Windows 8 Activating Win*

[jdwfinger]

I recently downloaded Win8 from Windows site. Now I get a screen saying I must activate the account. I had factory installed Win7 before. How do I get a Product Key to activate my new Win8. The site says I can buy a new one. Why didn't they provide one when they allowed me to download Win8. How can I get a new product key so I can activate my account? Thank you

 

[davehc]

From where did you download? Windows 8 is still in Beta. Currently it is at the "release preview" stage. It is free and legal to download from official sources without charge. Whoever is asking you to buy a licence, which is not yet available, is skamming you, so I doubt your download was from the correct site.. When you download from a legit source, there is normally a "key" at that site, which you must use in the initial stages of the install. here is the original source, but, meanwhile, see if this universal key will work TK8TP-9JN6P-7X7WW-RFFTV-B7QPF

Windows 8 Release Preview

 

[kemical]

Just to add to Dave's post, here is an FAQ for Windows 8 preview:

Windows 8 Release Preview: frequently asked questions