Activation Question

Having Trouble activating my laptop

Acer E1-570 with pre installed windows 8 pro

changed hard drive to an 120gb ssd and installed windows 8.1 pro which I downloaded untouched version, but it wont let me use my key which I got with laptop WHY am I missing something simple I cant go back to hard drive it came with as I scewed that up so nothing on it now

Keys are usually version specific M8. You'll probably have to 'phone Microsoft and activate over the 'phone. I've done this a few times and it's pretty painless

Him Her said:

Keys are usually version specific M8. You'll probably have to 'phone Microsoft and activate over the 'phone. I've done this a few times and it's pretty painless

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I don't see the option to do this in windows 8.1 pro m8

if its a retail key you have & a retail version of Windows

a phone call will sort you as you can always activate a retail as often as you need

alimac said:

if its a retail key you have & a retail version of Windows

a phone call will sort you as you can always activate a retail as often as you need

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@alimac in xp you got the number to ring them when it wouldn't activate but in windows 8 you don't get that option.

Napster said:

@alimac in xp you got the number to ring them when it wouldn't activate but in windows 8 you don't get that option.

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Microsoft UK - (0)344 800 2400

all sorted I went the long way and reinstalled windows 8 pro, its now activated, just need all updates now will do it bit by bit

thanks for help chaps

As you've found; a Win 8 key, won't activate a fresh 8.1 install. But will allow 8 to update to 8.1 once validated.

This was a common issue with XP too, e.g. SP1 keys wouldn't activate SP3 installs. (Although some VLKs would.)