So I was running Windows 7 and bought the Windows 8 Pro Pack with Media Center upgrade key, no disc included, which I was aware of. I skipped the disc because I thought I would be receiving a download link or something, but all I got was the license key?
Anyhow, since I have some skill with tech I figured I could try and download a torrent image of Windows 8 (I know it's illegal but what else was I supposed to do?). I tried installing the normal Windows 8 (not Pro) 64-bit and when I punched in the license key I was told that my key only worked when upgrading from an earlier version of Windows... I then reinstalled my old Windows 7 disc and ran the illegal Win 8 disc, I had burned, while logged in to Win 7. It told me something like I had to boot through the disc to upgrade. *Sigh* I booted into the setup menu for the Win 8 disc and chose Upgrade and I am told that it is not possible, can only be done from within the OS which I want to upgrade = I have to be signed in to the computer I wish to upgrade, which is what I tried to do in the first place.
The disc is very well equipped and also includes the other versions of Win 8, including the Pro with Media Center pack that I spent my hard-earned money on. That's what OS I'm writing this question from. I'll probably soon see an activation prompt because no, the key doesn't work here either! I'm pretty frustrated that this is such a difficult thing to do since Microsoft made it seem so simple.
So is anyone wiser than I on this topic? Am I supposed to have first spent the same amount of money on a regular Windows 8 installation disc and THEN buy another license just to get a Media Center added into the package? I sure hope there's something I've missed because if not then this doesn't make any sense to me at all :(
Thanks in advance
BTW, here's the transcript of the error message:
"The following failure occurred while trying to use the product key:
Code:
0xC004F061
Description:
The Software Licensing Service determined that this specified product key can only be used for upgrading, not for clean installations."
Anyhow, since I have some skill with tech I figured I could try and download a torrent image of Windows 8 (I know it's illegal but what else was I supposed to do?). I tried installing the normal Windows 8 (not Pro) 64-bit and when I punched in the license key I was told that my key only worked when upgrading from an earlier version of Windows... I then reinstalled my old Windows 7 disc and ran the illegal Win 8 disc, I had burned, while logged in to Win 7. It told me something like I had to boot through the disc to upgrade. *Sigh* I booted into the setup menu for the Win 8 disc and chose Upgrade and I am told that it is not possible, can only be done from within the OS which I want to upgrade = I have to be signed in to the computer I wish to upgrade, which is what I tried to do in the first place.
The disc is very well equipped and also includes the other versions of Win 8, including the Pro with Media Center pack that I spent my hard-earned money on. That's what OS I'm writing this question from. I'll probably soon see an activation prompt because no, the key doesn't work here either! I'm pretty frustrated that this is such a difficult thing to do since Microsoft made it seem so simple.
So is anyone wiser than I on this topic? Am I supposed to have first spent the same amount of money on a regular Windows 8 installation disc and THEN buy another license just to get a Media Center added into the package? I sure hope there's something I've missed because if not then this doesn't make any sense to me at all :(
Thanks in advance
BTW, here's the transcript of the error message:
"The following failure occurred while trying to use the product key:
Code:
0xC004F061
Description:
The Software Licensing Service determined that this specified product key can only be used for upgrading, not for clean installations."