Upgrade from XP to Windows 8

I have an older desktop computer that had Windows XP on it but for
some reason it quit working. I did an install of Windows 8 Pro 64 Bit
from a CD that I had bought for my other two desktop computers. It
installed okay and the old computer works fine but I get this notice
that I must key in my Product Key. I have this product key on a card
in the Windows 8 CD package and keyed it in but got the message that
this Product Key was invalid.

What can I do to clear this up and get my new installation of Windows
8 Pro to settle down and get to work?

I thought when I bought this CD pack of Windows 8 Pro it was good for
installation on four computers but I guess I was wrong on this.

Gordon

On Thu, 18 Sep 2014 19:54:55 -0500, Gordon
wrote:

I have an older desktop computer that had Windows XP on it but for
some reason it quit working. I did an install of Windows 8 Pro 64 Bit
from a CD that I had bought for my other two desktop computers. It
installed okay and the old computer works fine but I get this notice
that I must key in my Product Key. I have this product key on a card
in the Windows 8 CD package and keyed it in but got the message that
this Product Key was invalid.

What can I do to clear this up and get my new installation of Windows
8 Pro to settle down and get to work?

I thought when I bought this CD pack of Windows 8 Pro it was good for
installation on four computers but I guess I was wrong on this.



Like every other version of Windows, the rule is quite clear. It's one
copy (or one license) for each computer.

There's nothing new here. This is exactly the same rule that's been in
effect on every version of Windows starting at least with Windows 3.1.

Gordon wrote:
I have an older desktop computer that had Windows XP on it but for
some reason it quit working. I did an install of Windows 8 Pro 64 Bit
from a CD that I had bought for my other two desktop computers. It
installed okay and the old computer works fine but I get this notice
that I must key in my Product Key. I have this product key on a card
in the Windows 8 CD package and keyed it in but got the message that
this Product Key was invalid.

What can I do to clear this up and get my new installation of Windows
8 Pro to settle down and get to work?

I thought when I bought this CD pack of Windows 8 Pro it was good for
installation on four computers but I guess I was wrong on this.

Gordon


Windows 8 doesn't come on CD's.

Windows 8.0 is upgrade ware.

Where did you buy the 'CD pack' ?



--
...winston
msft mvp consumer apps

Gordon wrote:
I have an older desktop computer that had Windows XP on it but for
some reason it quit working. I did an install of Windows 8 Pro 64 Bit
from a CD that I had bought for my other two desktop computers. It
installed okay and the old computer works fine but I get this notice
that I must key in my Product Key. I have this product key on a card
in the Windows 8 CD package and keyed it in but got the message that
this Product Key was invalid.

What can I do to clear this up and get my new installation of Windows
8 Pro to settle down and get to work?

I thought when I bought this CD pack of Windows 8 Pro it was good for
installation on four computers but I guess I was wrong on this.

Gordon

It helps to know exactly what you bought. Was the item
from Ebay ? Or from a more conventional source ?

One user reports "this product key cannot be used with this version of windows",
but this product is an upgrade kit ("Pro Pack"). It's intended to take
a $119 product, add Pro/Media Center to it, for another $92. Whereas
Pro alone is $199. And adding Media Center to Pro might also have
been available at one time.

http://www.amazon.com/review/RHOI1WT...or e=software

If you wanted to curse out someone, it's the marketing people who think
up all these options. Without careful identification of what you
bought, it's anyone's guess at the symptoms.

And it's not unheard of for there to be a bug in activation,
and it's a real live defect in the product. But to rule that
out, start with positive identification of what the product is.

It comes on a DVD. Whether 32 bit (at 2.5GB) or 64 bit (at 3.5GB),
the contents are too large to fit on a CD. A single sided DVD
handles up to 4.7GB.

Paul

On Thu, 18 Sep 2014 18:45:06 -0700, Franklin wrote:

On Thu, 18 Sep 2014 18:19:16 -0700, "Ken Blake, MVP"
wrote:

Like every other version of Windows, the rule is quite clear. It's one
copy (or one license) for each computer.

There's nothing new here. This is exactly the same rule that's been in
effect on every version of Windows starting at least with Windows 3.1.

Oops. How about "Windows 7 Home Premium - Family Pack, Upgrade 3 PC's
for a SPECIAL price" One product key, three computers.

+1

That's what I bought back in the day.

--
Gene E. Bloch (Stumbling Bloch)

Ken1943 wrote:
On Thu, 18 Sep 2014 21:20:59 -0400, ". . .winston"
wrote:

Gordon wrote:
I have an older desktop computer that had Windows XP on it but for
some reason it quit working. I did an install of Windows 8 Pro 64 Bit
from a CD that I had bought for my other two desktop computers. It
installed okay and the old computer works fine but I get this notice
that I must key in my Product Key. I have this product key on a card
in the Windows 8 CD package and keyed it in but got the message that
this Product Key was invalid.

What can I do to clear this up and get my new installation of Windows
8 Pro to settle down and get to work?

I thought when I bought this CD pack of Windows 8 Pro it was good for
installation on four computers but I guess I was wrong on this.

Gordon


Windows 8 doesn't come on CD's.

Windows 8.0 is upgrade ware.

Where did you buy the 'CD pack' ?

NewEgg has the full version for sale + OEM versions


KenW

They certainly do, but not in a 'four pack'

Full version OEM
Win 8.1 OEM 32 bit $100
Win 8.1 OEM 64 bit $100
Win 8.1 Pro OEM 32 bit $140
Win 8.1 Pro OEM 64 bit $140

Full version Retail:
Win 8.1 Retail 32 and 64 bit ($120)
Win 8.1 Pro Retail 32 and 64 bit ($200)
and
Win 8.1 Pro Pack (no media, download, upgrade from 8.1 to 8.1 Pro) $100
- bitness downloaded is the same version as the 8.1 system accessing
the download server; also includes Media Center; must be running Windows
8.1 to be able to use Windows 8.1 Pro Pack.

Note:
- all the above on NewEgg are 8.1 not 8.0 (the former full version,
the latter upgrade ware)
- Windows 8.0 is still available from the MSFT online store (limited
time offer)- $120; [to go from 8.0 to Pro one must upgrade to 8.1 via
the Store, then purchase the $99 Pro Pack to go from 8.1 to 8.1 Pro with
Media Center ) i.e. its cheaper to just purchase 8.1 Pro Retail at $200
and pay the $10 for Media Center via Add-Features.

....but still no *4-pack*

--
...winston
msft mvp consumer apps

On Thu, 18 Sep 2014 21:20:59 -0400, ". . .winston"
wrote:

Gordon wrote:
I have an older desktop computer that had Windows XP on it but for
some reason it quit working. I did an install of Windows 8 Pro 64 Bit
from a CD that I had bought for my other two desktop computers. It
installed okay and the old computer works fine but I get this notice
that I must key in my Product Key. I have this product key on a card
in the Windows 8 CD package and keyed it in but got the message that
this Product Key was invalid.

What can I do to clear this up and get my new installation of Windows
8 Pro to settle down and get to work?

I thought when I bought this CD pack of Windows 8 Pro it was good for
installation on four computers but I guess I was wrong on this.

Gordon


Windows 8 doesn't come on CD's.

Windows 8.0 is upgrade ware.

Where did you buy the 'CD pack' ?

I bought this CD pack at the local Staples store and it is on two
CDs...one for 32 bits and one for 64 bits. The note on the shelf at
the store said it was for installation on four computers but I can't
find that information anywhere on the CDs or the box. I did install it
on two desktop computers and one laptop and they all work fine...no
harassment about getting a Product Key.

The CDs and the box they came in clearly label this as Windows 8 Pro.

Gordon

On Thu, 18 Sep 2014 21:54:37 -0400, Paul wrote:

Gordon wrote:
I have an older desktop computer that had Windows XP on it but for
some reason it quit working. I did an install of Windows 8 Pro 64 Bit
from a CD that I had bought for my other two desktop computers. It
installed okay and the old computer works fine but I get this notice
that I must key in my Product Key. I have this product key on a card
in the Windows 8 CD package and keyed it in but got the message that
this Product Key was invalid.

What can I do to clear this up and get my new installation of Windows
8 Pro to settle down and get to work?

I thought when I bought this CD pack of Windows 8 Pro it was good for
installation on four computers but I guess I was wrong on this.

Gordon

It helps to know exactly what you bought. Was the item
from Ebay ? Or from a more conventional source ?

One user reports "this product key cannot be used with this version of windows",
but this product is an upgrade kit ("Pro Pack"). It's intended to take
a $119 product, add Pro/Media Center to it, for another $92. Whereas
Pro alone is $199. And adding Media Center to Pro might also have
been available at one time.

http://www.amazon.com/review/RHOI1WT...or e=software

If you wanted to curse out someone, it's the marketing people who think
up all these options. Without careful identification of what you
bought, it's anyone's guess at the symptoms.

And it's not unheard of for there to be a bug in activation,
and it's a real live defect in the product. But to rule that
out, start with positive identification of what the product is.

It comes on a DVD. Whether 32 bit (at 2.5GB) or 64 bit (at 3.5GB),
the contents are too large to fit on a CD. A single sided DVD
handles up to 4.7GB.

Paul

Okay, I was wrong in calling these CDs. They are labeled DVDs and
there is a note that says there is no requirement for a Key if
upgrading from a previous version of Windows. Gordon

On Thu, 18 Sep 2014 18:45:06 -0700, Franklin wrote:

On Thu, 18 Sep 2014 18:19:16 -0700, "Ken Blake, MVP"
wrote:

Like every other version of Windows, the rule is quite clear. It's one
copy (or one license) for each computer.

There's nothing new here. This is exactly the same rule that's been in
effect on every version of Windows starting at least with Windows 3.1.


Oops. How about "Windows 7 Home Premium - Family Pack, Upgrade 3 PC's
for a SPECIAL price" One product key, three computers.


Yes, that was a special sale package. But for regular sales, what I
said was correct: it's one copy (or one license) for each computer.

On Fri, 19 Sep 2014 08:10:20 -0500, Gordon
wrote:

On Thu, 18 Sep 2014 21:20:59 -0400, ". . .winston"
wrote:

Gordon wrote:
I have an older desktop computer that had Windows XP on it but for
some reason it quit working. I did an install of Windows 8 Pro 64 Bit
from a CD that I had bought for my other two desktop computers. It
installed okay and the old computer works fine but I get this notice
that I must key in my Product Key. I have this product key on a card
in the Windows 8 CD package and keyed it in but got the message that
this Product Key was invalid.

What can I do to clear this up and get my new installation of Windows
8 Pro to settle down and get to work?

I thought when I bought this CD pack of Windows 8 Pro it was good for
installation on four computers but I guess I was wrong on this.

Gordon


Windows 8 doesn't come on CD's.

Windows 8.0 is upgrade ware.

Where did you buy the 'CD pack' ?

I bought this CD pack at the local Staples store and it is on two
CDs...one for 32 bits and one for 64 bits.


Impossible. Neither would fit on a CD. They must have been DVDs


The note on the shelf at
the store said it was for installation on four computers


The note was wrong.


but I can't
find that information anywhere on the CDs or the box. I did install it
on two desktop computers and one laptop and they all work fine...no
harassment about getting a Product Key.


You got away with it, but you are in violation of the license.

Gordon wrote:

I bought this CD pack at the local Staples store and it is on two
CDs...one for 32 bits and one for 64 bits. The note on the shelf at
the store said it was for installation on four computers but I can't
find that information anywhere on the CDs or the box. I did install it
on two desktop computers and one laptop and they all work fine...no
harassment about getting a Product Key.

The CDs and the box they came in clearly label this as Windows 8 Pro.

Gordon

The boxed version comes with 32 bit and 64 bit DVDs, so you can
install either. (The CPU has to support 64 bit instructions to use the
64 bit one. Given the hardware requirements, a lot of the time the CPU
will be 32/64 ready.)

I still cannot find any reference to a Family 3-Pack for Windows 8.
I thought that Family Pack was cut for Windows 8. There was the
introductory $39.95 offer, which might have worked out to
"Family Pack" pricing.

On earlier OSes, the family-pack of 3 was a limited time offer. And
the offering would disappear maybe six months after the OS came out.
So you couldn't buy it two years after product launch. You then
paid full price.

*******

It's too bad this article, didn't come with exact error message
wording for each and every described case, to confirm the symptoms
and not need to phone someone.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/w...tivate-windows

0xC004C008 = "too many copies"

0xC004F061 = "You're using a product key to update to Windows 8.1
or Windows 8, but a previous version of Windows
wasn't installed on your PC."

The latter one can be fixed using the "double install method".
I used double-install for my first Win8 Pro Upgrade edition installation.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials...8-upgrade.html

*******

Earlier OSes, during the installation process, when it asks for a
key, you could just click "Next", and the install would finish
without a key. Then, a separate procedure could be used to
enter a key, or the OS would "expire" in 30 days etc.

On Windows 8, you can't click "Next" and leave the key empty.
However, there are "install-only" keys available. The VLK
ones are listed all over the place. The ones for home users
aren't as well known. Here they are.

Windows 8.0 Pro: XKY4K-2NRWR-8F6P2-448RF-CRYQH
Windows 8.0: FB4WR-32NVD-4RW79-XQFWH-CYQG3

Windows 8.1 Pro: XHQ8N-C3MCJ-RQXB6-WCHYG-C9WKB
Windows 8.1: 334NH-RXG76-64THK-C7CKG-D3VPT

You install and enter the matching key for your DVD.
Once the install is finished, enter "slui 3" in
an elevated Command Prompt window, to bring up the dialog
to change the key and activate. That's how I installed
my second and last copy of Windows 8 (on the new computer).
By doing it this way, it seemed to avoid the notion
of "double install".

http://www.eightforums.com/windows-u...meter-3-a.html

(slui 3 briefly mentioned here)
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials...ndows-8-a.html

Paul

Gordon wrote:
On Thu, 18 Sep 2014 21:20:59 -0400, ". . .winston"
wrote:

Gordon wrote:
I have an older desktop computer that had Windows XP on it but for
some reason it quit working. I did an install of Windows 8 Pro 64 Bit
from a CD that I had bought for my other two desktop computers. It
installed okay and the old computer works fine but I get this notice
that I must key in my Product Key. I have this product key on a card
in the Windows 8 CD package and keyed it in but got the message that
this Product Key was invalid.

What can I do to clear this up and get my new installation of Windows
8 Pro to settle down and get to work?

I thought when I bought this CD pack of Windows 8 Pro it was good for
installation on four computers but I guess I was wrong on this.

Gordon


Windows 8 doesn't come on CD's.

Windows 8.0 is upgrade ware.

Where did you buy the 'CD pack' ?

I bought this CD pack at the local Staples store and it is on two
CDs...one for 32 bits and one for 64 bits. The note on the shelf at
the store said it was for installation on four computers but I can't
find that information anywhere on the CDs or the box. I did install it
on two desktop computers and one laptop and they all work fine...no
harassment about getting a Product Key.

The CDs and the box they came in clearly label this as Windows 8 Pro.

Gordon



Win8 doesn't fit on a CD.

Win8 Pro retail comes with two DVD's one for 32 bit and one for 64 bit.
One 'single' product key is provided for installing one 32 bit or one 64
bit version....and only on one machine. Use of that same product key on
an additional machine, regardless of activation is a violation of the EULA.

The note on the store was incorrect or the note applied to some other
software. One will never see that note on the Windows DVD's or the
package(box).


--
...winston
msft mvp consumer apps

Gordon wrote:
On Thu, 18 Sep 2014 21:54:37 -0400, Paul wrote:

Gordon wrote:
I have an older desktop computer that had Windows XP on it but for
some reason it quit working. I did an install of Windows 8 Pro 64 Bit
from a CD that I had bought for my other two desktop computers. It
installed okay and the old computer works fine but I get this notice
that I must key in my Product Key. I have this product key on a card
in the Windows 8 CD package and keyed it in but got the message that
this Product Key was invalid.

What can I do to clear this up and get my new installation of Windows
8 Pro to settle down and get to work?

I thought when I bought this CD pack of Windows 8 Pro it was good for
installation on four computers but I guess I was wrong on this.

Gordon

It helps to know exactly what you bought. Was the item
from Ebay ? Or from a more conventional source ?

One user reports "this product key cannot be used with this version of windows",
but this product is an upgrade kit ("Pro Pack"). It's intended to take
a $119 product, add Pro/Media Center to it, for another $92. Whereas
Pro alone is $199. And adding Media Center to Pro might also have
been available at one time.

http://www.amazon.com/review/RHOI1WT...or e=software

If you wanted to curse out someone, it's the marketing people who think
up all these options. Without careful identification of what you
bought, it's anyone's guess at the symptoms.

And it's not unheard of for there to be a bug in activation,
and it's a real live defect in the product. But to rule that
out, start with positive identification of what the product is.

It comes on a DVD. Whether 32 bit (at 2.5GB) or 64 bit (at 3.5GB),
the contents are too large to fit on a CD. A single sided DVD
handles up to 4.7GB.

Paul

Okay, I was wrong in calling these CDs. They are labeled DVDs and
there is a note that says there is no requirement for a Key if
upgrading from a previous version of Windows. Gordon

Not possible. Win8 prompts for a product key prior to installation of
the Windows software.



--
...winston
msft mvp consumer apps

On Fri, 19 Sep 2014 08:15:31 -0500, Gordon wrote:

On Thu, 18 Sep 2014 21:54:37 -0400, Paul wrote:

Gordon wrote:
I have an older desktop computer that had Windows XP on it but for
some reason it quit working. I did an install of Windows 8 Pro 64 Bit
from a CD that I had bought for my other two desktop computers. It
installed okay and the old computer works fine but I get this notice
that I must key in my Product Key. I have this product key on a card
in the Windows 8 CD package and keyed it in but got the message that
this Product Key was invalid.

What can I do to clear this up and get my new installation of Windows
8 Pro to settle down and get to work?

I thought when I bought this CD pack of Windows 8 Pro it was good for
installation on four computers but I guess I was wrong on this.

Gordon

It helps to know exactly what you bought. Was the item
from Ebay ? Or from a more conventional source ?

One user reports "this product key cannot be used with this version of windows",
but this product is an upgrade kit ("Pro Pack"). It's intended to take
a $119 product, add Pro/Media Center to it, for another $92. Whereas
Pro alone is $199. And adding Media Center to Pro might also have
been available at one time.

http://www.amazon.com/review/RHOI1WT...or e=software

If you wanted to curse out someone, it's the marketing people who think
up all these options. Without careful identification of what you
bought, it's anyone's guess at the symptoms.

And it's not unheard of for there to be a bug in activation,
and it's a real live defect in the product. But to rule that
out, start with positive identification of what the product is.

It comes on a DVD. Whether 32 bit (at 2.5GB) or 64 bit (at 3.5GB),
the contents are too large to fit on a CD. A single sided DVD
handles up to 4.7GB.

Paul

Okay, I was wrong in calling these CDs. They are labeled DVDs and
there is a note that says there is no requirement for a Key if
upgrading from a previous version of Windows. Gordon

In casual communications, plenty of people say "CD" as a generic term
for an optical disk.

In casual communications, plenty of people say "DVD" as a generic term
for an optical disk.

In casual communications, plenty of people say "CD or DVD" as a generic
term for an optical disk.

In casual communications, plenty of people say "optical disk" as a
generic term for an optical disk.

In casual communications, plenty of people use the correct term for the
particular optical disk they are talking about.

So IMO you needn't worry too much :-)

--
Gene E. Bloch (Stumbling Bloch)

On Fri, 19 Sep 2014 10:54:57 -0700, "Gene E. Bloch"
wrote:

In casual communications, plenty of people say "CD" as a generic term
for an optical disk.

In casual communications, plenty of people say "DVD" as a generic term
for an optical disk.

In casual communications, plenty of people say "CD or DVD" as a generic
term for an optical disk.

In casual communications, plenty of people say "optical disk" as a
generic term for an optical disk.

In casual communications, plenty of people use the correct term for the
particular optical disk they are talking about.

So IMO you needn't worry too much :-)

I'm still trying to get over calling them disks. :-)
To me, they are optical discs. A disk is a different animal.

Yes, I know that some people's casual speech is sometimes more casual than
mine, and I'm ok with that.