signup

SuperUserisaquestionandanswersiteforcomputerenthusiastsandpowerusers.It's100%free,noregistration
required.

login

InstallWindows8withoutaProductKeySuperUser

14.1.2015.

tour

help

Takethe2minutetour

Install Windows 8 without a Product Key

Windows8setupasksfortheproductkeyatthebeginningofthesetupwithoutlettingyouinstallit.
IgottheWindows8ISOfromMSDNbutIdidn'tgetenoughkeystoinstallitonallmy7computers.Also,
myMSDNsubscriptionleveldoesn'tallowmetogettheVLproductkeytoWindows8Enterprise.
IsthereanywayIcaninstallWindows8foralimitedtimeperiodlikeweusedtodoforWindows7?
windows8 productkey

editedApr30'14at14:48

askedNov2'12at14:43
Zuck
5,581 4 29 77

TherealtrickistocallMSsupportandtellthemthatyourWindowsisn'tactivating.Workseverytime.Mikhail
Nov4'12at14:17
@Mikhail,Idontseehowtheywillaskyoutoreenteryourkey,andwhenyousayyoudonthaveone
SynetechDec1'13at15:36
addacomment

5 Answers
1. CreateabootableUSBflashdrivetoinstallWindows8.
2. Navigateto <FlashDrive>:\Sources\
3. Saveafilecalled ei.cfg inthatfolderwiththefollowingtext:
[EditionID]
Core
[Channel]
Retail
[VL]
0
IfyouwanttoinstalltheProedition,replace Core with Professional .Ifyouwantthesetuptoask
whicheditionyouwantinstallwithoutenteringtheproductkey,leavethe [EditionID] blank.
Youcanalsoset [VL] (VolumeLicensing)to1(fortrue)and [Channel] to OEM / Retail
NowinstallasnormalandtheWindows8setupwon'taskfortheproductkey.Thiswillworkforevery
copyofWindows8thatyoucangetfromanywhere.
Also,ifyouevertowanttoentertheproductkey,youcandosofromtheWindowsActivation
windoworusingthe slui3 command.
editedNov4'12at14:28

answeredNov2'12at14:43
Zuck
5,581 4 29 77

WillIbeabletoenterthekeylatertomakeitafullversion?silent_cookieNov2'12at18:34
@silent_cookieyes,WindowswillpromptyoutoenteraWindowskeyeverytimeyoustartup.nhinkle Oct
15'13at22:49
ThisanswerdoesnotexplainhowtodownloadtheISO.StevenPennyMay3'14at20:49

http://superuser.com/questions/498436/installwindows8withoutaproductkey

1/3

14.1.2015.

InstallWindows8withoutaProductKeySuperUser
@StevenPennyDoyouthinkitsdifficulttodo?RahilWazirAug30'14at17:13
addacomment

TheanswerofUseriscorrect,butyoucanalsoleaveEditionIDinei.cfgblank:
[EditionID]
[Channel]
OEM
[VL]
0
NowWindows7and8SetupwillletyouinstallwithoutProductKey,andalsoletsyouchoosethe
Editionyouwanttoinstall.Youdon'tneedtoeditei.cfgeverytime.
answeredNov4'12at14:08
metadings
291 1 6
Therewasjustanissuewhenmixingx86andamd64imagesinonewim(worksfinewithWin7,butWin8Setup
explainsthisimagewouldnotbecompatiblewithyourhardware).Didn'ttrylatestWin8.xSetups,butprobably
youhavetoaddfirsttheamd64imagesandthenthex86tothewimfile.metadingsJul17'14at10:57
addacomment

IfyouonlyhaveanoriginalDVDanddon'twanttoburnamodifiedDVDorcreateaninstallflashdrive,
orifyoujustwanttouseanoriginalisotoinstallavirtualmachine,youcanusegenerickeys.Theyare
keysthatcan'tbeusedforactivationbutonlytobypassthatinstallerscreen.
Hereisalistofgenerickeys.IfthelinkisdeadjustGoogle windows8.1generickey .
answeredOct30'14at17:07
SachaK
299 2 12
addacomment

MSDNkeysaremultiactivationwhichiswhytheydon'tprovideyouwithabunch.
Ihavereadthatatsomepointtheywillcutyouoffbutthenallyouneedtodoisjustcallthemupand
theyverylenientaboutresettingthecount.
answeredNov2'12at20:56
NathanAdams
1,566 9 14
Keysof Retail typealso? Zuck Nov3'12at17:16
Ithinkonly MAK typeofkeyssupportmultiactivation. Zuck Nov3'12at17:17
IroutinelyinstallproductsfromMSDNallthetime(Windows8,Windows7ect)andhaven'thadanissuewith
activationyet.ManyyearsagoIhadBizsparkandhadlike20keysIassumeditwasoneactivationperkey.I
calledsupportaftertheylimitedthekeysto1or2andtheytoldmethekeysaremultiactivationandhave
activatedaproductmanytimesusingasinglekey.NathanAdamsNov3'12at22:10
addacomment

windows8isfreefor90days.Thereshouldbeaskipoptionatthebottomofthescreenwhereitasksfor
theproductkey.clickingthisyoucaninstallthe90daysevaluationcopy
HTH
answeredNov2'12at15:14
vishesh
679 3 9 22
@Ramhound"Windows8andWindows8"?ThatBrazilianGuyOct9'13at21:52
addacomment

protected by Community Dec 24 '13 at 9:28

Thankyouforyourinterestinthisquestion.Becauseithasattractedlowqualityanswers,postingananswernow

http://superuser.com/questions/498436/installwindows8withoutaproductkey

2/3

14.1.2015.

InstallWindows8withoutaProductKeySuperUser
requires10reputationonthissite.
Wouldyouliketoansweroneoftheseunansweredquestionsinstead?

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged windows8
productkey or ask your own question.

http://superuser.com/questions/498436/installwindows8withoutaproductkey

3/3