Windows 8 $14.99 Upgrade Code is Now available

[forster]

Interesting, didnt ask me - I've just upgraded Win7 and it went flawlessly, I've seen a few vids of the 'learning curve' people have to go through, and Im quite enjoying the experience.

[Noir Angel]

But is the ISO bootable? if Yes it's simple you can do a clean install altough there is FAQ on Microsoft support site for windows 8 that says:

You upgraded to Windows 8, but didn't have a previous version of Windowsinstalled (error 0xC004F061)

If you see error 0xC004F061 when you try to activate Windows 8, it means that you're using a product key for an upgrade version of Windows 8 and a previous version of Windows wasn't on your PC when Windows 8 was installed. To install an upgrade version of Windows 8, you must already have Windows 7, Windows Vista, or Windows XP installed on your PC.

If you formatted the drive before the upgrade version of Windows 8 was installed, you won't be able to use your upgrade product key to activate Windows 8. To activate Windows 8, you'll need to install your previous version of Windows, and then reinstall Windows 8. For help with the activation process, contact support.

Did you get that error with the 14.99 upgrade or the 24.99 upgrade? I hear the 14.99 upgrade has more limitations than the normally priced upgrade

[DirtyLarry Veteran]

It let me enter my email address no issues at all, but I have yet to get any upgrade key. Going to try again soon.

[jhoff80]

The key does not work on clean installs. You can install but it won't activate.

[benthebear]

btw, if anyone is interested in the $39.99 upgrade from XP/vista/win7 to win8 Pro(+WMC), he can try with the Windows Upgrade Assistant, download link: http://go.microsoft..../?LinkID=262205

Sweet, I thought it was pointless to make people who want to download it wait another day (I know, first world problems), and the upgrade assistant let me buy it for $39 and it's downloading now.

[Hum]

It's for people who just bought a PC with Windows 7 (I think in like the last month or two). They get the $14.99 upgrade.

If you bought a Windows 7 PC months ago you can still get the upgrade but it'll cost you $39.99.

So people are paying once for Windows 7, then the very cheapo price of $15 for 8 -- I did not misunderstand then. :laugh:

[Joni_78]

The store is not open yet in the US , "Coming Soon ".

I'm having the same problem, it says it's not available on my region yet even though it should be.

Anyone know what the problem is?

[Cask1]

Was anyone already running Windows 8 able to buy using the upgrade assistant...it should be available in my country but I keep getting the Not available in your region message. probably the issue is that I am already running Windows 8, but want to purchase a legit key.

[scaramonga]

Seems the ?14.99 key is 'upgrade' ONLY! It will let you install from any ISO image, but will NOT activate if it was a clean install!! You need Win7 installed first. :(

Windows 8 has a 'reset your pc' option where it cleans your whole system but maintains the activation, so it will be just like a clean install, I suppose.

[scorpian007]

Was anyone already running Windows 8 able to buy using the upgrade assistant...it should be available in my country but I keep getting the Not available in your region message. probably the issue is that I am already running Windows 8, but want to purchase a legit key.

Also having this issue. Trying to buy another key for my HTPC but I've already got Win 8 Pro on my main machine :(

[scaramonga]

Well, good news :) The old method of installing from upgrade disk as clean install works, same method as for Win7 ;)

Change the following registry key before activating:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Setup/OOBE

Change "MediaBootInstall" from "1" to "0"

Then type "slmgr /rearm" into a command prompt, wait for conformation prompt.

Restart the PC.

Activate.
[/CODE]

Confirmed 100% working :)

[Cask1]

Also having this issue. Trying to buy another key for my HTPC but I've already got Win 8 Pro on my main machine :(

Got it to work, just run the upgrade assistant in Windows XP Service Pack 3 compatibility mode. It will give you your key that way. Was able to activate my installation that was activated using a fake KMS server last August.....and it is a clean install!

[scorpian007]

Worked great! Thanks so much for that!

[Joni_78]

Works with compatibility mode, thank you!

[Joni_78]

Does it download both 32- and 64-bit discs?

[Neowon]

Does it download both 32- and 64-bit discs?

Good question, I think it lets you pick. Download this yesterday and installing this now. Will let you know shortly. I need the x64 so hopefully x64 and 32 in the same iso.

[Joni_78]

Good question, I think it lets you pick. Download this yesterday and installing this now. Will let you know shortly. I need the x64 so hopefully x64 and 32 in the same iso.

6 minutes left to see what it downloaded. Keys should work on MSDN & TechNet discs too, incase it downloads just 32-bit media.

[wrack]

Download is painfully slow!

[Neowon]

6 minutes left to see what it downloaded. Keys should work on MSDN & TechNet discs too, incase it downloads just 32-bit media.

Installed x64. I guess it downloads whatever version you have as an update?

It looks really crist tbh and IE10 looks surprisingly good. Time to play around a bit and see. First thing first windows update!

Download is painfully slow!

lol it download within 30 mins for me. Then again I dl it yesterday.

[Joni_78]

It downloaded 64-bit, I was running 64-bit when running the upgrade assistant.

However it downloads just the install files "C:\ESD" (hidden folder) and comparing the original 64-bit disc from TechNet, there is alot of differencies. 64-bit for Technet is 3.33 GB and this is 2.61 GB, this doesn't have install.wim, it has install.esd which is 1.96 GB, install.wim from Technet is 2.68 GB. I guess install.esd has some skus removed.

Just tested and the key works fine when doing a clean install from Technet disc :)

[Jan Veteran]

It downloaded 64-bit, I was running 64-bit when running the upgrade assistant.

However it downloads just the install files "C:\ESD" (hidden folder) and comparing the original 64-bit disc from TechNet, there is alot of differencies. 64-bit for Technet is 3.33 GB and this is 2.61 GB, this doesn't have install.wim, it has install.esd which is 1.96 GB, install.wim from Technet is 2.68 GB. I guess install.esd has some skus removed.

Just tested and the key works fine when doing a clean install from Technet disc :)

Is there any way to get the 64 bit install media whilst on 32 bit?

[Joni_78]

Is there any way to get the 64 bit install media whilst on 32 bit?

Dunno, it didn't give any choice on 64-bit. Did you try upgrade assistant on 32-bit OS? Also there is a lot of places to get the untouched original disc as .iso image, just check that the SHA-1 is the same as stated on TechNet and MSDN.

This is from Microsoft TechNet

Windows 8 (x64) - DVD (English)

File Name: en_windows_8_x64_dvd_915440.iso

Languages: English

SHA1: 1CE53AD5F60419CF04A715CF3233F247E48BEEC4

Windows 8 (x64) - DVD (English-United Kingdom)

File Name: en-gb_windows_8_x64_dvd_915412.iso

Languages: English

SHA1: 79ED9958CF1690DD8A60A0B1B15F5DCC76C8E625

[wrack]

lol it download within 30 mins for me. Then again I dl it yesterday.

First 10% took nearly 40 minutes and now is it flying!

[Jan Veteran]

Dunno, it didn't give any choice on 64-bit. Did you try upgrade assistant on 32-bit OS? Also there is a lot of places to get the untouched original disc as .iso image, just check that the SHA-1 is the same as stated on TechNet and MSDN.

This is from Microsoft TechNet

Windows 8 (x64) - DVD (English)

File Name: en_windows_8_x64_dvd_915440.iso

Languages: English

SHA1: 1CE53AD5F60419CF04A715CF3233F247E48BEEC4

Windows 8 (x64) - DVD (English-United Kingdom)

File Name: en-gb_windows_8_x64_dvd_915412.iso

Languages: English

SHA1: 79ED9958CF1690DD8A60A0B1B15F5DCC76C8E625

Would the upgrade activation code work? Or would I need the full version of Windows 8?

[Joni_78]

Would the upgrade activation code work? Or would I need the full version of Windows 8?

It works fine. I just tested it.