Windows 8 License

[Gongalong]

Hi folks,

 

We have the educational licensing and I'm looking at just trying Windows 8 (and Office 2013).

 

Both say that "The product you have selected requires a product key for product activation. To obtain your product key, please contact your local Product Activation Call Center at the telephone number provided here."

 

Anyone know if this is an involved process and/or if these are single keys we can use across the site?

 

(Why don't MS just provide a key, as with other products?)

 

TIA

[jmak]

When I got ours, I received a log in to the M$ site and the keys were listed next to the downloads. There should be two options: MAK keys (multiple activation key) where you enter the same activation key on each machine until you reach the limit of you subscription.

 

KMS keys (key management system) where the key is embedded in the software. You then install the KMS server onto your network (free download, which even I managed to install first time) and enter the key you've been given. Then you just sit and watch the Windows and Office licence activations happen.

 

I did notice when I installed Windows 8 at home that you have to enter the key before it installs, unlike Win 7 where you just get messages telling you evil you are until you enter a valid code.

Edited March 2, 2013 by jmak

[Gongalong]

I don't seem to be getting these at all. Instead there's the aforementioned message to call the Activation Centre. I did install Windows 8 on one test machine, but I can't remember whether it prompted for a key or not.

[sted]

depends pn the disk if it prompts for a key or not i have one that does and one that dosent same with server 2012

[Gongalong]

This would just be the ISO download from MS licensing.

[tmcd35]

Who owns the license master agreement? And does your license entitlement allow the use of Windows 8? If it's just for testing purposes do you have a Technet subscription?

 

I've seen this message before when our LEA held the master agreement and I don't think any school had, yet, purchased Windows 8 licenses. If you hold the Master Agreement and you have either EES, Software Assurance, or a Windows 8 license then you may want to get in touch with your reseller and they can adjust this for you.

[Gongalong]

We own the agreement. We have the MS Desktop Educational Pack.

 

We can download it from the MS Licensing site, but it just gives the "call Microsoft" message under licensing.

 

I could of course call Microsoft, but just curious as to whether anyone had already.

[tmcd35]

I'm not aware of the MS Desktop Education Pack, and a very quick Google search didn't give me any useful clues. Do you mean the CoreCAL suite under EES? If so, I've just checked the VLSC under our subscription and the keys are there. It sound's suspiciously like you haven't purchased the correct license entitlements or software assurance. If you have then your license reseller should be able to resolve it for you.

[AJWhite1970]

Open a command prompt in Administrator Mode, run "slui.exe 3" and then enter your MAK key? I would suspect it's looking at your KMS server for it's licensing and can't find it.

 

Andrew

[LeMarchand]

What @AJWhite1970 said!

[Gongalong]

tmcd35: I suspect this is the route we'll have to take (contact the reseller), albeit it was more curiosity than anything as we're unlikely to use Windows 8 or Office 2013 in anger for some time.

 

AJWhite1970: we have no keys at all (KMS or MAK) listed in the licensing page, as per the above.