Windows 8, deactivate and reactivate?

[dlock13]

I have a desktop PC that I'm getting rid of. It has Windows 8 currently installed. How would I go about uninstalling it/deactivating the license?

I would like to take the license completely away from that machine and install it on the new laptop I'm receiving.

If it's something simple as format the hard drive, then install/activate on new laptop. I'll probably punch myself. I have searched, and thus far, I found this:

Press Windows key + X
Click Comman Prompt (Admin)
At the command prompt, type: slmgr.vbs -upk
Hit Enter, this will uninstall the product key from the computer and set it back to trial mode,

Will that work? If that's the case, then I can just format the HDD afterwards of course.

So please let me know!

Thank you!

 

[Bubbaleone]

Yes: http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2309765

 

[dlock13]

What happens if it's on an external drive and you no longer have access to the PC it was on...?

 

[Bubbaleone]

I'm not following your question at all. It's possible to install Windows 8 on a USB thumb drive (sort of). Is that what you're talking about?...because Windows 8 can't be installed on an external hard drive.

 

[Arkaign]

I'm not following your question at all. It's possible to install Windows 8 on a USB thumb drive (sort of). Is that what you're talking about?...because Windows 8 can't be installed on an external hard drive.

Eh? I've installed Win8 to an external drive with no problem. I personally loathe Win8, but the install is fast, flexible, and effective.

 

[dlock13]

Here's what happened. I sold some computer parts, tore down my PC, and packaged some things up.

The dumby I am forgot to deactivate the license on my desktop so I could move it over to my laptop. It's on an external HDD. I'm not sure where to go from there. Can I just set up the laptop with Windows 8 and then when I call in, let them know that I don't have access to that PC anymore so I could reactive the license?

 

[Matt1970]

Here's what happened. I sold some computer parts, tore down my PC, and packaged some things up.

The dumby I am forgot to deactivate the license on my desktop so I could move it over to my laptop. It's on an external HDD. I'm not sure where to go from there. Can I just set up the laptop with Windows 8 and then when I call in, let them know that I don't have access to that PC anymore so I could reactive the license?

Give it a shot. I have had them tell me everything from "once a motherboard dies, your copy of Windows dies with it" to them not asking much of anything at all.

 

[WilliamM2]

Here's what happened. I sold some computer parts, tore down my PC, and packaged some things up.

The dumby I am forgot to deactivate the license on my desktop so I could move it over to my laptop. It's on an external HDD. I'm not sure where to go from there. Can I just set up the laptop with Windows 8 and then when I call in, let them know that I don't have access to that PC anymore so I could reactive the license?

I've never been turned down for any re-activation when calling (all legit). Just tell them that you had to replace the hard drive. Don't confuse the issue with a long story, and clearly state it's only on one PC.

 

[Arkaign]

Is this a boxed retail copy or an OEM copy?

 

[dlock13]

I've never been turned down for any re-activation when calling (all legit). Just tell them that you had to replace the hard drive. Don't confuse the issue with a long story, and clearly state it's only on one PC.

I was planning on telling him that it's the hard drive. Thanks for the input!

Is this a boxed retail copy or an OEM copy?

It's a boxed retail copy. Actually, it's the $40 copy. I can't remember which that was.

 

[Arkaign]

You should be good to go. The important thing is that you know for a fact that the OS is only going to be used on one computer. Rather than bothering with all the background details, you're on the right track, just tell them your pc crashed and you're reloading it, one pc only, good to go.

 

[dlock13]

You should be good to go. The important thing is that you know for a fact that the OS is only going to be used on one computer. Rather than bothering with all the background details, you're on the right track, just tell them your pc crashed and you're reloading it, one pc only, good to go.

Right. That makes perfect sense. I'm glad I'm able to transfer the license. I made this post specifically to deactivate it before tearing it apart, but 3/4ths the way through taking it apart... I remembered that I needed to deactivate it! Haha.

Thanks for all your help everyone!

 

[Bubbaleone]

Eh? I've installed Win8 to an external drive with no problem. I personally loathe Win8, but the install is fast, flexible, and effective.

Without using PWBoot and/or setting up the external HDD as a VHD, please explain (or link) the procedure you used to install (non-enterprise) Windows 8 to an external HDD. I'd be very interested in exactly how that's accomplished.

 

[Arkaign]

Without using PWBoot and/or setting up the external HDD as a VHD, please explain (or link) the procedure you used to install (non-enterprise) Windows 8 to an external HDD. I'd be very interested in exactly how that's accomplished.

I dunno, I just cloned my install onto my eSATA SSD, then choose to boot from it when I want to mess with it, boots right up. It's external. I guess you mean the actual installation bombs if you're trying to do it to an external? Win8 Pro retail.

 

[Bubbaleone]

I dunno, I just cloned my install onto my eSATA SSD, then choose to boot from it when I want to mess with it, boots right up. It's external. I guess you mean the actual installation bombs if you're trying to do it to an external? Win8 Pro retail.

Other than it being outside the computer case, installing a Windows operating system on a drive attached to the mobo via eSATA is no different than installing to a drive attached to the mobo via SATA, since the Windows installer and Windows disk management see both types as fixed drives.

However, the Windows installer and Windows disk management see drives attached via USB and FireWire as removable. Thus, without a great deal of technical workarounds, the typical user will never get a Windows installation to boot from an external HDD.

Further, I believe that when most computer enthusiasts read the term "external HDD" they understand that "(USB) external HDD" is generally being referred to, unless the writer has specifically stated otherwise. In the case of your statement, "I've installed Win8 to an external drive with no problem.", you failed to mention it was eSATA. I appreciate you clarifying that in your reply.

 

[dlock13]

Well, I posted this for absolutely no reason. It was so very, very easy to do. I called the toll free number, and it gave me a robotic answering machine. It asked me for the 9-10 grouping of digits, entered them all in. It asked me if it was only on one PC, I said yes, and then it gave me it's 9 grouping of numbers to enter to activate it on my laptop.

Took about 5 minutes.

 

[Matt1970]

Excellent.

 

[Arkaign]

Other than it being outside the computer case, installing a Windows operating system on a drive attached to the mobo via eSATA is no different than installing to a drive attached to the mobo via SATA, since the Windows installer and Windows disk management see both types as fixed drives.

However, the Windows installer and Windows disk management see drives attached via USB and FireWire as removable. Thus, without a great deal of technical workarounds, the typical user will never get a Windows installation to boot from an external HDD.

Further, I believe that when most computer enthusiasts read the term "external HDD" they understand that "(USB) external HDD" is generally being referred to, unless the writer has specifically stated otherwise. In the case of your statement, "I've installed Win8 to an external drive with no problem.", you failed to mention it was eSATA. I appreciate you clarifying that in your reply.

Ah, cool, interesting info for sure.

Yeah I don't see eSATA used all that much. I got it before I got USB 3, and it seems to work pretty well, the downside being the annoying power brick, even though I've got a low-power SSD inside of it.

Given that probably 99% of drives that are external are USB 2.0 or 3.0, it's totally understandable that it's almost assumed that all externals are USB. It would probably not be the case if eSATA was more convenient to use. The slightly different cables and external power requirements are just annoying.

 

[aayush]

Yeah it really works