time limit on updating windows Media center?

[papaschtroumpf]

I got 2 windows upgrade keys through their upgrade program, one at the "full" $40 and one discounted for my laptop I bought a few months ago.

I also got a key for windows Media Center since you can currently get a key for it for free.

The rub is... I'm not ready to upgrade to windows 8 yet, and I'm unlikely to do it before the spring.

It's unclear to me if the free Media center key is only valid for install before Jan 13, or if you can get the key for free until Jan 13, but can install it at any time, even past that date. anyone knows?

That would also impact whether you can wipe a harddrive and reinstall Media center next year, so I'm hoping the key is good forever, the promo offer to get a key is what is time limited.

 

[JackMDS]

The time limit to obtain a Key is Dec.31 2012.

Once you have a Key to can install it later, it does not expire.

 

[papaschtroumpf]

Cool, ty!

 

[Radeon962]

Not to rain on your parade... but if you read the fine print at the bottom of the email that MS sends to you containing your MC key..

This promotion ends on January 31, 2013; your product key must be activated no later than February 1, 2013.

I would guess that once it is activated, then you could reinstall it down the road? That I don't know, but I can't believe you would have to pay for it after Feb. 1, if you had already installed it and needed to do a fresh install.