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Original title: Product Key
I downloaded Windows 8.1 (free) from the Microsoft web site. My understanding was that in doing so, a new product key would be generated. I do not know where/how to find the new product key. Can someone help me out with this? Was I mistaken and do I use the product key I have for Windows 8?
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downloaded Windows 8.1 (free) from the Microsoft web site. My understanding was that in doing so, a new product key would be generated. I do not know where/how to find the new product key. Can someone help me out with this? Was I mistaken and do I use the product key I have for Windows 8?
What did you hope to accomplish by copying and pasting the original post from three years ago?
Which was answered 3 years ago.
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Other than trial versions which have limited life there are no "free" versions of Windows. The upgrade to 8.1 from 8 is free but you still need the original license.
As has already been said the upgrade to 8.1 DOES NOT GENERATE A NEW LICENSE KEY. The original license is in effect and you only have the 8 key.
There are workarounds to get Windows 8.1 installed using the Windows 8 key but there is no guarantee that Microsoft would not prevent them being used, this is always the problem with any unapproved "trick".
Officially the only way is to install 8.0 and then upgrade to 8.1. As Microsoft would have preferred all systems to have upgraded to 10 and so not have this problem they are unlikely to have any desire to make things easier for those that stayed with 8.
What if you had a win Vista,that was upgraded to win8;and had to change out the hard drive? My backup disc won't load Windows with Vista liscense. My drivers are probably on the bckup disc too.What's the course of action!
