charsleysa:

surfisup1000:

Klipspringer:

surfisup1000:

charsleysa: Sounds like you didn't know what you were doing and made mistake after mistake. Windows 8 is pretty easy to install from scratch. If you activate the key then it's expected that you can't activate again.

I too had an awful experience. 

I bought win8 pro full version but am forced to run a pirate version. 

Something to do with embedded keys and trying to change from a mechancial to SSD drive  and also UEFI bios incompatibilities came up with a combination of events that made it extremely difficult to install the purchased version. 

Anyway, I have legally purchased it so I am not overly consumed with guilt. 

I would never trust a pirated version. Who knows what sort of low level changes have been made in the os. For all u know you could have opened yourself up to all sorts of vulnerabilities.

I understand that but i didn't really have an option as i couldn't clean install my official pro version over UEFI ... the laptop I purchased had win8 pro installed on a mechanical harddrive and activated via a bios key. But, it had lots of bloatware and i wanted to clean install on my SSD. 


There is something about UEFI/AHCI combo which causes major issues. I could install my official paid version with AHCI off but that is not ideal for an SSD drive. 

I might have another go at reinstalling the official version when i have a spare week to waste. 

The point is, windows 8 is not easy to install for all situations even for those you are legally entitled to do so.  

I don't have a bios key but I've had no problems installing windows 8 on SSD on laptop with AHCI on.