Long story short, I purchased a Windows 8 Pro key from the Windows 8 site I was given by Microsoft when I was finished participating in their Win 8 preview (I know for a fact these were Microsoft contacts, my credit card even recognized them as Microsoft transactions). Well if you Google this key (XKY4K-2NRWR-8F6P2-448RF-CRYQH It's invalid so it's not worth anything) you'll find results for free Windows 8 Pro as far back as august of 2012 when I bought Windows 8 Pro January 2013, so Microsoft sold me a pre-used code. And the worst part is Microsoft didn't even say thanks after they -blam!-ed me.