Windows 8 - Upgrade Assistant Not Requiring a Product Key

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KinsZA

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A little info to share here...

On the weekend I reverted back to windows 7 since I had been running a windows 8 trial before and the groupon deal fell through, while I was adding all the programs back I decided to see what the windows 8 upgrade assistant would say. I ran it and it gave me the full okay on everything, end result I spent $40 using the upgrade assistant to go to windows 8 pro and I hadnt even entered a windows 7 cd key yet, I guess the upgrade assistant doesnt care. Here are the steps I went through

1) Ran windows 8 upgrade assistant and got the all okay for it
2) Purchased windows 8 pro upgrade for $40 through the upgrade assistant, recieved product key in email.
3) Let the 2GB download complete (there is no link for this and I dont see a way to restart download so let it complete)
4) I chose to create a ISO (That way I could back the ISO up).
5) Burnt ISO to dvd and booted off dvd
6) Deleted my windows 7 partition and installed windows 8.

I didnt get a 32bit or 64bit choice when upgrading, it looks like all you need for the upgrade is windows installed, I dont know if this will work with illegal versions of windows or not but it looks like it doesnt care about activation or product key, just if windows is installed or not.
 
KinsZA said:
I dont know if this will work with illegal versions of windows or not but it looks like it doesnt care about activation or product key, just if windows is installed or not.
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I would like to know if anyone here have tried upgrading from a pirated Windows 7 copy yet?
 
It has been tried. Read the other Windows 8 threads here (something with Windows 8 R299 in the name) - If I were on my PC I'd paste you the link.
 
Shirou said:
I would like to know if anyone here have tried upgrading from a pirated Windows 7 copy yet?
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It works the Upgrade Assistant doesn't care!
You can also upgrade from a Windows 7 copy that hasn't been activated. Better yet you can buy the product key on any computer burn the ISO to disc then install Win 8 on a clean computer without installing Win7 or anything first.
 
Shirou said:
I would like to know if anyone here have tried upgrading from a pirated Windows 7 copy yet?
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It does upgrade from any version of Windows 7, Vista or XP. Original or Pirate. There is guys who have upgraded from Windows 7 Starter also.
 
I am curious too, this would be a nice "loophole" of sorts for Microsoft to leave open and get sales since all the people who get sold PC's with pirate versions of windows on it would stir up quite a fuss and I mean $40 for a OS is basically nothing there's no reason for you to get it illegally with it at that price.

Edit: Ok it looks like going afk mid forum post ends up with questions answered for you.
 
Remember to get your free promo code :p
 
Last edited:
oh nice thanks for the feedback! I am so gonna try it tonight! Sounds great.
 
I would wish I knew about that free promo code right now :/
 
lucifir said:
but how is that free??
thats just the normal promo for recent purchases .. am I missing something??
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The code is free, as in you get a discount from $39.99 to $15.99. It's supposed to be only for people who bought PC's after July this year but you can just say you did, and get the discount code anyway.
 
TJ99 said:
The code is free, as in you get a discount from $39.99 to $15.99. It's supposed to be only for people who bought PC's after July this year but you can just say you did, and get the discount code anyway.
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What he said :)
 
TJ99 said:
The code is free, as in you get a discount from $39.99 to $15.99. It's supposed to be only for people who bought PC's after July this year but you can just say you did, and get the discount code anyway.
Click to expand...

I did it two days ago and my Win 7 'Ultimate' upgraded perfectly to Win 8 Pro for R125. Tried again for my dad and brother using different PC's and emails and nothing would work. Seems a product key is always required and is checked up on immediately.
 
Bryn26 said:
I did it two days ago and my Win 7 'Ultimate' upgraded perfectly to Win 8 Pro for R125. Tried again for my dad and brother using different PC's and emails and nothing would work. Seems a product key is always required and is checked up on immediately.
Click to expand...

^ this ... seems you need a product key .. so not quite "free"
 
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