Windows 8.1 installed Windows 8 key not activating

[KeyboardDemon]

Pretty much as the title says. I finally got round to re-installing Windows 8.1 fresh. After a little messing around, I was able to get an installer that would run without asking for an activation key at the start of the process and now I have 8.1 installed on my PC again, it's actually installed on my new 1TB Crucial M550 SSD.

The problem is, I originally had Windows 8 and now I have 8.1, but I can't seem to activate my Windows 8.1 installation. I have tried using the original 8.0 key which doesn't get accepted, I have also tried using the key I got when I installed the Media Centre on my Windows 8.1 setup but that isn't accepted and I can't seem to find the key I got when I was between 8.1 and 8.1 with media centre.

What can I do to activate Windows 8.1?

[MrRockliffe]

To get 8.1, I'm sure you have to install Windows 8, and then upgrade through the windows store. Not sure if it still applies, but that's how I did it on my old laptop when 8.1 came out.

[KeyboardDemon]

@:MrRockliffe: Thanks but my Windows 8 key was an upgrade from Win 7. I should be able to just install straight to Win 8.1 though without having to install Win 7, then upgrade only to then have to patch 8 with the 8.1 service pack. I don't even have to imagine what sorts of problems such a route would lead to as I have been putting up with them for this long.

[MrRockliffe]

In which case, I'm not sure. Maybe give them a ring and see if you can get an activation over the phone?

[KeyboardDemon]

Ok, it looks like I'm going to have to resign myself to installing Windows 8 and then upgrading to Windows 8.1. Easy right?

Now, where can I get a Windows 8 installer?

[MrRockliffe]

Use a torrent website to get the iso file (make sure it's not pre activated, as that's illegal, obviously). I believe Microsoft also have one, but their download server is pants.

[KeyboardDemon]

Use a torrent website to get the iso file (make sure it's not pre activated, as that's illegal, obviously). I believe Microsoft also have one, but their download server is pants.

I just went online with Microsoft support and asked them for a link, I have the installer now.

Will start installing shortly. Not happy though, I am certain I will end up with the same issues I had last time I upgraded from 8 to 8.1.

[MrRockliffe]

You should have asked then for a replacement key, and said how you're having software issues when upgrading from 8 to 8.1

They should have then given you a key for 8.1 so you can directly install that.

Strange though, as I never had the problem when I upgraded from 8 to 8.1, since it's just like a windows update adding a few features.

[KeyboardDemon]

I did and they didn't. I spoke to two different guys, one in the morning and the other in the evening, they both said that they can't issue new keys, but the one in the evening said he understands my frustration. The one in the morning made me want to strangle him.

[kyriousrobert]

Pretty much as the title says. I finally got round to re-installing Windows 8.1 fresh. After a little messing around, I was able to get an installer that would run without asking for an activation key at the start of the process and now I have 8.1 installed on my PC again, it's actually installed on my new 1TB Crucial M550 SSD.

The problem is, I originally had Windows 8 and now I have 8.1, but I can't seem to activate my Windows 8.1 installation. I have tried using the original 8.0 key which doesn't get accepted, I have also tried using the key I got when I installed the Media Centre on my Windows 8.1 setup but that isn't accepted and I can't seem to find the key I got when I was between 8.1 and 8.1 with media centre.

What can I do to activate Windows 8.1?

Hi
Have you formatted or replace your hard drive? If that is the case then you won't be able to use product key to activate windows 8.1 you need to install your previous version of windows and then reinstall windows 8 or windows 8.1..

If you made a lot of changes to your hardware like hard drive or motherboard then you need to call windows support to activate your windows..

[MrJim]

I've just installed Windows 8.1 Pro myself, using a Windows 8 key - you don't need to install 8 & then update to 8.1. You can download the 8.1 install files directly onto a USB stick using the MS Media Creation tool:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/w...-refresh-media