Windows 8.1 Key transfer.

[pinksnowmanshandle]

So I read on the Microsoft answers that there is a way to relinquish a key from a Windows 8(.1) machine and use it on another PC in command prompt now I don't have a direct copy of Windows 8.1 just via an OEM could I get the iso from Microsoft with that  freed OEM key?

 

[Guest]

Probably not, but I'd give it a try.

[Master Disaster]

Nope, you cannot relinquish an OEM key, what you've read about is called KMS or Key Management Services however KMS is only used to handle activation of enterprise and corporate VLKs (Volume License Keys).

Your OEM key is not compatible with KMS and cannot be handled by it, instead your key must he activated directly by Microsoft's key server online and AFAIK cannot be relinquished.

That said you can quite easily transfer it to another machine, simply use the key on the second machine the try and activate normally, when the error fires select phone activation and call up MS using the on screen instructions, follow the automated wizard through and when it asks you "On how many PCs is this software currently installed?" answer "one". It should then reauthenticate the key to your new PC removing it from the old one at the same time, if it spits out an error and transfers you to a rep just tell them you had a hardware failure and had to swap the motherboard, they're usually not to fussy about reactivating for you.

If its a branded OEM key, so if the sticker has Dell, Acer or any other name on it then they will not reactivate it under any circumstances.

[GoodBytes]

Nope, you cannot relinquish an OEM key, what you've read about is called KMS or Key Management Services however KMS is only used to handle activation of enterprise and corporate VLKs (Volume License Keys).

Your OEM key is not compatible with KMS and cannot be handled by it, instead your key must he activated directly by Microsoft's key server online and AFAIK cannot be relinquished.

Correct.

That said you can quite easily transfer it to another machine, simply use the key on the second machine the try and activate normally, when the error fires select phone activation and call up MS using the on screen instructions, follow the automated wizard through and when it asks you "On how many PCs is this software currently installed?" answer "one". It should then reauthenticate the key to your new PC removing it from the old one at the same time, if it spits out an error and transfers you to a rep just tell them you had a hardware failure and had to swap the motherboard, they're usually not to fussy about reactivating for you.

OEM license of Windows 8 cannot be transferred to another system. Only retail release.

Doing so goes against license agreement, hence illegal, and suggesting this goes against forum CoC.

In addition, it could lead to voiding the OP key of Windows.

[pinksnowmanshandle]

Doing so goes against license agreement, hence illegal, and suggesting this goes against forum CoC.

 I think that there is a fine line of whether one has or hasn't infringed on the (in my opinion quite strict) CoC, and as far as I'm concerned there are more illegal ways of obtaining Windows and as far as I'm concerned the idea of an OEM key would be that ownership eventually transfers to the user. Though looking at the Microsoft OEM EULA it does clearly state that they are immobile which I find to be utter bs it's like when I bought the laptop it's on I was really only buying the laptop even though the price of the laptop included whatever the price Microsoft charged the manufacturer. Eitherway I now view Microsoft as more than something I was already okay with but now rather a giant clusterfuck.

[GoodBytes]

I think that there is a fine line of whether one has or hasn't infringed on the (in my opinion quite strict) CoC, and as far as I'm concerned there are more illegal ways of obtaining Windows and as far as I'm concerned the idea of an OEM key would be that ownership eventually transfers to the user. Though looking at the Microsoft OEM EULA it does clearly state that they are immobile which I find to be utter bs it's like when I bought the laptop it's on I was really only buying the laptop even though the price of the laptop included whatever the price Microsoft charged the manufacturer. Eitherway I now view Microsoft as more than something I was already okay with but now rather a giant clusterfuck.

The only time you can transfer your license, is if you are system builder, and bought OEM version from a retail store, and the motherboard broke, where you cannot find a replacement for due that it is no longer being manufactured, so you need to replace the system. Only now, you can transfer it.

OEMs like Dell, HP, Acer, and so on, pay Windows, but it cost even less than OEM version we can buy in retail stores. Under some conditions, Windows can even be free or near free to manufactures. For example: Windows 7 Starter Edition or Windows 8 Bing edition.

Most people give a second life out of their hardware, so the license of Windows remains for the other user. People donate their old computers to charities, or give it to a family member or do other things with it. So it not a problem in any case.

Usually when you buy a system, by the time you do, a new version of Windows is out.

Also, if you order directly from the manufacture and call them to order, you can do a special order, where you request not have Windows on. You can also not agree at the license agreement when you first start your system and request the money back of the OS from Microsoft. You'll quickly notice that the saving are insignificant to care about.

[Master Disaster]

Correct.

OEM license of Windows 8 cannot be transferred to another system. Only retail release.

Doing so goes against license agreement, hence illegal, and suggesting this goes against forum CoC.

In addition, it could lead to voiding the OP key of Windows.

Not true, at least not in any country with consumer protection laws. If I purchased a product from them then its subject to consumer protection which means I have the right to use the product in a reasonable way, and its not unreasonable to expect MS to move the license across from one machine to another ergo my own countries laws (which BTW cannot be superseded by any form of CoC or EULA) protect me from any legal 'contract' MS try to infer onto me.

Also its certainly not illegal to ring up MS and ask them to re activate your license for you, they can always say no if they wish but if you don't ask you don't get.

I'm pretty sure that with Windows 7 they started to realise that forcing a one time restriction on OEM licenses was a very strong reason for users to pirate Windows because I remember having a very long conversation with an MS rep over a Vista re-activation and despite my best efforts was told they do not re activate OEM licenses, since then i have spoken to them literally hundreds of times over Windows 7 and 8 re-activations and they always say yes, even when you tell them the board died and was swapped which was/is supposed to be the only restriction on upgrading hardware with an OEM license.

The only time you can transfer your license, is if you are system builder, and bought OEM version from a retail store, and the motherboard broke, where you cannot find a replacement for due that it is no longer being manufactured, so you need to replace the system. Only now, you can transfer it.

OEMs like Dell, HP, Acer, and so on, pay Windows, but it cost even less than OEM version we can buy in retail stores. Under some conditions, Windows can even be free or near free to manufactures. For example: Windows 7 Starter Edition or Windows 8 Bing edition.

Most people give a second life out of their hardware, so the license of Windows remains for the other user. People donate their old computers to charities, or give it to a family member or do other things with it. So it not a problem in any case.

Usually when you buy a system, by the time you do, a new version of Windows is out.

Also, if you order directly from the manufacture and call them to order, you can do a special order, where you request not have Windows on. You can also not agree at the license agreement when you first start your system and request the money back of the OS from Microsoft. You'll quickly notice that the saving are insignificant to care about.

That is also incorrect, an OEM license states you can upgrade any and all hardware freely except the motherboard, changing out the board is the measure of when the license becomes expired. As i said though the OEM license is pointless when you live in a country with consumer protection, they cannot enforce anything which goes against my own countries laws.

[GoodBytes]

Not true. The License agreement is a contract which you read and agree upon which override countries law. The only way to cancel it and apply country law, is if you take MS to court and judge agree with you. This is a case by case situation.

Windows License agreement has not really changed since Windows XP. The core ideas of policies aren't changed.

[pinksnowmanshandle]

 

 It doesn't really matter I mean if Microsoft denies the transfer of the OEM key to another computer that is not an actual product of the issuing OEM then hopefully G2A has a decent price on Windows at the time of when I do my build.

[Master Disaster]

Not true. The License agreement is a contract which you read and agree upon which override countries law. The only way to cancel it and apply country law, is if you take MS to court and judge agree with you. This is a case by case situation.

Windows License agreement has not really changed since Windows XP. The core ideas of policies aren't changed.

If that's true then explain why Valve are currently fighting a multi million dollar law suit against Australia because of their no refund policy.

I'm sorry bud but no EULA, CoC or any other form of online agreement can ever supersede the laws of the country in which the person resides in, in fact its the exact opposite of that. Any company wishing the sell a product in any country protected by consumer protection laws has to make sure that all their sales operations meet with the standards expected by said laws otherwise they are in breach and can be forced to stop trading.

[GoodBytes]

LinusTechTip is Canadian, and follows Canadian laws.

It doesn't mater where you are. It's not YOU that will get in trouble, it is LinusTechTip or Linus himself (depending how he registered his business).

Valve is a service provider with Steam, which is what the lawsuit is about. Valve falls under the retail laws of the county it does business with. As stated you CAN return your copy of Windows as long as you don't agree of the license agreement (which means you don't override the laws). A nice check of 0$-50$ U.S will be sent to you. The price varies based on edition of Windows, and what deal the OEM had with Microsoft.

Assuming Valve looses the case, they may find a work around. A famous one in Canada is to mark everything as Special, with 0$ or 0.01$ special, and you mark the sale as Final Sale on the bill. However, companies tend to not do this, as they usually permanently lose their customers, as it is ethically frown upon. It is only usually done on liquidations of when a store closes, which the company doesn't care as they are closing shop in any case. No more business will be done.

[Master Disaster]

LinusTechTip is Canadian, and follows Canadian laws.

It doesn't mater where you are. It's not YOU that will get in trouble, it is LinusTechTip or Linus himself (depending how he registered his business).

Hang on, I'm not taking about Linus's CoC here, I'm talking about Microsofts EULA.

And as I said, ringing a company up and asking for re-activation is not illegal no matter where you live, they can always say no but if they choose to allow the re-activation then its done so on their terms and no breach has happened.

I understand your PoV entirely and i totally agree with you too, you should not pirate software ever, developers deserve to be paid for their work, even large butthole ones like MS and i am certainly not suggesting anyone pirate anything here, all i said was ring up and tell them your motherboard died, in almost all cases they will simply re-actiavte the license for you, thats on them.

[GoodBytes]

Hang on, I'm not taking about Linus's CoC here, I'm talking about Microsofts EULA.

The whole idea of License Agreement is that you don't own the software. You own the right to use it under a specific set of conditions. This was created because there was a period in time where massive abuse of software was done, including people hacking the software changing the credit name to theirs and sale it like they have done this, completely legal. It was hugely done in early arcade machine days.

As laws got adapted, these people adapted as well. Now they modified the graphics and game name, by-passing copyright laws, and trademark laws. It was this massive fight which was occurring worldwide.

So now, to protect themselves no software company, even open source ones, goes through a contractual agreement with the user for a license limiting the user in some fashion. In the case of Open Source, they are usually the GNU General Public License is used, which states things you can't claim it is your work. You can read it all here: http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html

And as I said, ringing a company up and asking for re-activation is not illegal no matter where you live, they can always say no but if they choose to allow the re-activation then its done so on their terms and no breach has happened.

 

I understand your PoV entirely and i totally agree with you too, you should not pirate software ever, developers deserve to be paid for their work, even large butthole ones like MS and i am certainly not suggesting anyone pirate anything here, all i said was ring up and tell them your motherboard died, in almost all cases they will simply re-actiavte the license for you, thats on them.

If the motherboard didn't die, then you are lying and that gives the right (and immediate win) from Microsoft to take you to court, for lying on a contractual agreement.

If everyone could lie on a contract, then the point of a contract would have 0 value.

If Microsoft wins, not only you'll have to pay Microsoft lawyers, but also Windows (which will be the least of your concerns)

Sure, if you put the motherboard in the microwave a bit, now it will break and now you can transfer you copy... but that is assuming we are talking about OEM version of Windows for System Builders (the one you and I can buy at a computer retail store).

In the case of OEM that comes with a system, you can't transfer it. That is why the price is even lower for them, making the system cheaper for you.

If consumers didn't look for the lowest price possible system for the specs, then believe me, every laptop would run with a retail box of Windows, with box and CD and everything you need. Not to mention massive increase in build quality and always smart and well though out cooling engineering applied to the product making sure that the system is cool and quiet. Then again your system would cost a lot more obviously, and this is not in the world we live in.

[Master Disaster]

snip

Yeah, if you look you'll see I did say branded OEM licenses cannot ever be transferred.