I think I'm using a dodgy copy of Windows?

CryptKeeper · 3 Jun 2015 at 14:27

I have a desktop and a laptop.

The laptop came with windows 8, however our IT guy at work did a reformat for me a while back. The desktop was originally a work computer that I bought from the company. Same guy sorted everything (it's my company btw - small business so we're not dealing with enterprise stuff here)

I have windows 8 on my desktop and it runs fine. I have 8.1 on my laptop and about a month ago I got a verification thing pop up every time I open it. Now there is a verification watermark at the bottom right of my laptop screen.

The problem is I can't find the cd key that originally came with the laptop (it's 2.5 years old).

Looking back, I'm pretty sure the guy put cracked versions of windows on both computers but can't say for sure.

What should I do? If I buy another copy of windows 8 to get the cd key, will this fix my laptop? And will it let me upgrade to win 10 for free? Also, would that let me upgrade my desktop to windows 10 too, or do I need one copy per computer?

something daft already!! · 3 Jun 2015 at 14:32

If you are lucky, this "helpful" person has not wiped your recovery partition. If it has one of course. A lot of Win 8 machines don't. What make is it? We should be able to locate the process for a reprep and thereby reinstate a valid OS.

Rroff · 3 Jun 2015 at 14:35

A lot of laptops these days come with the OS "key" embedded in the motherboard firmware.

I've had the "not genuine" pop up a few times lately on a system I know is genuine - seems to be some mess up on MS's end but its a temporary glitch and doesn't result in the verification watermark so probably not what is happening here but chance it could be.

CryptKeeper · 3 Jun 2015 at 14:36

I already checked and there is no recovery partition :/

I honestly don't mind buying a new copy, so long as I can upgrade to win 10 in the near future too. It would be good if I could use it on both my computers.

ED209 · 3 Jun 2015 at 14:38

if you need new copies of windows for both machines you will need two copies.

keys can only be activated on 1 PC at a time

CryptKeeper · 3 Jun 2015 at 14:51

Can I buy them from Microsoft online? Or I need a physical copy?

ED209 · 3 Jun 2015 at 15:17

can do either, you can use the windows 8.1 download tool to get the iso files

maybe cheaper to buy the physical copies, I don't know how much Microsoft normally charge for keys.

list here of windows 8.1 so you can compare

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/productlist.php?groupid=33&catid=1555

geeko · 4 Jun 2015 at 11:51

CryptKeeper said:
The problem is I can't find the cd key that originally came with the laptop (it's 2.5 years old).

What make is the laptop? Have you looked under the battery for the key (COA) as they are sometimes stuck under there

Bane · 4 Jun 2015 at 19:52

What make and model is the laptop? As if it's a big name like HP, Dell, Lenovo, etc you will be able to activate using BIOS stored details as mentioned previously.

Caged · 4 Jun 2015 at 22:57

If your laptop came with Windows 8 then there isn't a license key sticker - it's stored in the BIOS.

Extract the key from the BIOS and re-enter it into the activation screen.

https://github.com/christian-korneck/get_win8key#files

linktoinsanity · 5 Jun 2015 at 08:52

Caged said:
If your laptop came with Windows 8 then there isn't a license key sticker - it's stored in the BIOS.

Extract the key from the BIOS and re-enter it into the activation screen.

https://github.com/christian-korneck/get_win8key#files

Try this first before shelling out for a new key.