I'm snowbird between Arizona and Minnesota. Have computers in both places as does my wife. They are not even close to the same... even different motherboards for one thing.

I take back cloned disks, pop them in and am ready to go. Windows 7 asks to be activated and does it on line in about 5 seconds. My wife's Windows 8 says I must call in because I seem to have a stolen system or something like that. I haven't done that yet as I know it takes about half hour of endless keying stuff in to activate by phone.

It's a small difference but annoying.

John

I'm guessing your Windows 7 license was from a retail box while you're using either an OEM or an upgrade license for Windows 8.

That makes a large difference in activation.

man I wish I had a perfect solution for you but I don't, I do though have advice,
call Microsoft and get it worked that's the best way possible.
 
I wish you the best on this :)

I had to go through Microsoft recently to get Win 8 reactivated on a machine.  I had to replace the motherboard and could not get an exact same board.  The different motherboard triggered the activation issue.   But, I had the same problem with a Win 7 installation and in that case an Intel motherboard had a problem, under warranty, and Intel replaced it with an exact same model.  Still had to go through Microsoft and after a hassle got it reactivated. 

I've read other similar cases of activation issues on the computer forums I visit.

Also, Windows was never meant to do what you are doing with it... transporting your OS between different computers temporarily to take your work space with you.  It's quite amazing that it's been working for you, given the move between different hardware platforms over and over again.

MS did create a method of doing just that with windows 8 though, but it's an enterprise feature.

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=36184

Windows 2 Go is basically a complete copy of your workstation that can be installed on a USB stick and transported wherever you go.  It won't give you activation trouble and is built to deal with different hardware scenarios.  That may be something to look into for your scenario, granted it will cost some cash to upgrade to Windows 8 Enterprise though.

Heh, with my luck, the USB stick would get zapped in transit...  (Yep, it's happened before to me.)

Windows 8 is on line upgrade. Windows 7 is retail box. That's why huh?
JOhn

wogg


I'm guessing your Windows 7 license was from a retail box while you're using either an OEM or an upgrade license for Windows 8.

That makes a large difference in activation.

I talked with MS once about transporting WIndows 7 that way. They didn't seem to have any problem with it. I had Windows 8 on a thumb then zapped it by mistake. I'll get it sorted out when I get a chance.
John

wogg


Also, Windows was never meant to do what you are doing with it... transporting your OS between different computers temporarily to take your work space with you.  It's quite amazing that it's been working for you, given the move between different hardware platforms over and over again.

MS did create a method of doing just that with windows 8 though, but it's an enterprise feature.

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=36184

Windows 2 Go is basically a complete copy of your workstation that can be installed on a USB stick and transported wherever you go.  It won't give you activation trouble and is built to deal with different hardware scenarios.  That may be something to look into for your scenario, granted it will cost some cash to upgrade to Windows 8 Enterprise though.