Jump to content

Activation Problem - Counterfeit Windows 7 to Windows 8

cynicaltinman
 Share
Posted

I had a Windows 7 Ultimate counterfeit for "personal use" *grin* installed on my pc and I just recently purchased a digital download of the Windows 8.

This was what I did and I'm going to try to be detailed as I might have done some bubu along the way.

1. I purchased the Windows 8 from the store and I was sent a download link with the product key.

2. I downloaded the 5MB file which then asked for the product key and it proceeded to downloading.

3. I created a bootable flash drive which was an integrated feature of the 5MB file.

4. I restarted the PC where I purchased and downloaded the 5MB file from and booted it from the flash drive.

5. Everything went well and I installed it successfully!

6. Then I found out that it wasn't activated yet so I entered my product key again.

7. It says the key doesn't work and it displayed an error code which for some reason I could not get to appear again. The error displayed that the key I provided was meant only for upgrades and not for clean installs. The one I purchased was the $119 version which is more expensive now. Was this just an upgrade pack? Because the product name did not have the word "Pack" in it at all. What sorcery is this?

 

My PC current status:

 

*Installed all updates

*Still currently Windows 8 and had not upgraded to 8.1 (Since I've read somewhere that it requires ANOTHER activation key)

*Current key that is registered (as displayed below the activation key field on Settings > Change PC Settings) only has 10 characters, that is 2 sets of 5 characters. I do not know where this came from since it is totally different from the one that came with my purchase.

What I might do to fix it:

 

1. Reinstall the Windows 7 Counterfeit and install the Windows 8 directly from it without booting from the flash drive.

 

I need your help on this one, Linus army! You guys had helped me a lot in building my pc and I hope you guys could help me solve this too! Thank you tech heads!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

Yes, it's an upgrade key only, obviously. You'll have to install a copy a of Windows 7 again and then from the Windows itself boot from the flash drive and install the new OS. Make sure to click on Upgrade, rather than a Fresh Install in the installation menu.  

CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 - 3900x @ 4.4GHz with a Custom Loop | MBO: ASUS Crosshair VI Extreme | RAM: 4x4GB Apacer 2666MHz overclocked to 3933MHz with OCZ Reaper HPC Heatsinks | GPU: PowerColor Red Devil 6900XT | SSDs: Intel 660P 512GB SSD and Intel 660P 1TB SSD | HDD: 2x WD Black 6TB and Seagate Backup Plus 8TB External Drive | PSU: Corsair RM1000i | Case: Cooler Master C700P Black Edition | Build Log: here

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted
  • Author

Yes, it's an upgrade key only, obviously. You'll have to install a copy a of Windows 7 again and then from the Windows itself boot from the flash drive and install the new OS. Make sure to click on Upgrade, rather than a Fresh Install in the installation menu.  

I can just overlap the new Windows 7 installation without ruining the current Win8 license right?

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

It's possible to change a key in the registry that makes it look like an upgraded version, then you can activate with that. 

Windows Upgrade versions don't have "pack" in the name, they have "upgrade". 

Windows 8.1 doesn't require another code, it's just downloaded from the store.

Aragorn (WS): 250D | 6800k | 840 Pro 512GB | Intel 530 480GB  | Asus X99-M WS | 64GB DDR4 | Corsair HX720i | GTX 1070 | Corsair H115i | Philips BDM4350UC 43" 3840x2160 IPS

Gimli (server):  Node 304 | G4560 | ADATA XPG SX8000 128GB | 2x 5TB WD Red | ASROCK H270M-ITX/AC  | 8GB DDR4 | Seasonic 400FL

 Omega (server):                 Fractal Arc Mini R2 | i3 4130 | 500GB Maxtor | 2TB WD Red : Raid 1 | 3TB Seagate Barracuda | 16GB RAM | Seasonic G-450w
Alpha (WS): 900D | 4770k | GTX 780  | 840 Pro 512GB  | GA-Z87X-OC | Corsair RM 850 | 24GB 2400mhz | Samsung S27B970D 2560x1440

                              ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted
  • Author

It's possible to change a key in the registry that makes it look like an upgraded version, then you can activate with that. 

Windows Upgrade versions don't have "pack" in the name, they have "upgrade". 

Windows 8.1 doesn't require another code, it's just downloaded from the store.

 

Do you have a link to the article about changing the registry key?

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

I can just overlap the new Windows 7 installation without ruining the current Win8 license right?

 

What do you mean by overlap? You install Windows 7 again, it has a 30-day trial period. Then put the new copy of Windows 8 in a flash drive and through the Windows itself boot form it. Simple as that. 

CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 - 3900x @ 4.4GHz with a Custom Loop | MBO: ASUS Crosshair VI Extreme | RAM: 4x4GB Apacer 2666MHz overclocked to 3933MHz with OCZ Reaper HPC Heatsinks | GPU: PowerColor Red Devil 6900XT | SSDs: Intel 660P 512GB SSD and Intel 660P 1TB SSD | HDD: 2x WD Black 6TB and Seagate Backup Plus 8TB External Drive | PSU: Corsair RM1000i | Case: Cooler Master C700P Black Edition | Build Log: here

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

Do you have a link to the article about changing the registry key?

I can't remember it exactly but it will probably take you the same amount of time as me to google it.

Aragorn (WS): 250D | 6800k | 840 Pro 512GB | Intel 530 480GB  | Asus X99-M WS | 64GB DDR4 | Corsair HX720i | GTX 1070 | Corsair H115i | Philips BDM4350UC 43" 3840x2160 IPS

Gimli (server):  Node 304 | G4560 | ADATA XPG SX8000 128GB | 2x 5TB WD Red | ASROCK H270M-ITX/AC  | 8GB DDR4 | Seasonic 400FL

 Omega (server):                 Fractal Arc Mini R2 | i3 4130 | 500GB Maxtor | 2TB WD Red : Raid 1 | 3TB Seagate Barracuda | 16GB RAM | Seasonic G-450w
Alpha (WS): 900D | 4770k | GTX 780  | 840 Pro 512GB  | GA-Z87X-OC | Corsair RM 850 | 24GB 2400mhz | Samsung S27B970D 2560x1440

                              ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

wow u got ripped off i got an upgrade code for $15 because microsoft was doing a promotion awhile back i dont really get what u are saying all i had to do was while i was on windows 7 run the provided windows 8 upgrade exe and it just installed like any other os would no os overlapping and registries :S

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing Operating Systems

×