Looking for a free copy of Windows 8 Pro? An oversight in Microsoft’s Key Management System – made public by Reddit user noveleven – shows that with just a bit of work, anyone can access a Microsoft-approved product key and activate a free copy of Windows 8 Pro.
The problem is in the Key Management System. Microsoft uses the KMS as part of its Volume Licensing system, which is meant to help corporate IT people remotely activate Windows 8 on a local network. The Achilles’ heel of the setup, according to ExtremeTech, is that you can make your own KMS server, which can be used to partially activate the OS. That approach requires reactivation every 180 days, though, so it’s not a practical system.
However, the Windows 8 website has a section where you can request a Windows 8 Media Center Pack license. Media Center is currently being offered as a free upgrade until Jan. 31, 2013. Supply an email address and you’ll be sent a specific product key from Microsoft. If you have a KMS-activated copy of Windows 8, with or without a legitimate license key, then going to the System screen will display a link that reads “Get more features with a new edition of Windows.” If you enter your Media Center key there, the OS will become fully activated.
It’s a little surprising that with Microsoft’s complex KMS, this type of thing could slip through the cracks, allowing people to take advantage of the system. It seems most likely that after the uproar in response to Microsoft’s plans to remove Media Center from Windows 8 Pro, the company may have rushed the free upgrade, resulting in a loss for Microsoft and a gain for anyone who takes the time to acquire a free Windows 8 Pro copy. It’s unclear whether or not there’s a patch for this – other than removing the free Media Center download all together. Though ending the free Media Center upgrade would be an easy fix, it wouldn’t be a popular choice among customers who just bought a Windows 8 computers and who want the feature. We’ll have to wait and see how the company responds to this latest hit.
You can’t get me to give up Windows7. Thanks but no thanks.
Microsoft free since 1996, they couldn’t pay me to go back.
Windows 8? I’m still dual booting w/ Windows Server 2003 and Linux. Occassionally I’ll run a version of XP for gaming.
Being a techno person I love all operating systems — with the exclusion of iOS –and thinl that Windows 8 was a good try. Although it aimed at making Windows much better, what they didn’t realize is the reason people buy Windows… because it 1.) free to develop on(so there are many more programs), 2.) beautiful, and 3.) easy to use. By redesigning their interface, they are taking away from peoples productivity. So my question is: which is more important to Microsoft? Originality and Ingenuity, or trying to become the second-gen Apple. Keep trying Microsoft.
yes they do want to be a 2nd gen apple, well they want to get rid of steam and have a monopoly on the PC gaming market. as now all apps have to be approved by microsoft and microsoft wants to include XBLA, XBOX360, TV, and the so called “smart glass” into one overarching system of control. supposedly its to unify and the create a seamless experience with everyone entertainment mediums but in my opinion it just seems that microsoft wants control over something they did before because they can do it, and itll make them loads of cash.
It would make people get Windows 8, and that’s their goal. They already have as much money as they would ever need.
Pretty sure they did it on purpose.
From my Backtrack Linux Installation :p
im sticking to vesta
google “i hate windows 8″ lol i tried it, coulent get back to 7 fast enough.
I’m not sure they need to give it away free. There are plenty of people in the US to test it. I can’t believe it would be intentional to do so.
cos windows aint fav OS as it used to be…so they do wat? mistakenly giv pirates! Wtf!
Mistakingly yeah right. Great way to justify high prices for software
oh wow that doesnt suck….still you couldnt get me to switch back to Windoze even for free
Which is why I’m not upgrading to f-ing Win 8. I’ve only had Win 7 for 3 and a half years now. Had to upgrade from XP because Vista was pure garbage wrapped in a sh!t sandwich.
Microsoft goes like that. They do a Good OS (Win XP), then they do a crap OS (Vista), then they do a good OS (Win 7), and I’d lay money on Win 8 being the next crap run before they iron it out and make another good one. They always go good, bad, good, bad, etc etc. Never good OS’s back to back, and yet us poor fools are expected to shell out Hundreds of dollars we can’t afford for shoddy shovelware.