Are the free Windows 8 Media Center keys no longer available?


Recommended Posts

Just got my Windows 7 laptop, got the upgrade to Windows 8 Pro and ready to install. Went to the Microsoft webpage (http://windows.micro...8/feature-packs) to get the free Media Center key, it keeps telling me "We couldn't process your order." I have tried even a fresh gmail address and get the same error.

Anyone else have this problem or know if Microsoft has stopped dishing out the keys? Site says until Jan. 31, 2013. If anyone might have a unused Media Center key, I'd appreciate it.

I just tried that page and got:

Thank you

Your product key will be emailed to you within 72 hours. If the email doesn?t arrive in your inbox, be sure to check your junk email folder.

After entering in the email address and completing the captcha. Might want to try again?

I just created another gmail account, put in the email address and captcha, hit "Send my product key" and get same thing (We couldn't process your order.). Guess I'll try at home.

I get the "We couldn't process your order." message too. I've seen people talk about using this to register their pirate copy so it seems likely that they have stopped giving out keys.

I've just tried with a new email and I`m getting the same now (Im in UK)

----

We couldn't process your order.

Terms & Conditions

I was told by a colleague to contact Microsoft customer service after creating a request right before Christmas that hadn't been processed - after a little information exchange, I was given a key over the phone.

http://support.micro...bers/en-us?FR=1

There must be something up with the site at the moment, because it worked some time back in December for a copy I had purchased for someone, but it has since been failing attempts since my last try a little over a week ago.

Full disclosure, I am an MS employee, but even I had to call the phone # :).

I find it very amusing how people cannot get it. It?s a marketing strategy that works for Microsoft. Its like fishing. Throw in the free stuff , give a little time then take a big scoop. So now whoever had try windows 8 pro will most likely not downgrade. So whats the best solution for all you pirate? buy the OS. Ha ha ha

Still unable to get anything other than the can't process your order message. *shakes fist at Microsoft* No one with a spare key feeling generous? Trying to get the extra value out of paying for the upgrade LOL. :D

I haven't gotten mine either, but no matter to me. It is Free after all so if it never comes, whatever. :) Not like I paid them for it. If that was the case, then yeah, would be upset.

Got my key today but it doesn't work. So, not sure if it is my PC or not (OEM install from Toshiba).

So, hopefully people will get thiers soon since mine just came in 11 minutes ago. :)

Got my key today but it doesn't work. So, not sure if it is my PC or not (OEM install from Toshiba).

So, hopefully people will get thiers soon since mine just came in 11 minutes ago. :)

Is your Win8 the Pro version? I believe the key only works on the Pro version not the "core" version.

Is your Win8 the Pro version? I believe the key only works on the Pro version not the "core" version.

After I tried the key it was THENthat I read the email. You are right - it doesn't work unless I have Pro. So, I have a useless key unless of course I can find a taker. But not sure if I could do that here or not via PM. :)

This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Posts

    • I've been on Deezer for over a decade, but glad that Tidal joined them in fighting AI slop. Can't stand such takes as Spotify's: "Spotify's CEO recently pushed back against listeners who call AI music "slop," urging people to stop using the term and instead embrace the creative potential of AI music."
    • “Could” … in the IS the healthcare is run by insurance companies that make indecent profits denying basic treatments to people that are paying money for nothing. Besides, where are all the Trump epigones who were stating that the tariffs were going to paid by foreign companies and not the US citizens? …
    • Microsoft Teams gets smarter at spotting sneaky meeting bots by Usama Jawad Microsoft Teams is set to receive a couple of new features soon, including a dedicated Recap app and a rather controversial location tracking functionality. The Redmond tech giant has also explained how it has made online communication and collaboration a lot more performant this year. Now, the company has detailed more secure bot admission mechanisms, as first reported by us in March 2026, and now available in Teams. As the use of AI has expanded across enterprise environments, Microsoft has begun allowing users to integrate bots into their meetings for various tasks, such as note-taking. While this has a tangible productivity benefit for users, Microsoft has highlighted how misconfiguration has allowed bots to join meetings that they shouldn't. This has created security and privacy risks, which Microsoft is now combating using a new Teams admin policy that allows organizers to control how external bots access meetings. Admins can leverage a policy called Manage external bots and their access to meetings. The default configuration is "When detected, require approval before joining", which places detected bots in a lobby before they are explicitly admitted into the meeting. The other option disables the experience. Microsoft has also requested admins to only allow organizers and co-organizers to manage access to a meeting, so that other people don't randomly allow bots into meetings. Teams will now be able to leverage infrastructure signals to intelligently detect and distinguish between bots and humans. Microsoft will soon also trial a registration experience for independent software vendors (ISVs) to build a system that registers a bot with Microsoft, so it is marked as a "known" bot. Teams will also categorize bots as trusted and suspected threats so that organizers can quickly identify which bots they want to allow into a meeting. Additional safeguards to block accidental admission of a bot into a meeting include: No one-click Admit option for identified bots Confirmation prompts when admitting participants that include bots Warnings when organizers choose Admit all, and bots are included Microsoft has begun rolling out this experience, and it will be retiring the current CAPTCHA verification implementation. In the future, the company plans to roll out new capabilities like allow-lists, organization-wide policies, admin reports, audit logs, and more granular controls.
    • With the current hardware prices Microsoft should lift the restriction. Then if you have the correct TPM then allow you to use X feature, if you don't have the correct TPM then don't but still actually let you run windows. 11. With a disclaimer during install that X features would be unavailable.
    • It's good for recycling of course. But commence inflation of a second hand RAM bubble and price gouging on DDR 4 inventory in 3... 2... 1...
  • Recent Achievements

    • Reacting Well
      NovaEdgeX earned a badge
      Reacting Well
    • Week One Done
      NovaEdgeX earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • One Year In
      BA the Curmudgeon earned a badge
      One Year In
    • Conversation Starter
      rosiecharles earned a badge
      Conversation Starter
    • First Post
      KMilenkoski1202 earned a badge
      First Post
  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      538
    2. 2
      +Edouard
      266
    3. 3
      PsYcHoKiLLa
      151
    4. 4
      Steven P.
      98
    5. 5
      macoman
      66
  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!