Windows 8 Recover License Key

RastaManBob · 22 Nov 2012 at 12:14

Hello,

Does anybody know how to recover a W8 license key? I do not need the key now but would like to make a note of it for future reference. It seems as though the free Magical Jelly Bean does not support W8 according to the feature list.

Are you aware of any other free and portable tools (that do not require installation and leave registry entires, etc) that will be able to recover/extract a license key from a W8 installation?

Thank you!

RastaManBob · 22 Nov 2012 at 16:25

It is a Dell laptop and has no COA sticker on the back, only a little W8 label.

RastaManBob · 22 Nov 2012 at 16:40

The battery is not user removable (without taking the laptop apart) as it is a 14z Ultrabook. A search suggests that OEMs are not supplied with COA for W8...

RastaManBob · 22 Nov 2012 at 21:45

So all of the other tools mentioned (that no doubt read from the registry) will not work? If it really is hard-coded into the BIOS then maybe I do not need it at all. I have received (after numerous requests) an 'official' Dell recovery disk so I assume that in the event I do need to format (not something I intend to test now) that disk will correctly access the relevant BIOS entry and 'just work'. I suppose the fact that I do not have COA w/ license key and have bought the machine legitimately from Dell means that this has to be the case... Maybe I'm overthinking everything and do not need the key afterall!

**I'd still be interested in getting it for interest.. If it were to be a safe and easy method**