Windows 8

[mitchpman13]

My friend had purchased a reburished hp envy smart touch ultrabook. He left it running in a bad spot with no air circulation and when he returned to it. The notebook was off and posted to a black screen asking for the OS. Well after trying multiple OS to reinstall to it, I got linux mint to work on it. My friend had given me there key to there full retail version of 8.1 to install, but with 8.1 it is only good for one device at a time so I can't fully activate my product. Well the device had come pre-installed with windows 8. I used power shell to grab the old serial key to windows 8. After going to microsofts site to download windows 8 and using my serial key to download it gave me the message error "You can not use this key to to install retail windows". So I tried going back to HP to get a recovery media, to find out they stopped shipping media keys in 2005 with XP. They wanted me to pay $50 to send a cd/dvd/usb which is kind of ridiculous.

 

Any ideas how how to restore this to either 8/8.1?

[TetraSky]

The key you got is a generic oem key, cannot use that to activate windows or download the ISO from microsoft.

 

Normally, newer laptops with UEFI bios that come with Windows 8, have the key built IN the Bios, so you would need the ISO to install it... Not sure if it will automatically pick up the key from the bios though.

[EthanMcL]

There are generic keys for W8 and W8.1 to install, but not activate.  I didn't know them, so try these following keys. (Don't know if they are correct!)

 

Windows 8

FB4WR-32NVD-4RW79-XQFWH-CYQG3

 

Windows 8 Pro

XKY4K-2NRWR-8F6P2-448RF-CRYQH

 

Windows 8.1

334NH-RXG76-64THK-C7CKG-D3VPT

 

Windows 8.1 Pro

XHQ8N-C3MCJ-RQXB6-WCHYG-C9WKB

 

Edit: I pulled these from a "install Windows 8" site, don't take my word if these work.  I haven't had experience with "install w/o activation".

[mitchpman13]

There are generic keys for W8 and W8.1 to install, but not activate.  I didn't know them, so try these following keys. (Don't know if they are correct!)

 

Windows 8

FB4WR-32NVD-4RW79-XQFWH-CYQG3

 

Windows 8 Pro

XKY4K-2NRWR-8F6P2-448RF-CRYQH

 

Windows 8.1

334NH-RXG76-64THK-C7CKG-D3VPT

 

Windows 8.1 Pro

XHQ8N-C3MCJ-RQXB6-WCHYG-C9WKB

 

Edit: I pulled these from a "install Windows 8" site, don't take my word if these work.  I haven't had experience with "install w/o activation".

I just tried this one. The 8.1 pro didnt work, the 8 did but it says my internet connect isn't working right now.

[Novasty]

Here is my process of doing things when I need to use a windows 8 key to activate windows 8.1

 

• Install windows 8.1 with a generic windows 8.1 key.
• Start screen > Right-click "This PC" and select "Properties"
• Activate with your windows 8 key under windows activation
  

[mitchpman13]

 

Here is my process of doing things when I need to use a windows 8 key to activate windows 8.1

 

• Install windows 8.1 with a generic windows 8.1 key.
• Start screen > Right-click "This PC" and select "Properties"
• Activate with your windows 8 key under windows activation

  

   

  I tried doing this and it told me the key wasn't able to upgrade. Probably due to it being an oem 8 key.

[Novasty]

I tried doing this and it told me the key wasn't able to upgrade. Probably due to it being an oem 8 key.

Question: Your legit key, is it PRO or CORE? Is your windows install PRO or CORE?

[mitchpman13]

Im not fully sure as I just pulled it from powershell. I'm going to assume core.

[Novasty]

Im not fully sure as I just pulled it from powershell. I'm going to assume core.

If you look at my screenshot, it will list what edition of Windows 8 I am using, you can do the same to check your windows version.

As for the product key, look at the bottom of the laptop, it should list weather the laptop is pro or not just by having the words PRO right above the words Windows 8 in the sticker

[mitchpman13]

If you look at my screenshot, it will list what edition of Windows 8 I am using, you can do the same to check you windows version.

As for the product key, look at the bottom of the laptop, it should list weather the laptop is pro or not just by having the words PRO right above the words Windows 8 in the sticker

Right now I have windows 8.1 installed but it can't be activated as I borrowed a used key from a friend. The 8.1 can install but not be activated as she has it in use. The key I pulled from powershell is from the windows 8 it came pre installed with and won't activate it either.

[Novasty]

Right now I have windows 8.1 installed but it can't be activated as I borrowed a used key from a friend. The 8.1 can install but not be activated as she has it in use. The key I pulled from powershell is from the windows 8 it came pre installed with and won't activate it either.

Can you tell me in detail how you obtained the product key through PowerShell? I want to recreate this in a VM. You still have not given me a clear answer weather it is PRO or CORE.

[mitchpman13]

powershell “(Get-WmiObject -query ‘select * from SoftwareLicensingService’).OA3xOriginalProductKey”

 

It was win 8 core.

[Novasty]

 

powershell “(Get-WmiObject -query ‘select * from SoftwareLicensingService’).OA3xOriginalProductKey”

 

It was win 8 core.

 

It wont work when I try it in powershell. When you did it, did it return a 25 character product key?

[mitchpman13]

It wont work when I try it in powershell. When you did it, did it return a 25 character product key?

I just typed it in cmd. Yes it gave back a 25 digit code. When I tried to use it in the windows 8 setup from microsoft, it told me the key wasn't good for retail versions.

[Floppy Kant Fish]

My friend had purchased a reburished hp envy smart touch ultrabook. He left it running in a bad spot with no air circulation and when he returned to it. The notebook was off and posted to a black screen asking for the OS. Well after trying multiple OS to reinstall to it, I got linux mint to work on it. My friend had given me there key to there full retail version of 8.1 to install, but with 8.1 it is only good for one device at a time so I can't fully activate my product. Well the device had come pre-installed with windows 8. I used power shell to grab the old serial key to windows 8. After going to microsofts site to download windows 8 and using my serial key to download it gave me the message error "You can not use this key to to install retail windows". So I tried going back to HP to get a recovery media, to find out they stopped shipping media keys in 2005 with XP. They wanted me to pay $50 to send a cd/dvd/usb which is kind of ridiculous.

 

Any ideas how how to restore this to either 8/8.1?

 

You need the windows 8 iso, a windows 8 key will not work with a windows 8.1 disc. You can get the windows 8 iso here.

 

EDIT: I accidentally put down the wrong link. This one works 

 

Another EDIT: Apparently my solution only works for 8.1, for the cd key that is in the laptop's mobo, you need an windows 8 media. A windows 8 key does not work with a 8.1 disc and a 8.1 key will not work with an 8 disc.

[Novasty]

You need the windows 8 iso, a windows 8 key will not work with a windows 8.1 disc. You can get the windows 8 iso here.

Not entirely correct, a windows 8 key will work in windows 8.1 but will not work via installation process.

[mitchpman13]

You need the windows 8 iso, a windows 8 key will not work with a windows 8.1 disc. You can get the windows 8 iso here.

 

EDIT: I accidentally put down the wrong link. This one works 

I used the link in your edit for 8.1. It only allows 8.1~ The first link was what I needed for windows 8. I used the generic keys in it listed above and they worked except after I added the key the next screen told me I wasn't able to connect and it asked me to press finish. I've been retrying this whole time. My internet is fine so I'm assuming its on their end.

[Novasty]

I used the link in your edit for 8.1. It only allows 8.1~ The first link was what I needed for windows 8. I used the generic keys in it listed above and they worked except after I added the key the next screen told me I wasn't able to connect and it asked me to press finish. I've been retrying this whole time. My internet is fine so I'm assuming its on their end.

I pm'd you, check your inbox

[Floppy Kant Fish]

Not entirely correct, a windows 8 key will work in windows 8.1 but will not work via installation process.

 

I don't believe the cd key will work once you get into windows. I remember trying that awhile ago when windows 8.1 laptops where first available, I kept getting a "This key does not belong to a retail copy." sort of thing under pc settings. It could have been a different situation, all I remember was it being a pain in the ass, I eventually said "f**k it" and went with Fedora for a month. Then I learned about the whole 8 vs 8.1 cd and cdkey thing. Install worked as expected after that.