I improved my setup, but now I have to purchase a fresh product key!
I improved my setup, but now I have to purchase a fresh product key!
So yeah... I upgraded my brother's Windows 8.1 setup. New updates, CPU, GPU, RAM, all fixed. Now we need another key. Wtf Microsoft? Microsoft: "Hey. We noticed you upgraded your system. Nice! We want your money or we’ll block access to your computer!" I get the point, but it still feels a bit shady. Do you know where to find a genuine Win 8.1 key affordably?
You shouldn't need to purchase a new key once you upgrade your hardware...
I understand this frustration. I've repeatedly reinstalled Windows 7, always on one computer at a time, and now it won't activate because I've installed it multiple times. I purchased it myself, but now I'm left with the default black background and that annoying bottom-right icon.
You purchased an OEM key that’s tied to a specific motherboard. Altering the hardware might cause it to detect it as non-genuine. To re-activate a Windows 7 system, launch the Windows Activation utility. Open it by clicking the Start button, entering “Activate” in the search bar, and selecting the Windows Activation shortcut. Choose the “Show me other ways to activate” option, follow the wizard, and pick “Use the automated phone system.” You’ll receive a toll-free number to call. Upon successful completion, you’ll get a confirmation ID to enter into the activation tool, restoring Windows authenticity. If the automated process fails, a Microsoft representative will contact you to assist further.
Check out this Reddit thread for some Windows 7/8/81 server info... http://www.reddit.com/r/microsoftsoftwar...o_project/