It should be noted that most of the comments from me have been toned down.
A little Summary
So i was trying to install Windows 8.1 with a old 8.0 key. It “worked” for a short while before getting deactivated. I’ve tried the metro settings but it didn’t worked.
I (as sometimes a idiot) decided to bring that salt into the Microsoft forums…
So on my old gaming PC i installed a brand-new 1 TB HDD with cache so i decided to reinstall Windows. I decided not to reinstall Windows 10 (copy i had was on the smaller hard drive) but to install Windows 8…
I had a copy of Windows 8.0 (I could just upgrade it to 8.1 with the Windows Store) so i decided to put that into my USB and it appears that it was somehow corrupted… So i had to go to the official Microsoft site to get a Windows 8.1 ISO. Fast forward because my WIFI was slow because Vivaldi. I was able to install Windows 8.1…
So i decided to use a Windows 8.0 key from 2012, I worked. There was no “Windows 8.1 Pro” watermark. The watermark just reappeared when i was installing Steam just to test Portal 2. I jumped into Metro settings to find this…
it says that “Windows can’t activate. Try again later.”, which is not helpful… I decided to press “Error details” and strangely doesn’t show any thing.
I took a look in the control panel there was this option.
It doesn’t work… I thought linking to my Microsoft Account would work but it seems to not work since according to the Microsoft Support Site. It’s only for Windows 10.
Update: I’ve tried Microsoft Forums and it seems when i typed this… I was too… welp, harsh. fuck… This is the reason why there’s drama in the later posts of this MessengerGeek discussion. Was i too tried? Maybe.
As you can see. I said that “Windows 8 only activates when the BIOS as a OEM key”. It’s because i was able to install Windows 8.1. the same operating system. Into a Dell laptop. And it activated after the wifi drivers were installed.
The problem is my computer is a hand-built computer from 2012-2013. Not some OEM computer unlike my Dell Laptop or my Acer tower, both of which are from 2014.
He/i wasn’t able to understand what i/he said. This made me confused since most the links were about making USBs.
You start your own thread; not tack it on to someone else’s problem.
When i logged on. There was no make thread option, possibly because i didn’t noticed the header…
If you have a retailWindows 8 product key and want to clean install Windows 8.1 or Windows 8.1 Update , then you would need to enter a generic key below to install unactivated with, and change the product key later on in step 22 below to activate with your Windows 8 key.
I have a goddamn retail 8 key. This part seems to be related to reinstalling Windows…
22. If you have an Enterprise edition or needed to use a generic key to install with from step 4 above, then you will now need to change the product key to enter your key and activate it.
I did all of that shit… It said “Windows can’t activate”.
How are they supposed to know? You never specified that on your reply and their most likely guess is that you have one, considering most ppl have one these days.
That’s not Microsoft support, that’s a forum member trying to help you. So maybe you should stop being a little bitch and appreciate that they at least responded to your thread.
Check the recent updates. You probably installed the update that broke activation. Or maybe you haven’t installed updates at all.
um, that’s the forums, not MS Support.
The guy who replied to the thread doesn’t work for Microsoft. Also, you shouldn’t hijack someone else’s thread.
And of course, starting fresh is a good way to rule out most problems that programs you install can create.
Not everyone knows how to create a USB. They don’t know if you know if you can make a USB in rufus.
Yes, things can be phrased differently while keeping the same meaning.
He isn’t talking about downgrading to 8.0 either. He’s simply telling you to install the same edition of 8.1 as your 8 key is.
…did you even read this?
No, they don’t know you don’t have a phone, you didn’t tell them, and they assume you have a phone because most people have cellphones or landlines.
Umm… it works on Windows 7. I just tried.
All in all, you should appreciate that this person even replied to your question.
Also, as Raymonf said, check your updates, maybe an update broke activation. I’m out.
actually, it’s you being fucking rude to Microsoft Support. the person you were contacting isn’t even part of Microsoft’s team, he’s a community member who was assisting you with what you were tackling at. stop trying to be ignorant and actually listen to help when you need it.
Notice how it’s about a phone number thing… I don’t own a phone number. Some people said that i had to install Skype but i don’t like Skype because how bloated performance-wise it is.
The 2nd and 3rd links didn’t do anything and the 3rd link is related to Windows 10. So i’ll be “paying” for making a already bought Windows 8 key from 2012 working again. The 3rd link mentions the 2nd link… Which is very unhelpful.
Because even though there are two updates installed. These two updates were included with the ISO. (Janaury 12 was when i installed the copy i’m currently having trouble).
And well…
It’s always stuck on “checking for updates”. So i’m going to install KB3138615 to update the Windows Update client.
