Windows 8 Professional for $14.99 thru microsoft.com, Expires 1/31/13

[Pardus]

[redacted]

If you've purchased a new PC pre-loaded with Windows 7 between June 2, 2012 and January 31, 2013, you are eligible for a $15 upgrade to Windows 8 Pro.

http://www.windowsupgradeoffer.com/

What the heck? A 13 year poster should know better than to be advocating fraud.
-ViRGE

 

[Spike]

This deal looks like it's limited to new PC purchases with Windows 7 only. So if you have an older PC with windows 7 on it this won't work.

 

[LumbergTech]

This deal looks like it's limited to new PC purchases with Windows 7 only. So if you have an older PC with windows 7 on it this won't work.

From what I'm reading this may not be entirely true and some people are seeing success with any windows 7.

Trying to find out more info.

 

[magomago]

I don't get how this works, especially considering that it asks you for your PC brand, when you bought it, etc. etc.

This deal looks like it's limited to new PC purchases with Windows 7 only. So if you have an older PC with windows 7 on it this won't work.

you said it more eloquently than me haha

 

[JBT]

Is there a way to get this as a .iso som other way? This thing just wants to install Windows 8 right now lol...

EDIT: never mind it is allowing me to create a .iso

 

[coloumb]

If you bend the truth slightly, and have a legit Win7 key, it will probably work today [it wasn't a few days ago]. ie: 8/12/12, Dell, Best Buy, XPS.

Once you get your promo code - just buy a copy through the upgrade assistant. You can then perform a download/upgrade immediately or download/create an ISO for later install [which I'm sure the ISO matches your OS - 32bit or 64bit].

 

[Charlie98]

Jeepers... they are now trying to give W8 away... SMH

 

[mikek753]

for HTPC users - keep in mind that MCE isn't part of Win8 any more - you have to get it in addition as a pack with another activation that you can get for free for Win8 Pro till 01/31/13 and activate by that day

 

[ImpulsE69]

Cool. I bought 2 pc's (1 built, 1 laptop) last year...so this works for me. Probably won't install this anytime soon, but I don't see it going much cheaper than this.

Actually I stand corrected....I have a feeling they are doing this because #1 not many ppl are buying it, but more importantly #2 they want as many people with access to their store when its ready. It's all a conspiracy lol

 

[hans007]

it seems to work for wahtever you put on there.

at least it sends you the email with the code. i do have an actual windows 7 oem pc, but i didnt buy it when windows 8 was even released yet, but it seems like it doesnt care

 

[Sleepingforest]

I don't get how this works, especially considering that it asks you for your PC brand, when you bought it, etc. etc.



you said it more eloquently than me haha

I think they're just gather data; it worked for me when I put, just for fun, "Frankenbuild" (I took it back and used a better moniker which might help their demographics or something: "Enthusiast's Custom PC".) It's happily installed on my PC, anyway.

 

[bankster55]

Its amazing how these "updates" of all kinds and flavors just seem to work no matter what you do. This is definitely not the same as before with the Win 7 intro - a kindler gentler MS now - lol

I just spent $140 +tx at Amazon for a Win 8 Pro system builder DVD - coming the 23rd, just because I can - heh. Kinda wierd that Staples still has Win 7 Ult for $219, wazzup with that?

 

[Replay]

Not legit @14.95 unless you bought a new Windows 7 pc within the specified period, or lie to get the deal.

Thought about grabbing one @14.95 when this went live months ago (October). Did the $30 after rebate Newegg deal (expired) for retail boxed 32/64 media and legit key.

BTW, I am ok with bios mod activations, while possessing a legit key. As a pc hobbyist, with purchased software, MS has ticked me off with re-activation problems in the past (long fruitless calls to overseas call centers begging to use what I paid for, end rant)...

 

[Carson Dyle]

Not legit @14.95 unless you bought a new Windows 7 pc within the specified period, or lie to get the deal.

Or you installed an OEM ('system builder') license on a PC that you yourself built. Personally, I've never built a PC with a Microsoft OS where I did not use an OEM licensed OS.

 

[Carson Dyle]

BTW... At the link below are some great instructions for how you can download a Windows 8 ISO or a USB flash drive installation. It's not at all easy to find this on Microsoft's web site.

I went through the process of getting the Windows 8 upgrade yesterday and chose to save it to my hard drive rather than downloading an ISO or flash drive installation. Without going back and paying again for another upgrade, I couldn't figure out how to get the ISO.

http://www.ghacks.net/2012/11/10/how-to-re-download-the-windows-8-iso/

 

[lkailburn]

Lol I should have started this thread months ago. I purchased dozens of pcs for clients lately and activated my limit of 5 through this offer. Win 8 has been fantastic.
-Luke

 

[Soccerman06]

Has anyone tried doing this with vista?

 

[drshivas]

Thanks, OP. Works great. Have Win 8 Pro 64 up in VMware for a test drive.

 

[mikeford]

One of the threads on this deal that isn't this one or other one I found talked about W8 not including media center, but it was a free download prior to 1/31/13. The part I am missing on this deal is when do you need need to do the activation by?

It sounded like install and activate by 1/31/13 for the media center part, but only purchase for the $14.95 Win8 deal part.

Any restrictions on repeat activations using the same key, ie win7 I had a MB die and new MB required activation, later HD died requiring fresh installs on new drives with new activations. Any expected issues if similar happens with Win8 or media center add on?

 

[marmasatt]

One of the threads on this deal that isn't this one or other one I found talked about W8 not including media center, but it was a free download prior to 1/31/13. The part I am missing on this deal is when do you need need to do the activation by?

It sounded like install and activate by 1/31/13 for the media center part, but only purchase for the $14.95 Win8 deal part.

Any restrictions on repeat activations using the same key, ie win7 I had a MB die and new MB required activation, later HD died requiring fresh installs on new drives with new activations. Any expected issues if similar happens with Win8 or media center add on?

If I understand your questions right, I would say no. Don't take my word for it necessarily - you should still ask around. But I believe, once you *have* a Windows Media Center Key it can be added to an OS at any time. It's just that the free key give away itself only goes to 1/31/13. So get one now if you want one. Also, once you get the key, it is always linked to whatever Windows 8 activation key you used. So once you get a media center key you have to keep track of which normal W8 key it's attached to, or it may not work in the future.

Lastly, I had to call MS as my activation code wouldn't activate. For reasons unknown, I did two of these and one wouldn't work. I did them both as a "fresh install" but just the fact that I had a W7 OS on one and nothing on the second one is what I believe wouldn't let me activate the 2nd. When you call MS, they literally give you like an 8 digit code and your OS is activated. Painless. I was straight up and told them I purchased the "upgrade" version but I wiped my hard drive clean so I ran into the problem.

 

[Double Trouble]

MS is really desperate to push this thing out there. Smells to me like it's going down in flames. I hope MS has something better coming down the pipe, or they are screwed.

Thanks for the post OP, I wouldn't mind playing with it more in a VM ... I'm willing to pay $15.

 

[blackened23]

MS is really desperate to push this thing out there. Smells to me like it's going down in flames. I hope MS has something better coming down the pipe, or they are screwed.

Thanks for the post OP, I wouldn't mind playing with it more in a VM ... I'm willing to pay $15.

They're trying to keep the price more in line with OS X upgrade prices I believe. Obviously they're only doing that temporarily, though.

 

[JBT]

Hmmm can't do a format and clean install with this. It linked me to an article saying I have to install a different Windows first then upgrade. Why can't they just ask for my Win 7 product key make sure its legit, then ask for the Win 8 product key.... sigh...

 

[weevilone]

So does this require a BIOS hack? I don't understand that part.

My kids received a new home-built PC for Christmas and it's running Win7 Ultimate, legit license. Can I "upgrade" it with this method legit?

I also need a copy to fiddle with in VM and it doesn't sound like that would be easy with this license, but perhaps I'm not reading it correctly.

 

[drshivas]

No bios mod necessary. I installed the iso created by the upgrade assistant. I purchased this ugrade from a Win7 laptop bought at Micro Center last year.