AlanHo Posted February 18, 2013 Report Share Posted February 18, 2013 Last December I purchased 3 copies of Win8 Pro upgrades whilst the low price offer was available and installed them on our 3 computers (2 desktops and a laptop).I (carelessly) didn't keep a record of which product key I used to activate which computer and decided to tidy up my records in case I have to carry out a re-installation in the future.I used Belarc Advisor (and Speccy which gave the same result) to reveal the Windows 8 product key on each computer - but I am surprised to find that none of them correspond with the keys I was given by Microsoft to activate Windows 8 during installation. Can anyone please clarify why the key I used to activate the Windows installation is different from the one stored in the registry, so that I know which to use if I have to reinstall windows 8. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan2273 Posted February 18, 2013 Report Share Posted February 18, 2013 Alan, I upgraded the wifes laptop to Win 8 from Vista and on using magic jelly bean to locate the key, I found it did not correspond to the activation code I was given.Perhaps a call to there customer services will give you the answer.0844 800 24 00And the free phone activation number is (0) (800) 018 8354 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanHo Posted February 18, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 18, 2013 Thanks Alan - I feel better now I know it is not just my computers.I still have the Microsoft Emails with the activation keys - but none correspond with the product keys being found by key finding software and I am not sure which Email applies to which computer...I suppose what I can do if I am ever faced with a windows reinstall is to first try and activate with the product key found by the key finder. If this does not work, I can then successively try each of the 3 keys supplied by Microsoft until activation takes place. I started this thread in the hope I could tidy up my files and record the correct key for each computer. I suppose it is no big deal - it's just that I hate to leave an enigma unresolved.Hence I will ring Microsoft to see if they have an explanation.Watch this space. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan2273 Posted February 18, 2013 Report Share Posted February 18, 2013 I have just done a bit of digging and the key in the original e-mail is for the download itself, which automatically activates after installation.You only need the original key ( sent when you purchased Win 8 pro upgrade) if you want to download and reinstall the original upgrade software.And that link is in the e-mail that was sent to confirm your purchase.And this was copied from the Microsoft site.After installing the upgrade, the window just says "Windows was activated on..." and the date of activation. That means the activation is permanent. When you install the upgrade key, that replaces the existing product key; only the new upgrade key is used for future checks. Windows won't check the key you used to install because it no longer has it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanHo Posted February 19, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2013 AlanI posted this problem on another windows forum and a member there stated that in his experience the only software able to revel the proper product key is AIDA64 Extreme Edition. The other key finders tend to find the key for earlier versions of Windows that were once resident on the machine.So I downloaded AIDA64 Extreme Edition and it found the Win8 key I activated with - and not the one revealed by the other keyfinder programs. I can now identify which key applies to each computer.However - this has got me going on a new mission.My Samsung laptop is just 6 months old and came with Windows 7. There is a sticker on the underside of the laptop with the original Win7 product key. Installing the Win8 upgrade is the first change I have made to the OS. The product key found by the key finder software is niether that key nor the Win8 activation key. However AIDA has revealed the key I activated windows with.My desktop is home built and I first installed Vista. The C: drive eventually failed and I installed Win7 onto the new and unused replacement hard drive. I have now over-written this OS with the Win8 upgrade. I do not have the Vista key but do have the Win7 key which is not the same as the one revealed by the key finders. Only Aida has revealed the key I activated Win8 with.I am sending you a PM with more info. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan2273 Posted February 19, 2013 Report Share Posted February 19, 2013 Thanks for that information Alan, fortunately I still have the original key that I used for the upgrade.Had it not been for your post, I would never have noticed the keys were different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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