Internet 1) Install Windows 8 Pro using the Windows 8 Pro KMS client setup key (GVLK) ending J8CK4 2) KMS activate using Microsoft Toolkit 3) Use the "Add feature" function to upgrade to WMC, using the Pro WMC default key ending QGJXW 4) Install the KB2871389 update 5) Connect to the Internet 6) Visit the Windows Store and start the Windows 8.1 upgrade 7) Go have a lunch break, watch a movie or take a nap 8) Once the Windows 8.1 upgrade completes, the procedure is complete The result You will find a set of activation tokens (data.dat, tokens.dat) in \Windows\System32\spp\store\2.0. Stop SPPSVC, then take a copy of them (data.dat is a hidden file). These are the tokens you are looking for. What you can do with the tokens (tested and confirmed to work) For example, you have a WMC upgrade key that you previously used in Windows 8. On the same PC, you can make a clean installation of Windows 8.1 Pro WMC, insert the tokens you just created, and enter your WMC upgrade key. The key will be accepted and the system is activatable. Sample procedure: 1) Install Windows 8.1 Pro with default key ending C9WKB 2) Upgrade to WMC using default key ending JK7QT 3) Stop SPPSVC 4) Overwrite the files in \Windows\System32\spp\store\2.0 with the tokens created above 5) Insert your WMC upgrade key with "slmgr /ipk wmc-upgrade-key" from elevated command prompt 6) If the WMC upgrade key matches the PC, you can activate online but did n't activate online error what to do?