Windows 8 Upgrade Offer Loophole Fixed

House

House

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As many may know or read here, people were able to buy the Windows 8 upgrade at only $14.99. There have been a loophole in Microsoft's website where any person could apply for a discount coupon, there were no need to provide proof that you have purchased your OS after June 2012.

This enabled anybody to get Windows 8 Pro at only $14.99, whether you have a legitimate Windows 7 or not.

This morning Microsoft fixed this loophole and now require all users applying for the upgrade offer to enter the Windows 7 key that was bought after June 2012.

We have tested this with proxies of 7 countries so far and it appears that all indeed require a Windows 7 key.

Bad luck for those who did not make use of this opportunity, but Windows 8 is still available at $39.99 - more than half the price than anywhere in SA!
 
So then they only fixed the promo code issue, not the actual upgrade offer issue?

Edit: I just checked the promo code obtaining website and it still has no field for a Windows key.

What gives?
 
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TJ99 said:
So then they only fixed the promo code issue, not the actual upgrade offer issue?
Click to expand...

Yep, only the code issue was fixed - no longer available to people who did not buy a windows 7 PC after 2012.

MS reported 4 million upgrades in 4 days. I thought this number would double in the next few days. But, I now think it will not climb as high. I think at least 80% of that 4 million were all illegal users or users not really qualifying for the upgrade offer.
 
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So why is there still no field to enter the key then? Or is that a separate screen?
 
Oh well. Sorry for those who wanted to "wait to upgrade".
 
TJ99 said:
Oh well. Sorry for those who wanted to "wait to upgrade".
Click to expand...

@14.99 (R130)

The $39.99 (R350) special is still available until January - if Microsoft do not end it earlier - then it will be R1600 for the entry level Windows 8.
 
Unless they (actually) close the loophole. Not just the discount but as in not allow you to buy the upgrade at all unless you have a valid, activated Windows 7/XP.

But yes, they have said that the regular price will be $200. So expect about R2000 here.
 
TJ99 said:
Unless they (actually) close the loophole. Not just the discount but as in not allow you to buy the upgrade at all unless you have a valid, activated Windows 7/XP.

But yes, they have said that the regular price will be $200. So expect about R2000 here.
Click to expand...

Totally agreed.

If their Recommended Retail Price is going to be $200 (R1700), you can expect it in stores for around R2800 to R3500
 
R130 for the upgrade + R150 for a 16gig USB3 stick (have been a computer "nerd" since I was 9ish (1989), and never owned a USB Key :D ) = bargain!!
 
Wow! I benefited from a loophole! That's a first. Cheapest upgrade I have done since OSX.
 
Aaah dam, that sucks.

At least with that move/bug a lot of people went "legal" if you ask me :)
 
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Is the fix implemented in signing up for the key or at the actual upgrade? I upgraded on the site and got my email a few days ago but I'm wondering if they will ask for a CD key when I run upgrade assistant ?
 
Ghost02 said:
Is the fix implemented in signing up for the key or at the actual upgrade? I upgraded on the site and got my email a few days ago but I'm wondering if they will ask for a CD key when I run upgrade assistant ?
Click to expand...

nope, I downloaded and created an iso which I used for my first install last night, no problems
 
House said:
MS reported 4 million upgrades in 4 days. I thought this number would double in the next few days. But, I now think it will not climb as high. I think at least 80% of that 4 million were all illegal users or users not really qualifying for the upgrade offer.
Click to expand...
Which is absolutely great for Microsoft. They just got, at least, $60 million from people who would not otherwise have bought it.
 
noxibox said:
Which is absolutely great for Microsoft. They just got, at least, $60 million from people who would not otherwise have bought it.
Click to expand...

True, esp seeing that the Windows Loader is now available for download.

Do not know how its going to affect people and pirating the latest OS means that half of it becomes unusable seeing that you will not be able to access the Windows Market. (Guess this is what they where planing with the block on sideloading of "Metro" apps)
 
AlphaJohn said:
True, esp seeing that the Windows Loader is now available for download.

Do not know how its going to affect people and pirating the latest OS means that half of it becomes unusable seeing that you will not be able to access the Windows Market. (Guess this is what they where planing with the block on sideloading of "Metro" apps)
Click to expand...

Problem is, since Win 8 Microsoft has gone the route of online KMS servers in activating copies of Windows 8. There are already a number of loaders for Windows 8 available, which will make use of these KMS servers in order to activate illegal copies. All these loaders are dependent on the availability of these servers. Also, they are only activated for periods of 6 months and need to be re-activated every 6 months.

I know that there are a large number of people who still wants to make use of pirated versions of Windows 8, but at R399 pirating will not be an option for me. I also wish to believe that others may also think so and that the reason why millions of people went for the new OS at this price.

I think, as long as Microsoft keeps their prices low, their sales will skyrocket over the next few years. Even those pirating will later rather pay the R399 instead of struggling with KMS server availability and losing control over their OS.
 
House said:
Problem is, since Win 8 Microsoft has gone the route of online KMS servers in activating copies of Windows 8. There are already a number of loaders for Windows 8 available, which will make use of these KMS servers in order to activate illegal copies. All these loaders are dependent on the availability of these servers. Also, they are only activated for periods of 6 months and need to be re-activated every 6 months.

I know that there are a large number of people who still wants to make use of pirated versions of Windows 8, but at R399 pirating will not be an option for me. I also wish to believe that others may also think so and that the reason why millions of people went for the new OS at this price.

I think, as long as Microsoft keeps their prices low, their sales will skyrocket over the next few years. Even those pirating will later rather pay the R399 instead of struggling with KMS server availability and losing control over their OS.
Click to expand...

Thats to crappy why of doing it...

The proper loader mimics OEM hardware and activate your pc against that. No need for KMS or every 6 months crap, but I get you the price is a hell of a lot better then the R1700 of old.

I use to use the Loader even if my PC had 2 x valid Licenses (OEM that came with the PC + Bought Retail because of VM use) just because reloading the Host PC's cause the dam VM's to go all need activation again and I was tired of Phoning Microsoft to use my software I paid for. Will see how Windows 8 go with this.
 
House said:
Problem is, since Win 8 Microsoft has gone the route of online KMS servers in activating copies of Windows 8. There are already a number of loaders for Windows 8 available, which will make use of these KMS servers in order to activate illegal copies. All these loaders are dependent on the availability of these servers. Also, they are only activated for periods of 6 months and need to be re-activated every 6 months.

I know that there are a large number of people who still wants to make use of pirated versions of Windows 8, but at R399 pirating will not be an option for me. I also wish to believe that others may also think so and that the reason why millions of people went for the new OS at this price.

I think, as long as Microsoft keeps their prices low, their sales will skyrocket over the next few years. Even those pirating will later rather pay the R399 instead of struggling with KMS server availability and losing control over their OS.
Click to expand...

Over the next few years, prices won't stay low. Microsoft has said so themselves. The R399 (or is it 299?) offer will only last until January, after that it's back to the insane levels XP and 7 sold for.
 
TJ99 said:
Over the next few years, prices won't stay low. Microsoft has said so themselves. The R399 (or is it 299?) offer will only last until January, after that it's back to the insane levels XP and 7 sold for.
Click to expand...

You are right, not really R399, but rather R350.

The price Microsoft is referring to is $39.99 for the OS if downloaded. This is currently around R350. The R299 was an estimation based on the Rand/Dollar rate at the time they posted the offer.
 
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