14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has simplified the deployment process of the first public preview of Windows 8 as much as possible. For example, early adopters won’t be required to enter a product key when deploying Windows 8 Developer Preview Build 8102 Milestone 3 (M3). However, there are scenarios in which a key will be required of the testers, and they’ll run into a small glitch.
Microsoft seems to have forgotten to provide any official product key for Windows 8 Build 8102 M3 when the downloads went live.
According to a number of early adopters who jumped at the chance of test driving Windows 8, processes such as reinstalling or resetting the operating system might ask users for a product key before proceeding.
There are in fact two keys that testers can take advantage of, one for client and the other for server.
Those early adopters running Windows 8 Developer Preview Build 8102 M3 can enter the following product key if the platform will ask them for one: 6RH4V-HNTWC-JQKG8-RFR3R-36498.
There are of course also testers focusing on Windows Server 8, which Microsoft released one day after the Windows 8 client.
4Y8N3-H7MMW-C76VJ-YD3XV-MBDKV is the product key that can be used with Windows Server 8 Developer Preview. The server flavor of Windows 8 is only available to MSDN subscribers.
The Windows Developer Preview is a Windows 8 Build 8102 M3 release, as in a pre-Beta development milestone. Some Softpedia readers might remember that when it released a preview of Windows 7 to developers Microsoft also provided an M3 Build.
It appears that the Redmond company is simply settling in its ways, and why shouldn’t it, especially with a winning strategy on its hands. I’m more than sure that Microsoft is hoping the success of Windows7 will rub off onto Windows 8.
Windows 8 Developer Preview Build 8102 Milestone 3 (M3) is available for download here.