windows 8 reset problem.

danger_mouse_tm

I'm sure this is a common problem. I was fortunate enough to avail of the upgrade offer from windows 7 to 8 pro. In an attempt to increase system performance I decided to perform RESET (as oppose to REFRESH) The system now requires a retail 8 pro key and won't accept the upgrade key. I'm thinking that it probably wants me to install 7 home premium first (do i need to use the original key or use any key at all ) and then upgrade to 8. It's quite annoying. I believe that there is some work around by editing the registry but the option in question is not available in my registry because I have done a RESET and not a clean install (I would probably have to find some media to do this which I don't have).
In hindsight, system reset is a useless option for anyone who bought a new windows 7 machine last year and availed of the upgrade offer.

Overheal

double check your key, and make sure you have the actual license key and not a product activation key. For instance, purchasing Office 2013 involves buying an activation key, registering it to a windows account, then receiving the actual product license key.

for further issues check microsoft's website/contact support. I did reset installs when I bumped 2 machines from 7 to 8 and had no such hiccups.

Same advice as for downgrade users: check first with your support page from your OEM and ensure you have compatible device drivers available for 8/8.1 before you upgrade. The free Pro upgrade was a promotion by microsoft that doesn't not explicit that OEMs would be able to support 100% of the SKUs being sold at the time for updates to 8.1

danger_mouse_tm

i used produkey to extract the key as I don't think I have the original email that I got from Microsoft when I purchased the upgrade. I was going to go ahead and try a fresh install of windows 7 and then try to upgrade again.