Windows 8 ... Info and deals that may still work but are past their expiration dates YMMV Professional is available for $69.99 as an Educational purchase ongoing

The FREE Media Center for Windows 8 Pro deal has officially ended (no new keys)... however if you currently have a key/find a key and a Windows 8 Pro system you can still activate the key as of 3PM Feb 18th but will end anytime! Make sure once the upgrade happens that Windows re-activates. Then take note of your new combined key (Keep all keys just in case) for future installs. It is a combination new product key for Windows8ProMCE. The activation servers will go dark soon.

Important...If MCE activation fails... check license validity in Computer properties and contact Micrsoft to do a ROBO CALL (Phone activation) this will activate your system most likely.

To get to Robo-Call
Type slui 4 at command line

Might find a key here....

http://slickdeals.net/f/5828438-S...TE?page=53

Use this to see new Windows key after successful MSE activation.... use this for future re-installs (KEEP ALL KEYS YOU USED ON FILE)

http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/

OR

http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

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There is still available the $15 upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for new PCs running Windows 7....
until end of the month. February 28, 2013.

http://www.windowsupgradeoffer.com/en-US <---DEACTIVATED

Must have a promo key now....

If you already have a promo key....

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-U...-windows-8

Eligible PCs (Purchased June 2, 2012 to January 31, 2013) are new PCs purchased during the promotion period with a valid Windows 7 OEM Certificate of Authenticity and product key for, and preinstalled with:

Windows 7 Home Basic;
Windows 7 Home Premium;
Windows 7 Professional; or
Windows 7 Ultimate
Note: Windows 7 Starter Edition is not eligible for this offer.

They don't verify a receipt of actual purchase date... you may need to input a W7 key. So this will work on virtually any existing W7 if you put in a date in that time frame.

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NEW ONGOING OFFER FOR STUDENTS/FACULTY/STAFF.....
http://www.microsoftstore.com/sto....265725200

From Microsoft Store Windows 8 professional $69.99

This academic offer for eligible students, faculty, and staff requires verification of eligibility prior to purchase. Limit five (5) copies of this item per 12-month period.

To install Windows 8 Pro upgrade, customers must be running Windows XP SP3, Windows Vista, or Windows 7.

An “Eligible Student” means an individual who is a student, faculty or staff member at an eligible accredited educational institution geographically located in the United States and must be actively enrolled in at least 0.5 course credit hours at that educational institution and must be able to provide proof of enrollment to Microsoft or its appointed vendor upon request;
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If you have MSDNAA PROFESSIONAL (Many Universities/Colleges) you will receive TWO free Windows 8 Professional licenses (and much more)
https://www.dreamspark.com/

CHECK YOUR SCHOOL HERE (For Dreamspark/MSDNAA participation)......

https://www.dreamspark.com/Student/Default.aspx

High school-ers can get regular Dreamspark (Server 20012 and Visual Studio and more free)

https://www.dreamspark.com/Studen...talog.aspx


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Check your student PC Store some have Pro available for $19.99

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TO DOWNLOAD 8 ISO without using an actual activation key....

Boot into either x86 or x64 Windows to download same ISO of Windows 8 (Pro and core)

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-U...t-key-only

If you do not have your Windows 8 product key at hand either use a program like Nirsoft’s ProduKey to display it on your Windows 8 installation, or use the generic key XKY4K-2NRWR-8F6P2-448RF-CRYQH instead. <---REPORTED NOT WORKING...USE YOUR VALID KEY

Create media... this key will not activate but will get you an official ISO for later.

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Pssst.....Direct Download of ISO's

Direct download link (Unofficial...clean)....
http://csnlinux.genesee.edu/opsys/downloads/

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To clean install after activation error by using UPGRADE key (Use local account not MS account)

Install without key.....

Regedit...

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Setup/OOBE
In that folder, look for the item MediaBootInstall. Double-click it and change the value to 0

Then activate with key.

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If you aren't sure if you'll want 8 Professional... read this list of significant changes from 7

Client Hyper-V (So ability to run VMs built right in)
Much better battery life (by about 30%)
File History (similar to Apples time machine)
AppContainers sandboxed apps.
Slimline memory usage.
ForceASLR and High Entropy ASLR (HEASLR) ..security (Takes advantage of Ivy Bridge' RNG)
"Supervisor Mode Execution Prevention" (SMEP) support
Eliminates access to win32k.sys (Eliminates many security flaws/exploits)
Tickless kernel..lets processor sleep
Reset and refresh your PC (instead of total re-install)
ISO & VHD native mount (Supports Native boot VHD ... boot into OS from a VHD file works great creates a 40 GB harddrive by default for 8 rest is old system D:...dual-boot)
Native PDF reader
Enhanced Task Manager..see at a glance exactly which app is causing your hard drive to grind to a halt,
Windows Defender (True AV...basically now MSE)
Trusted boot (More secure)
Windows Store (Free apps)
SmartScreen (More secure than 7's version)
Storage Spaces (New Drive Extender replacement from WHS could make a good Home Server)
New ribbon for File management (can pause restart file transfers and has graph)
OS itself consumes less RAM and CPU cycles than Windows 7
Windows 8 is that it boots a lot faster than Windows 7
Many hackers have already gone on the record to say that Windows 8 is (and will be) very hard to break into.
Already optimized for SSD (http://forums.mydigitallife.info/...n?p=621681)
Screenshots... Windows Key+Printscreen automatically save a PNG to Pictures
Support for ReFS the new file system, newer better than NTFS
System Wide Search.
Better File Management.
Better Device Management
Better Dual Monitor support.
Better Memory management
Registry is more compact and faster
Boot time: 9 sec cold > 5 seconds warm. Amazing
Seamless Cloud Integration (SkyDrive is pretty awesome).
USB 3.0 support.
Full touch support (This OS is killer with touch displays)
New picture login
Built- in Enhanced version of Narrator...MUCH IMPROVED for those with disabilities... fun for rest of us
..and many more little improvements... its fast!

Beneath the user interface, Windows 8 is in almost all regards a more efficient, more secure, more reliable operating system. From high-speed, hibernation-powered booting to Connected Standby and a tickless kernel, it takes the solid Windows 7 foundation and makes things better.
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TIP ALERT: Quickest way to SHUTDOWN Windows 8.... ALT+F4+Enter <----------------TRY IT!!!


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IN fact the LOCK SCREEN itself is an Easter Egg

Each one identifies a design goal of Window 8....

Bee hive / Win as one (internal motto) – bees working together to do something greater than just the sum of the parts
Colored lines / Authentically digital – the idea of no ornamentation
Train / Fast and fluid – beautiful train zooming around the bend into the city
Shell / Do more with less – beauty of what you can do with basic shapes that are in nature
Piano / pride in craftsmanship – ivory keys of a piano that has been hand carved and polished

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Want to dual-boot with a VHD instead of wiping out 7 ?(Native VHD boot Windows 8)

http://slickdeals.net/?sdtid=5833..._p3%2F4847

This is a GREAT way to test Windows 8 and make sure you like it before wiping out 7.
Lets you use your computer to boot 8 from a file on your hard drive.
Once booted (dual-boot) it expands to 40GB so have at least that free on drive you install the VHD.

When in 8 you will have a 40GB drive C:, your old windows will be drive D: you will have access to everything.
When in 7 everything is like before with a ~7GB VHD file as it shrinks when offline.

You can delete the VHD anytime and return your system to normal


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Boltman recommends after you are happy with your Windows 8 system...... get

:https://www.slimwareutilities.com...anager.php

Lets you create a custom.wim for use with Refresh PC on a schedule. (A user baseline Image of all your stuff)

You can use Refresh to restore your system using your own custom drive image. So you can install all of your apps, configure your system, use the new Recimg tool to create a disk image — then just use Refresh, if your system ever becomes unstable or gets assailed by malware. ALSO GREAT FOR A TERMED EMPLOYEE TO RESET A WORKSTATION FOR NEW EMPLOYEE.
--
If you'd rather just type command in command line to make a custom wim (baseline user image)

After windows is all set up.... Run recimg

Run these as Administrator

mkdir C:\RefreshImage
recimg /CreateImage C:\RefreshImage
recimg /ShowCurrent


Then when you do a PC refresh all your stuff is back.
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GOD MODE... (All settings in ONE folder)
Right-click the Desktop and select New --> Folder. That creates a folder on the Desktop named "New folder." Rename the folder:

GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}
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Great customizing guide with TONS of info here:

Courtesy HowToGeek

http://slickdeals.net/?sdtid=5835...ndows-8%2F

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THE PAST WINDOWS 8 DEAL GRAVEYARD

The $40 upgrade offer for XP,VISTA and older 7 is DEAD!
Media Center Free upgrades will DIE ALSO very soon so don't delay!