Activating Microsoft Windows 8 Professional when installed from a volume license DVD

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Ever tried activating Microsoft Windows 8 Professional using only GUI tools when installed from a volume license DVD? Right, you can’t, for three reasons:

  1. The GUI of Microsoft Windows 8 Professional lacks the elements for entering a new product key unlike its recent predecessors.
  2. Microsoft Windows 8 Professional expects you to enter the product key as part of the installation routine.
  3. The installation routine on a volume license DVD never asks you to enter your product key.

Way to go Microsoft.

OK, here’s the procedure. Open a command shell window, otherwise known as cmd.exe, and type in these three commands:

slmgr /ipk <your product key>
slmgr /ato
exit

The two first commands presents a dialog box each during execution.