Well - I didn't do anything useful for my 500th post, so I'll just throw this out there for those who don't know and may need it
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This is marked as an ‘upgrade’ and will only (I think) upgrade a windows 7 product - when you do install it choose the option that says you want to 'keep nothing' of your old system and it will do a full install instead of an upgrade - DO YOUR BACKUPS FIRST – It will also install on any machine you have (running a win7 product), not just the one you ran this process on (need a unique Windows 8 product code for each machine of course, you can repeat this process multiple times to get multiple keys).
As far as I know it will download a version comparable to the machine you are running this sequence on. So if you just have a 32 bit version, or a student version, or something – don’t expect to get a 64bit Pro version - this is untested so maybe it will give a 64 bit version for any valid win7 build.
These are Limited time offers so don’t sit on this too long – These are all MICROSOFT pages and offers
I ran this process on an Authentic Windows 7 Pro 64bit build – so I got a 64 bit 'upgrade' - when they delivered the DVD's I got both the 32 and 64 bit disks - I don't know what will happen if you run this on a 32 bit machine - possibly you will only get the 32 bit version
This may not work in all countries!!!!
Step 1 (Promo Code) – go to
http://www.windowsupgradeoffer.com/en-CA
- Click ‘Continue’
- Fill out the form – the only ‘real’ information you need is a valid email (because you DO want to actually get the promo code)
- For the Date of Purchase pick a date in early August 2012 (Important)
- Type in any random PC seller for the Retailer Name (or make one up)
- PC Brand – choose ‘Other’
- PC Model – any string of random numbers/letters that vaguely resemble a Model Number will do
- Fill in the Captcha at the bottom - Your Promo Code will be sent to the email you gave – you can order 5 upgrades per email address (so I am told – if not just make/use different emails)
- You will be sent to a screen with a Registration ID – record this – at the bottom it will tell you how to get your promo code immediately (the email can take up to 24 hours)
Step 2 – (Get Win8 Pro) go to
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/w...opHP_FPP_Light
- Start the process – (Download Pro for $39.99) Must have admin privileges (Promo code will reduce this price later)
- Choose ‘Run’
- Review incompatible items – yes, you may need to buy some hardware / software – you can continue even if your machine is incompatible
- Click ‘Next’
- On the ‘Choose what you want to keep’ screen choose ‘nothing’ (VERY Important)
- Click the ‘Order’ Button
- Choose whether you want the DVD or not
- Choose ‘Checkout’
- Fill in your real info (matching the Credit Card you are going to use – you should use the email you used for the promo code)
- Fill in your Credit Card info (don’t worry – the promo code field is coming)
- On the next page put in your promo code and it will confirm the new price (<$20.00 unless you got the DVD)
- ENSURE you have a blank 4+Gb USB stick – it WILL WIPE IT – so don’t try and be tricky – you only need a 4Gb stick – 2 is too small and 8+ is a waste – If you ordered the DVD you will get the DVD and the USB you are about to make
- Start the process and when it asks – choose ‘USB Media’ (might be ‘removable media’ – I’m sure you will make the right choice)
- You will then have a bootable stick to install a full registered copy of Windows 8 Pro on ANY machine (that is already running a win7 O/S)
Step 3 – (Get a Free Media Center Pro) go to
http://windows.microsoft.com/is-IS/w.../feature-packs
- Enter the same email used above (you may need multiple emails to get multiple codes – I didn’t test the same email twice)
- Fill in the Captcha
- Get your FULL PRODUCT Key in the mail (download/install the app later)
If you did it right you now have a full retail Win 8 Pro installable media with Authentic product code and an 80$ Media Center Pro App with Authentic product code for $18.00 +/-
You can repeat to get multiple keys but you only have to make 1 stick - you can stop the process after you get each new product key
