ThomasPöstlinger
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Question
ThomasPöstlinger asked on
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Windows 8 Product Key deactivation ? [guide]

hello guys!

i have a question, if i want to install Windows 8 on an other PC how do i deactivate the key from the old one ?

 Deutsch:

Hallo Leute ich hab ne frage, wenn ich Windows 8 Pro auf einem anderen PC installieren will wie kann ich den Produkt Key deaktivieren von dem alten Rechner ?


Andre Da Costa
Found this helpful 38
Answer

Press Windows key + X

Click Comman Prompt (Admin)
At the command prompt, type: slmgr.vbs -upk

Hit Enter, this will uninstall the product key from the computer and set it back to trial mode, you are now free to use it on another computer. If you encounter any problems, try activating by telephone:


1.       Press Windows key + X then click Run, then type:   slui.exe  4

2.       Next press the 'ENTER' key

3.       Select your 'Country' from the list.

4.       Choose the 'Phone Activation' option.

5.       Stay on the phone (do not select/press any options) and wait for a person to help you with activation.

6.       Explain your problem clearly to the support person.

The installation currently will go into trial mode, will need to be activated or it will go into reduced functional mode. You have the option of installing another version or edition of Windows or obtain a product key for it. You can also format the system.

techingiteasy.wordpress.com
Windows Expert - Consumer
Vinod N
Found this helpful 1
Vinod N replied on
Microsoft

Hi,

Thank you for writing to Microsoft Communities. I understand that you’re trying to de-activate Windows 8 product key on the previously installed computer.

 

If you have one copy of Windows and installed it on more than one PC, activation might not work because the product key has already been used on another PC, or it's being used on more PCs than the Microsoft Software License Terms allow. Normally, the rule to follow for most copies of Windows is 1:1, meaning that one copy of Windows can be installed only on one PC.

If your product key is being used on more PCs than the Microsoft Software License Terms allow, you'll need to buy a product key for each one of your PCs in order to activate them.

 

For your reference: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/why-activate-windows

 

Looking forward for more questions

Andre Da Costa
Found this helpful 38
Answer

Press Windows key + X

Click Comman Prompt (Admin)
At the command prompt, type: slmgr.vbs -upk

Hit Enter, this will uninstall the product key from the computer and set it back to trial mode, you are now free to use it on another computer. If you encounter any problems, try activating by telephone:


1.       Press Windows key + X then click Run, then type:   slui.exe  4

2.       Next press the 'ENTER' key

3.       Select your 'Country' from the list.

4.       Choose the 'Phone Activation' option.

5.       Stay on the phone (do not select/press any options) and wait for a person to help you with activation.

6.       Explain your problem clearly to the support person.

The installation currently will go into trial mode, will need to be activated or it will go into reduced functional mode. You have the option of installing another version or edition of Windows or obtain a product key for it. You can also format the system.

techingiteasy.wordpress.com
Windows Expert - Consumer
ThomasPöstlinger
Found this helpful 0
ThomasPöstlinger replied on

Reply

Thank you for quick answer 
But some people say that I only have to delete the hard drive and the key is ready again!

Is that right?!

Another question : 
How often can I install windows 8 on my computer, because on the key car is written 
"Please Keep this document ,if you had to install it again" ?!
EricRothchild
Found this helpful 0
EricRothchild replied on

Same Here, this is the 3rd time Windows 8 has deactivated itself in 2 weeks...  I struggled for 2 days attempting to get the first install of the upgrade from 7 going the first time, desperate,  I broke down and re-purchased an online upgrade which they triple billed my card for and today is 9 days later without a refund for the two added charges.  Finally I bought the FULL Version and then lost 2 more days installing software and activating while losing 2 more days work and possibly one of my best clients.  

At this point I am simply at a loss as to why this would, or even could happen over and over.  It is happening without running any tweaking programs that could deactivate it. 

 

I hope they get someone from support on this soon or I am Ruined.

EricRothchild
Found this helpful 0
EricRothchild replied on

Reply

Just a note, this solution did not work for me, anyone else losing clients over this lately?

 

 

rhs1979
Found this helpful 7
rhs1979 replied on

Reply

Hi,

Thank you for writing to Microsoft Communities. I understand that you’re trying to de-activate Windows 8 product key on the previously installed computer.

 

If you have one copy of Windows and installed it on more than one PC, activation might not work because the product key has already been used on another PC, or it's being used on more PCs than the Microsoft Software License Terms allow. Normally, the rule to follow for most copies of Windows is 1:1, meaning that one copy of Windows can be installed only on one PC.

If your product key is being used on more PCs than the Microsoft Software License Terms allow, you'll need to buy a product key for each one of your PCs in order to activate them.

 

For your reference: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/why-activate-windows

 

Looking forward for more questions

 Your reply did not actually answer the question asked. The question is this. PC#1 has windows 8 installed and activated. PC#2 has no operating system. The need is to have Windows 8 deactivated and removed from PC#1 and installed and activated onto PC#2. Can this be done?
RobertKitchen
Found this helpful 0
RobertKitchen replied on

Reply

Hi,

Thank you for writing to Microsoft Communities. I understand that you’re trying to de-activate Windows 8 product key on the previously installed computer.

 

If you have one copy of Windows and installed it on more than one PC, activation might not work because the product key has already been used on another PC, or it's being used on more PCs than the Microsoft Software License Terms allow. Normally, the rule to follow for most copies of Windows is 1:1, meaning that one copy of Windows can be installed only on one PC.

If your product key is being used on more PCs than the Microsoft Software License Terms allow, you'll need to buy a product key for each one of your PCs in order to activate them.

 

For your reference: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/why-activate-windows

 

Looking forward for more questions

 Your reply did not actually answer the question asked. The question is this. PC#1 has windows 8 installed and activated. PC#2 has no operating system. The need is to have Windows 8 deactivated and removed from PC#1 and installed and activated onto PC#2. Can this be done?
I agree, this reply did not help in the least bit. Please reply with a proper answer
shtigenshtein
Found this helpful 0
shtigenshtein replied on

Reply

Press Windows key + X

Click Comman Prompt (Admin)
At the command prompt, type: slmgr.vbs -upk

Hit Enter, this will uninstall the product key from the computer and set it back to trial mode, you are now free to use it on another computer. If you encounter any problems, try activating by telephone:


1.       Press Windows key + X then click Run, then type:   slui.exe  4

2.       Next press the 'ENTER' key

3.       Select your 'Country' from the list.

4.       Choose the 'Phone Activation' option.

5.       Stay on the phone (do not select/press any options) and wait for a person to help you with activation.

6.       Explain your problem clearly to the support person.

The installation currently will go into trial mode, will need to be activated or it will go into reduced functional mode. You have the option of installing another version or edition of Windows or obtain a product key for it. You can also format the system.

 

Will the slmgr.vbs -upk communicate to Microsoft advising to unregister the key or is only done locally?


 

Lance Foo
Found this helpful 0
Lance Foo replied on

Reply

Hi,

Thank you for writing to Microsoft Communities. I understand that you’re trying to de-activate Windows 8 product key on the previously installed computer.

 

If you have one copy of Windows and installed it on more than one PC, activation might not work because the product key has already been used on another PC, or it's being used on more PCs than the Microsoft Software License Terms allow. Normally, the rule to follow for most copies of Windows is 1:1, meaning that one copy of Windows can be installed only on one PC.

If your product key is being used on more PCs than the Microsoft Software License Terms allow, you'll need to buy a product key for each one of your PCs in order to activate them.

 

For your reference: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/why-activate-windows

 

Looking forward for more questions

 Your reply did not actually answer the question asked. The question is this. PC#1 has windows 8 installed and activated. PC#2 has no operating system. The need is to have Windows 8 deactivated and removed from PC#1 and installed and activated onto PC#2. Can this be done?
Hi, if I'm not wrong from my understanding since PC#2 has no operating system it cannot be installed using upgrade pack key. It would require something call the system builder to install on a blank harddisk. 
Martronic
Found this helpful 0
Martronic replied on

Reply

Press Windows key + X

Click Comman Prompt (Admin)
At the command prompt, type: slmgr.vbs -upk

Hit Enter, this will uninstall the product key from the computer and set it back to trial mode, you are now free to use it on another computer. If you encounter any problems, try activating by telephone:


1.       Press Windows key + X then click Run, then type:   slui.exe  4

2.       Next press the 'ENTER' key

3.       Select your 'Country' from the list.

4.       Choose the 'Phone Activation' option.

5.       Stay on the phone (do not select/press any options) and wait for a person to help you with activation.

6.       Explain your problem clearly to the support person.

The installation currently will go into trial mode, will need to be activated or it will go into reduced functional mode. You have the option of installing another version or edition of Windows or obtain a product key for it. You can also format the system.


what if A1 has been activated... but the install has been broken and i want to re-install (A2) ... therefore wiping the activated install. so if i have not unregistered the key with the first install and i preform a brand new install does the old activation (A1) automatically deactivate when i activate the key for A2? or can i remotely "deactivate" the old install (A1)?
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