I bought a nice but used computer from Ebay a while back that came with Windows 8 pro installed. It worked perfectly until Microsoft came along and forced me to upgrade to 8.1 pro. Now it's telling me to activate Windows with a product code or else buy a new one. How do I find the product code? I have 28 days before my computer starts shutting down every 2 hours, so any respect I had for Microsoft just went down the drain. Please help!
Can't activate windows 8.1. Please help desperate!
- Thread starter dsadas
- Start date
vrumor
Judicious
- Jan 17, 2012
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That isnt Microsofts fault. Most likely the laptop you bought had a pirated version of Windows 8 on it and when you upgraded it found out its bogus and now wants a real key. Buy it. You dont have any other recourse unless there is a key sticker somewhere on the laptop.
Again I know this is a possibility, although I'm still frustrated with Microsoft for making me update and if you ask me they are being a bit stingy. Not saying I wouldn't do the same, but still, stingy. Also I can't afford to buy a new key right now, and would like to at least be sure it is pirated or something before I do.
- Mar 16, 2013
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1. There is/was no forced update to 8.1. Strictly optional.
2. You bought a PC with a likely bogus install. Not Microsofts fault in any way, shape or form.
Solution? Call and talk to a licensing person. Either they will allow that activation (good for you), or they won't (no different where you are now).
But for any used PC....the first action should be to reinstall and activate from known good media
2. You bought a PC with a likely bogus install. Not Microsofts fault in any way, shape or form.
Solution? Call and talk to a licensing person. Either they will allow that activation (good for you), or they won't (no different where you are now).
But for any used PC....the first action should be to reinstall and activate from known good media
1. That's what I thought too and for a long time it was like that. I just said remind me later. The one time the remind me later option disappeared and it remind me in 4 hours. then 1 hour. then 15 minutes. And then my computer restarted.
2. Yes, that part isn't their fault.
3.Ok, will do.
windows activated with a stolen key can remain activated for up to 90 days, then the activation is checked again an the key inactivated and checked weekley after that. It the activation is ok, the system waits 90 days to check again.
if you update, from windows 8.0 to 8.1 or run the system file checker with the dism.exe the system will remove the hack and then next activation check will fail and you start a countdown to limited access.
very common for people to build machines with the pirate versions and sell them, the machine will work well until you update the operating system.
Some of the hacked versions even prevent any windows updates from being installed. (it just looks like they work but they get blocked)
Sometimes it can be a mistake, you can call microsoft give them your key and they will check to see how many times it has been used. If it has been used hundreds of times you have to buy one. if it is just a error and your key is ok, they may just help you get activated correctly.
(some people get a valid key then run hack software anyway, the hack is detected and the valid key gets blocked on the assumption it is bogus)
most likely you got a hacked version installed on a desktop machine. A laptop might just have a oem version.
if you update, from windows 8.0 to 8.1 or run the system file checker with the dism.exe the system will remove the hack and then next activation check will fail and you start a countdown to limited access.
very common for people to build machines with the pirate versions and sell them, the machine will work well until you update the operating system.
Some of the hacked versions even prevent any windows updates from being installed. (it just looks like they work but they get blocked)
Sometimes it can be a mistake, you can call microsoft give them your key and they will check to see how many times it has been used. If it has been used hundreds of times you have to buy one. if it is just a error and your key is ok, they may just help you get activated correctly.
(some people get a valid key then run hack software anyway, the hack is detected and the valid key gets blocked on the assumption it is bogus)
most likely you got a hacked version installed on a desktop machine. A laptop might just have a oem version.
microsoft applied a security update that detected a lot of the fake/stolen versions of windows. There was a big scramble of people uninstalling that update and rehacking the software. Better to get a real version and scan for rootkits and malware on what you currently have installed.
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