How to Install Windows 8 without CD Key

Starting from Windows 8, a CD key (product key) is needed before proceeding with the installation, and you're unable to skip entering CD key. However thanks to a simple trick, you can easily skip the CD key during the Windows 8 installation process.  

How to Install Windows 8 without CD Key?

1. Follow this guide to download a official copy of Windows 8 directly from Microsoft's servers.
2. After you've downloaded the Windows 8 ISO image, burn it to a USB flash drive with the freeware ISO2Disc.
3. Open your USB installation drive and navigate to the /sources folder. Look for the ei.cfg file and open it in a text editor such as Notepad. If the file doesn't already exist, create a new text document and rename it as ei.cfg.
4. Copy and paste the following text into the ei.cfg file and then save it. Make sure that anything that already exists in the file should be cleared first.
   [EditionID]
Professional
[Channel]
Retail
[VL]
1
   
5. Now go ahead and boot from your USB installation media. This time you will see a Skip button when you are prompted to enter a product key during Windows Setup. 

This method will basically allow you to install Windows 8 as a trial for about 30 days without entering a Windows 8 CD key during the installation. If you have a valid product key later on, you can change Windows 8 product key after install.