How to extract windows 8 key from bios on a Dell?

postmanfw · 13 Sep 2014 at 14:30

Hi, i am trying to extract the key from the bios on a windows 8 dell that had a damaged recovery partition and no recovery media made.

The usual methods dont work...any suggestions?

cheers

demonix · 13 Sep 2014 at 15:49

I don't think that it needs extracting since the key should be found when you try to install the OS again (which is what I'm expecting you are going to do).

hyperseven · 13 Sep 2014 at 15:52

rw everything will get the key.

postmanfw · 13 Sep 2014 at 16:08

hyperseven said:
rw everything will get the key.

It wont work on dells

Media i have doesnt pickup the key but in process of getting some oem isos that may do the trick

Yes trying to install windows 8 again as it was not booting into windows after a failed update

Original os already gone as presumed (wrongly) i could easily get the key from bios.

hyperseven · 13 Sep 2014 at 16:16

postmanfw said:
It wont work on dells

Media i have doesnt pickup the key but in process of getting some oem isos that may do the trick

Yes trying to install windows 8 again as it was not booting into windows after a failed update

Original os already gone as presumed (wrongly) i could easily get the key from bios.

Funny it worked on my 7537.

KIA · 13 Sep 2014 at 17:29

http://dellwindowsreinstallationgui...slp-product-key-using-rw-everything-oem-only/

Follow the instructions and let us know what happens.

postmanfw · 13 Sep 2014 at 18:09

Tried that already and there is no msdm tab in that table for this dell laptop

The comments below it mention the guy having problems with getting it to work with his dell.

hyperseven · 13 Sep 2014 at 18:26

What model is your Dell?

pcmedicni · 13 Sep 2014 at 20:27

pkeyui works with HP machines,it might also work on dells.

postmanfw · 13 Sep 2014 at 21:27

its an xps 12

already tried product key viewer

Pigeon_Killer · 14 Sep 2014 at 00:29

Used ABR-Beta for a Dell PC recently. I would probably try in on another hard drive before formatting your current drive though. Think it saves the key to plain text

postmanfw · 14 Sep 2014 at 00:48

Thanks but that just finds the same key as jelly bean which doesn't work

Thinking my only way forward is to get proper dell recovery media from somewhere.

Orcvader · 14 Sep 2014 at 01:12

Have you tried activating Windows after installing it? I always find the key never works during the installation stage (for both 7 and 8), I have to wait for it to boot into desktop and then activate it manually for it to accept the key.

postmanfw · 14 Sep 2014 at 01:23

Thats the problem...i use a placeholder key during install but i dont have the key from the bios to activate with as no program so far will extract it from this dell.

Done this many times before with various other laptops and rweverything worked fine for me

edit :tested the key extracted by jelly bean and ABR with ultimate pid checker and it shows as invalid

Pigeon_Killer · 14 Sep 2014 at 01:51

Try this at command prompt:

powershell "(Get-WmiObject -query ‘select * from softwareLicensingService’).OA3xOriginalProductKey"

Edit: Just re-read a post you made above about not having the original O/S installed anymore. Most of these methods require the original install to get the original key

postmanfw · 14 Sep 2014 at 02:04

That command does nothing

tried it with as admin too.

Just made a wee discovery that is relevant.....original os was pro version.

I had found an oem core version but that asked for the unknown key...if i can get a hold of pro oem version it should pick up key from bios.

In my defense there is no markings on the sticker to suggest its pro version and i never got to see it booted up (not my laptop). Checked on dell site using tag no and found this out.

Hopefully know tomorrow if oem pro iso works.