I tried to use a previously unused Media Center Upgrade key today, although Windows itself accepted the key and generated a code for phone activation the code didn't work on the auto phone activation so I tried talking to a representative who told me the keys not valid, I tried another few of the same keys, same result... no longer valid. Were the keys only usable for such a small time? I assumed you had to get the key quickly but then you could install it whenever you like, it appears this wasn't the case and Microsoft refused to activate it for me.
January 31 was the latest it could be activated. Microsoft sent an email to remind people to activate their keys: "This is a reminder that you must activate your free Windows 8 Media Center Pack product key** by January 31, 2013:"
That's right! All keys which were not activated latest on January 31. 2013 wasn't work any more later on. Key which were activated in the time frame October 26. 2012 to January 31. 2013 could be reactivated using the phone activation if not working otherwise.
You really like crapping in WMC threads about how awesome you are because you can find an alternate media player, don't you? People who use WMC don't use it to play videos. They use it because it's the best TV recording software and because it has a great 10-foot interface for a HTPC connected to a TV and controlled by a remote. You know, things that matter to a media center. But you evidently haven't used WMC and have no idea what it's actually used for, so do yourself a favor and stop embarrassing yourself with this threadcrapping.
You can reuse free WMC keys. But if that key had never been used before the deadline, then that key is dead. I have one of those. Dead as a doornail.
All of my WMC upgrade keys i got for free work. Some uses on MAK keys, some on KMS, others on retail. As for not using WMC... Who cares if you dont like it dont use it go use xbmc or something. I think a fair amount of people don't own a legit copy of windows and are using upgrade keys they got via the upgrade trick last year here to stay activated. Those people like i said don't have to use the WMC feature just use the activation.
I first activated one of my WMC keys just a couple months ago using MTK and Phone activation option First activation ever and worked fine
I grabbed three WMC keys when offered. Used two of them and held one in reserve. Subsequent reinstalls & activation worked for the two used keys, never got the "reserved" one to take. Thanks for verifying what I had suspected.
Thank you for your poignant and well thought out review. I will now go and uninstall WMC off all 6 of my windows 8 machines.