Problem activating Windows 8

[Guest Jaiket]

Hello,

 

I bought Windows 8 professionel (french) in a new sealed box, and used it for years. I still have the box, DVD and the card with the serial number. The box says WIN PRO 8 32-BIT/64-BIT FRENCH VUP DVD. I rather like the packaging, it's quite pretty, and both the DVD and the certificate of authenticity have all kinds of 3d effects, shiny coloured bits and complicated background embossing/small cuts which make it seem genuine. Anyway, the licence worked without a hitch for years. Since I bought it, it has been on the shelf next to my computer, so no-one else has the key. I never got hacked. Recently, Windows update refused to update, all solutions failed, so I decided to start over, and while I was at it, change the motherboard and hard drive for some more modern hardware.

 

I did all the updates, including Windows 8.1.

 

Now I can't activate it, even over the phone. I went through this change because Windows Update was failing, so I am a bit disgruntled at finding myself in this situation.

 

I still have the old motherboard and hard drive, but I think if I put the old hardware back and connect to the web with it, I will only be making things worse.

 

I live in France, and regional and language settings are French(France).

 

Is there a solution to this? I am thinking of a clean install and trying to activate over the phone while it is still Windows 8, then updating to 8.1, but I'd rather not waste the time if it's not going to work.

 

gratefully

 

Jaiket

 

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