Windows 8 Upgrade - Is Activation of Windows 7/Vista necessary?

[PurdueRy]

I have a retail copy of Windows Vista and an upgrade copy of Windows 7. I had used the windows 7 copy for a bootcamp install and a desktop install and it worked fine. I realize that this is technically two installs of one piece of software.

When I upgraded both computers to 8 I ran into windows complaining that the keys were the same. So I purchased an additional copy of windows 8 pro upgrade. I was surprised to see that it still complained that the Key was already in use even though it was entirely new. I eventually got it installed by calling the microsoft hotline to read the giant keycode number.

My questions is this, was this because both installs had the same windows 7 key initially? If so, will I be able to install windows 8 in the future by just installing windows 7 and not activating the copy? Just thought that two copies of windows 8 upgrade would give me the two keys necessary to run two computers at the same time without microsoft complaining.

Any experiences of users out there with upgrade copies? I'd rather buy three upgrade copies for all my computers especially since I've already bought two...but maybe this no longer works and microsoft needs to see the original key code of the base OS install (windows vista/7 in my case)

 

[Anteaus]

I haven't tested it with Windows 8, but what I did before was remove all unnecessary bloat from the activated copy of Windows to make it as small as possible then image it. That way if you need to ever reinstall Windows 8 Upgrade you always have an activated copy of Windows 7 handy. Windows 8 Upgrade should detect the activated copy after which you can just format over it and do a clean install.

 

[gpse]

When I first installed the Windows 8 upgrade I did so on a blank hard drive, however this wouldn't let me activate so I had to reinstall. For the reinstall I installed windows 7 in trial mode (never entered the serial) then installed windows 8 clean install. I had no issues activating Windows 8 after.

 

[RPB]

When I first installed the Windows 8 upgrade I did so on a blank hard drive, however this wouldn't let me activate so I had to reinstall. For the reinstall I installed windows 7 in trial mode (never entered the serial) then installed windows 8 clean install. I had no issues activating Windows 8 after.

Diddo

 

[UberNeuman]

Diddo

This will be a stupid question, but here it is - with this process you only have to enter the win 8 key for the install - am I correct?

Been holding off buying win 8...

 

[PurdueRy]

Cool...sounds like my second copy of win 8 upgrade won't go to waste then.

 

[wpcoe]

When I first installed the Windows 8 upgrade I did so on a blank hard drive, however this wouldn't let me activate so I had to reinstall. For the reinstall I installed windows 7 in trial mode (never entered the serial) then installed windows 8 clean install. I had no issues activating Windows 8 after.

That's what I experienced in installing Win8 on my notebook computer. I secure erased Win7 off of the SSD and did a clean install, only to find I couldn't activate it.

However, THEN I read "If you are having issues activating after a clean install..." and upgrading to Win8 on my desktop after secure erasing Win7 off of it was a bit easier.

 

[piasabird]

I think if you do read up about the upgrade of Win8, there may be a way to install it as a clean install. This is because the upgrade will work for any version not just the 64 bit versions. For instance if you have XP the upgrade saves nothing.

Or you could try the process where you install Win 7 but during the install of Win8 you save a backup of Win7. That takes up some space, but it should get rid of all the files.

 

[gpse]

I was able to do a clean install with my upgrade.
I booted from the USB install media I created, then from that installer I was able to format\delete all partitions and do a clean install. However to do that I had windows 7 installed on that drive first, because like I said if I format the drive without windows 7 I wouldn't activate. However formatting the drive in the Windows 8 installer (booted from USB) you can format\delete without issue and have a true clean install.