My Computer hardware with "Windows 8" license
I got two new notebooks "ASUS K95VB-YZ075H"
obviously with a signature in the BIOS,
that a "Windows 8" license is granted without need to enter a "Windows 8" product key,
if I install from an original "Windows 8" or "Windows 8 Pro" installation media, e.g. an original "Windows 8 Pro" installation DVD.
If you wanna know tips & tricks for this notebook running Windows or Linux, please check my "ASUS K95VB" fan pagehttp://www.hemmerling.com/doku.php/en/asus_k95vb.htmlMy extra "Windows 8 Pro" and "Windows Media Center" licenses
2 years ago, with my first two "Windows 8" 32-bit computers, I got the chance
- to buy two additional paperbox "Windows 8 Pro" licenses, with DVD installation media and serial number on paper cards, unused until today.
- to collect some FREE "Windows Media Center" licenses, as granted for free by Microsoft prio to mid/late January 2012, or so. It was possible to get MORE THAN ONE, but several "Windows Media Center" licenses by a single "Windows
8" computer. At that time, you must just "request" the licenses from a computer running "Windows 8 Pro".
So I collected two "Windows 8" licenses and some "Windows Media Center" license keys for the new 64-bit notebook computer(s) I now got finally.
Of course I will continue to use the first two "Windows 8" computers... there I was able to add "Windows Media Center" as feature to my "Windows 8 Pro", and now after upgrade I am there running "Windws 8.1 Pro with Media Center".
My Problem: Upgrading from "Windows 8 OEM" to "Windows 8 Pro" works fine, but adding "Windows Media Center" leads to an unactivated unlicensed System :-(
But now about... my new 64-bit notebook computers, shipped with "Windows 8".
Upgrade from "Windows 8" to "Windows 8 Pro" works fine
- At “Windows Update / Add Features to Windows 8”
- You can enter your “Windows 8 Pro” key to upgrade your “Windows 8” to “Windows 8 Pro”. “Windows 8 Pro” is immediately activated, according to the “Control Panel / System” screen.
- After a reboot, now the “Windows 8 Pro” installation is still activated.
- You may upgrade to “Windows 8.1 Pro”.
Adding the "Windows Media Center" to "Windows 8" fails
- At “Windows Update / Add Features to Windows 8”:
- The once-free “Windows Media Center” product key, originally dedicated to “Windows 8 Pro” is not accepted on “Windows 8”
![:-(]()
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.Adding the"Windows Media Center" to "Windows 8 Pro" leads to an unactivated unlicensed System :-(
- At “Windows Update / Add Features to Windows 8 Pro”:
- The once-free “Windows Media Center” product key, originally dedicated to “Windows 8 Pro” is accepted.
- After a reboot, “Windows 8 Pro with Media Center” is displayed on the desktop canvas, but this “Windows 8 Pro with Media Center” installation is non-activated and unlicensed, activation error “0xC004C003”.
- If you try to change the Windows product key with the “SLUI 3” command, the system rejects the ( same once accepted ) “Windows 8 Pro” product key but requests a product key for “Windows 8 Pro with Media Center”
![:-(]()
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So if I try to install my legal "Windows Media Center" licenses, I will ruin my "Windows 8 Pro / Windows 8.1 Pro" installation totally, as it is left in an unlicensed state...
Other threads to this topic:
1. Downgrade from Windows 8 Pro with Media Center to Windows 8 Pro?
2. RTM 8.1 Pro wrecks Windows Media Center
I told the ASUS hotline about this incident, but probably they can´t do anything, and asking Microsoft's German hotline itself for support is a waste of time.. ( remember what would you be able to do if you were hotline staff member - NOTHING ).
It does not matter if you first upgrade from "Windows 8" to "Windows 8.1", the problem remains, that's why I report it here..
Sincerely
Rolf