3 Windows 8 Pro packs how do I...

Forums › Microsoft Windows › 3 Windows 8 Pro packs how do I...

MaxLV

656 posts

Ultimate Geek

#184048 8-Nov-2015 17:25

de-register the product keys?

As I've upgrade all my computers to Windows 10 pro, I now have three Windows 8 Pro packs (retail purchase with 32bit and 64bit DVD's) that are redundant. Also have a retail purchase Windows 8 Pro pack product Key.

When I upgraded to Windows 10, I didn't bother 'de-registering' the Windows 8 product keys. Can I still do this and once done can I sell, donate, give away the packs to anyone who wants them?

I Also have two OEM Windows 8.1 DVD's that I no longer need. Again I haven't de-registered the product keys for these. Can I do it for these and can they be used again given that they weren't purchased with a computer (or any parts for that matter).

Brumfondl

1187 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1423215 8-Nov-2015 17:26

As far as I know you can't de-register a Windows key. The OEM keys were only usable on one machine anyway.

gzt

17162 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1423219 8-Nov-2015 17:32

I will guess they will still activate now maybe a phone call required.

Imho legally (well eula) owning 8 is required for the 10 licence to be valid. If you do not own 8 for your machine you are no longer entitled to the 10 on your machine.

richms

28215 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1423227 8-Nov-2015 17:51

I would hang onto them until the situation with hardware changes and a reinstall of 10 become clearer. Noone seems to really know what is going on and get conflicting stories from people. At least if you still have that when you need to change the motherboard etc that freaks 10 out, you can at least do a reinstall of 7 and then upgrade to 10 again. I had to do that as I wasnt able to install fresh 10 off the USB stick without a key when I changed the mobo in one of my crap computers to something less obsolete.

Richard rich.ms

linw

2850 posts

Uber Geek

#1423320 8-Nov-2015 21:18

You cannot re-use those 8 packs. They are subsumed into the win 10 installation. The fact that they are retail versions doesn't change this. A retail version allows you to move that licence to a new comp but it does not mean you can still run it on the old comp additional to the new comp.

If you think about it, you bought one licence not as many as you could load up with it.

Wade

2225 posts

Uber Geek

#1423467 9-Nov-2015 09:31

I was playing around with some old desktops and managed to upgrade all 3 to W10 Pro from the same single W7 Ultimate license. All three appeared to register as genuine copies, one had a meltdown and i had to reinstall and it picked up its original W10 licensed status. I would doubt W8 would be any different?

richms

28215 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1423499 9-Nov-2015 09:39

Wade: I was playing around with some old desktops and managed to upgrade all 3 to W10 Pro from the same single W7 Ultimate license. All three appeared to register as genuine copies, one had a meltdown and i had to reinstall and it picked up its original W10 licensed status. I would doubt W8 would be any different?

Change some hardware and see how you get on with the reinstall. I have changed a drive ok on one machine, but a new mobo made it not work on another, and even SSD ram and a wireless card swap was enough to prevent a reinstall.

Now ive found a working way to change to UEFI boot on an existing install that shouldnt be an issue needing reinstalls when swapping drives out now.

Richard rich.ms

Wade

2225 posts

Uber Geek

#1423525 9-Nov-2015 10:07

richms:
Wade: I was playing around with some old desktops and managed to upgrade all 3 to W10 Pro from the same single W7 Ultimate license. All three appeared to register as genuine copies, one had a meltdown and i had to reinstall and it picked up its original W10 licensed status. I would doubt W8 would be any different?

Change some hardware and see how you get on with the reinstall. I have changed a drive ok on one machine, but a new mobo made it not work on another, and even SSD ram and a wireless card swap was enough to prevent a reinstall.

Now ive found a working way to change to UEFI boot on an existing install that shouldn't be an issue needing reinstalls when swapping drives out now.

Granted, but with regards to OP and reusing W7/8 licenses at present it is not an issue, obviously once the free upgrade window is closed then this becomes irrelevant.

It becomes a trap for self build and rebuild PC's for sure though, could get expensive having to buy new licenses every couple of years

Quic Broadband

Move to New Zealand's best fibre broadband service (affiliate link). Free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE. Note that to use Quic Broadband you must be comfortable with configuring your own router.

1101

3122 posts

Uber Geek

#1424174 10-Nov-2015 10:06

1) OEM licenses CANNOT legally be re-used on other PC's or resold (by themselves)...ever.
2) the upgrade license requires the original Win8 lic. So , you must keep the retail Win8 licenses after upgrading to 10.

....really just the old attitude of I'll install on as many PC's as I can get away with ..... Ive installed Win so I'll now sell the disk on trademe.
:-(

You CANNOT re-use or sell those licences , legally .

gzt

17162 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1424236 10-Nov-2015 11:19

Frankly i dont blame users for the misunderstanding.

If the EULA was condensed to five bullet points and printed on the disk it would be obvious, instead of n pages of small print that nobody reads.

1101

3122 posts

Uber Geek

#1424484 10-Nov-2015 16:00

gzt: Frankly i dont blame users for the misunderstanding.

If the EULA was condensed to five bullet points and printed on the disk it would be obvious, instead of n pages of small print that nobody reads.

Sure, thats a big part of it. MS only have themselves to blame in for some of the 'piracy' by software/licence owners, it is just just a confusing mess, that seemingly changes with every new edition of software.
Having that in big print on the cd case or COA might possibly affect sales, why else would MS not do that ?
Add to that, retailers having no clue & telling customers a bunch of crap : eg: telling them they can load Office Retail home&Bus on 3 PC's

On the other hand, many users only hear/believe what suits them . Its commonly known that 1 lic = 1 PC , yet many will try & load on as many PC's as they can get away with.

In IT, I see this all..the..time . New PC & customer will whip out some old Office 2007/2010 that is still loaded on other PC's (plural :-) ).
Ive had many arguments with customers over this. Now I dont bother trying to argue/reason with them on lic issues, I just do what they say & install whatever they hand me.

gzt

17162 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1424815 10-Nov-2015 22:07

Having that in big print on the cd case or COA might possibly affect sales, why else would MS not do that ?

Maybe some legal reason but I'm sure they could sort out some way if they thought about it.

Compact cassettes used to have a very simple warning about copying. That was enough for many to avoid the practice, and mainly out of respect.

gzt

17162 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1424816 10-Nov-2015 22:09

Better that way than DRM etc.