Installing Windows 8 no serial

swain90 · 10 May 2014 at 18:17

Hi All,

I've been given a laptop to repair, and I can't find the Windows 8 key. It's a Windows 8 laptop (Sony SV15A1M2ES). There's no sticky residue on the laptop so looks like it never had one put on!? I've taken the bottom casing off the laptop and there's no sticker under there.

Am I being dumb or has something changed since Windows 8?

Cheers
Swain90

4T5 · 10 May 2014 at 18:18

Is it under the battery ?

Rroff · 10 May 2014 at 18:22

IIRC It'll be embedded in the BIOS and will automatically work with the correct version of the OS install?

http://www.zdnet.com/will-bios-embedded-windows-8-product-keys-cause-reinstall-troubles-7000008226/

swain90 · 10 May 2014 at 18:24

Rroff said:
IIRC It'll be embedded in the BIOS and will automatically work with the correct version of the OS install?

I can remember reading something similar to this

Rroff · 10 May 2014 at 18:25

I edited my post with a link - you will need the correct version of the OS install and/or use the recovery partition for it to automatically pickup the key during the installation process.

MagicBoy · 10 May 2014 at 18:26

It will have a SLIC entry in the BIOS. Should automatically activate and not prompt for a key when used with the correct media.

swain90 · 10 May 2014 at 18:45

Ok Cheers guys.

Had to replace the hard drive so no recovery partition there I'm afraid

Orcvader · 11 May 2014 at 14:41

No need for the recovery partiton. The install disk should be able to pick up the product key automatically.

You could install 8.1 instead which might be a better idea. I did this a couple of months ago and it worked fine. I used the generic key "334NH-RXG76-64THK-C7CKG-D3VPT" for installation, and then I used this guide to get my 8 key from the BIOS to activate the 8.1 install.

swain90 · 12 May 2014 at 09:35

Thanks Orcvader I shall check it out!

Pho · 12 May 2014 at 11:02

Failing that, if you really want to install without a key then you can convert your media into a volume license one by adding an ei.cfg to the sources folder. It'll even unlock the ability to select which edition (core/pro) you want to install.

http://uk.hardware.info/reviews/349...-windows-8-without-product-key-creating-eicfg

(you do still need to activate Windows, this doesn't avoid that)

swain90 · 14 May 2014 at 09:48

FYI

Installed Windows 8 yesterday using this ISO en_windows_8_x64_dvd_915440.iso and everything seems to have gone through OK. It picked up the key just after booting from DVD. Just a matter of all the other apps/updates to install.

Thanks for your comments!