Win 8 pc reinstall question

koolpc · 31 Jul 2014 at 13:40

My mate has a PC with windows 8 on it that was pre-installed. Now, problem is that he cant get on the PC as it shows a black screen with writing on so OS needs re-installing.

Obviously there is no Product Key sticker on the case!

How can we re-install the OS as he didnt have any recovery media with it.

I do have a Windows 8 pro 64 DVD. Can i use that? What about the product key?

Any help would be appreciated. Ta

Glaucus · 31 Jul 2014 at 13:47

The key is in the bios. Which win8 will auto read.
What are the instructions for recovery from the manufacturer, is there a HDD partition with the back up stuff.

I would expect it used a different serial code to your copy.

koolpc · 31 Jul 2014 at 14:12

Glaucus said:
The key is in the bios. Which win8 will auto read.
What are the instructions for recovery from the manufacturer, is there a HDD partition with the back up stuff.

I would expect it used a different serial code to your copy.

That what i was worried about. Mate should have made a recovery disc when he had the pc but didnt. Cant access hard drive now at all.

Any way around it or does it mean buying win 8 again?

Glaucus · 31 Jul 2014 at 14:28

you should be able to buy recovery media for a few £ from hp/dell or who ever it is.
Or I expect you could find the right copy online somewhere and download it.

koolpc · 31 Jul 2014 at 14:37

Its a shame it is like this with win 8 as not everyone does a recovery. I know they should.

KIA · 31 Jul 2014 at 14:45

Easy.

1) Grab the latest version of 8.1: https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B3c2hcaO4GgWbXB4Q0g5YkhHUVE&usp=sharing
2) Create a bootable USB key: http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/html/pbPage.Help_Win7_usbdvd_dwnTool
3) Boot from key and provide one of the placeholder keys (see first link)
4) Use RWEverything to extract the embedded key: http://www.nextofwindows.com/how-to-retrieve-windows-8-oem-product-key-from-bios/
5) Activate

koolpc · 31 Jul 2014 at 15:07

Thanks Kia but that doesnt seem easy to me! lol

KIA · 31 Jul 2014 at 17:12

koolpc said:
Thanks Kia but that doesnt seem easy to me! lol

Which step are you struggling to complete?

koolpc · 31 Jul 2014 at 17:51

Not even tried that yet

lucifer-mnm · 1 Aug 2014 at 09:49

The instructions are self explanatory - just take your time as you follow them

varkanoid · 1 Aug 2014 at 15:05

I believe even if Windows is pre-installed you should have the Windows key stuck on the case. If the manufacturers are not doing that its a big tut tut.

koolpc · 1 Aug 2014 at 15:29

varkanoid said:
I believe even if Windows is pre-installed you should have the Windows key stuck on the case. If the manufacturers are not doing that its a big tut tut.

This doesnt happen with win 8

demonix · 1 Aug 2014 at 16:10

varkanoid said:
I believe even if Windows is pre-installed you should have the Windows key stuck on the case. If the manufacturers are not doing that its a big tut tut.

They stopped doing that with windows 8 as the product key was coded into the BIOS, where 7 and below were installed using a generic manufacturers image which used a single product key so one had to be included if a reinstall was required as the OS wouldn't activate if you used the key in the original OS install.

kaka4200 · 2 Aug 2014 at 08:29

Which answer do i need to answer to win 8 pc?

koolpc · 11 Oct 2014 at 20:37

KIA said:
Easy.

1) Grab the latest version of 8.1: https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B3c2hcaO4GgWbXB4Q0g5YkhHUVE&usp=sharing
2) Create a bootable USB key: http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/html/pbPage.Help_Win7_usbdvd_dwnTool
3) Boot from key and provide one of the placeholder keys (see first link)
4) Use RWEverything to extract the embedded key: http://www.nextofwindows.com/how-to-retrieve-windows-8-oem-product-key-from-bios/
5) Activate

Fantastic!

Just did the above but didnt need to use the keys provided and 8.1 installed like a dream and activated on my new SSD! Many thanks