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02-13-2013, 06:19 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 5
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No windows 8 key with new notebook ?
Hi,
I have this problem , I bought this new Asus Notebook (the Vivo book), and with Windows 8...
The problem here is that I can not find the key anywhere .. I want to replace the Harddisk with SSD , and need to install a fresh Windows 8 pro , and I cant locate the Key anywhere (I am using my retail Windows 8 disk for that) ...
Asus didnt come with any recovery disks .. Just pre installed Windows 8 .. and has a hidden partition of 16G for the system Back up... and I cant use it at all , I have to remove it and install the SSD ... and it doesn't work from USB3 case as well ... the auto recover, so I had to use the Windows 8 DVD I have , and I just need the key . Looking at the System , there is a key but it is covered by ***** and I cant locate it ...
Is there a way to find the key ? I read somewhere , windows 8 stores it in the Bios .. but where and how ? I dont want to waste 16G on SSD as well the SSD is too small for that.
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02-13-2013, 07:35 PM
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#2
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Lifer
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Somewhere over the rainbow
Posts: 32,404
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Look inside the machine; physically. Under the battery, under a ram access cover, whatever...
__________________
The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man.
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02-13-2013, 07:48 PM
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#3
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Diamond Member
Join Date: Jun 2000
Posts: 6,781
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comment removed
Last edited by Yazoo; 02-18-2013 at 02:38 PM.
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02-16-2013, 03:05 PM
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#4
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Super Moderator
Elite Member
Join Date: Oct 1999
Posts: 26,932
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Yazoo
windows 8 OEM comes with no sticker. Supposedly key is embedded in BIOS and windows installer gets it from there. or run Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder to get the product key. |
MJBK is unnecessary. The key is very much embedded in the BIOS, and when the Windows 8 installer sees it, it will automatically set itself as the right version and load that key. Reinstalling Windows has been reduced to finding media and running it.
As for reinstall options, most Windows devices come with a way to create recovery media from the recovery partition. If that doesn't work, then you'll need to track down a Windows 8 disc, flash drive, etc. Any one (of the right bitness) will do.
__________________
ViRGE
Team Anandtech: Assimilating a computer near you!
GameStop - An upscale specialized pawnshop that happens to sell new games on the side
Todd the Wraith: On Fruit Bowls - I hope they prove [to be] as delicious as the farmers who grew them
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02-16-2013, 03:27 PM
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#5
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Platinum Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: UK
Posts: 2,122
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Does anyone know if the retail disc can be used to install Win8 with an OEM licence?
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02-16-2013, 03:33 PM
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#6
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Super Moderator
Elite Member
Join Date: Oct 1999
Posts: 26,932
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mikeymikec
Does anyone know if the retail disc can be used to install Win8 with an OEM licence?
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Yes, it can.
__________________
ViRGE
Team Anandtech: Assimilating a computer near you!
GameStop - An upscale specialized pawnshop that happens to sell new games on the side
Todd the Wraith: On Fruit Bowls - I hope they prove [to be] as delicious as the farmers who grew them
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02-16-2013, 08:46 PM
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#7
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Diamond Member
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: ATL
Posts: 9,426
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the key is in the bios. It rewrites itself when its activated online. OA3 must be activated online.
Just like office 2013, your o/s is tied to that motherboard and only that motherboard 
chew on that one.
__________________
-------------------------
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02-17-2013, 01:15 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 451
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Emulex
the key is in the bios. It rewrites itself when its activated online. OA3 must be activated online.
Just like office 2013, your o/s is tied to that motherboard and only that motherboard
chew on that one. |
So..new mb = sol?
Guess either your given a number of installs or you have to call MS and get it re-set?
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02-17-2013, 01:24 PM
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#9
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Lifer
Join Date: Apr 2000
Posts: 12,336
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OEM activation 3.0 has no product key to type in. The unique product key gets programmed into the BIOS of each unit
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02-17-2013, 04:32 PM
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#10
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Moderator
Peripherals
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Tucson, Arizona
Posts: 22,524
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Quote:
Originally Posted by country2
So..new mb = sol?
Guess either your given a number of installs or you have to call MS and get it re-set?
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New mobo in a notebook is not likely.
__________________
Corky-G - Tucson, AZ
"In my many years I have come to a conclusion that one useless man is a shame, two is a law firm and three or more is a congress." John Adams
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02-17-2013, 09:58 PM
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#11
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Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 11
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The key is embedded in the BIOS.
Technically, you shouldn't ever need to use the key. If you need to reinstall Windows 8 (and you are using the correct media), it will automatically fetch the key from the BIOS.
Also, when repair shops replace a motherboard, a new key will be embedded into that motherboard and registered with Microsoft automatically, and the old key from the old motherboard will be de-activated.
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02-18-2013, 02:10 PM
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#12
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Lifer
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 22,437
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Quote:
Originally Posted by atguy10
Also, when repair shops replace a motherboard, a new key will be embedded into that motherboard and registered with Microsoft automatically, and the old key from the old motherboard will be de-activated.
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Any idea where to get the tools, in order to extract a product key from an old motherboard, and inject it into a new mobo?
(And how does that work, when the old mobo has failed completely? How do you run the extractor?)
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Rig(s) not listed, because I change computers, like some people change their socks.
Quote:
Originally Posted by phucheneh
ATX is for poor people. And 'gamers.'
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Quote:
Originally Posted by aigomorla
haswell is bulldozer...
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02-18-2013, 03:04 PM
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#13
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Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 11
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The tools are only available to authorized repair shops. You might find them via Google.
From my understanding, there would be no need to retrieve the old key from the old motherboard. Microsoft stores your activation statistics in their database. When you boot up the first time after a motherboard swap, your computer sends the new key to Microsoft and they remove the old key from their database.
Microsoft has a way to figure out which key is tied to which motherboard.
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04-03-2013, 07:24 AM
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#14
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Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 14
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if the laptop has come with OEM License, there should windows8 label on your laptop.
When buying a laptop, opt for OS CD which willbe addon cost. Recover CD helps only to recover the corrupted OS but do not make any fresh installation.
You can download trial version of the OS and then activate it by using your OEM key.
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04-03-2013, 08:36 AM
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#15
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Diamond Member
Join Date: Oct 1999
Posts: 7,351
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Quote:
Originally Posted by knev
if the laptop has come with OEM License, there should windows8 label on your laptop.
When buying a laptop, opt for OS CD which willbe addon cost. Recover CD helps only to recover the corrupted OS but do not make any fresh installation.
You can download trial version of the OS and then activate it by using your OEM key.
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Define fresh installations. Factory fresh defaults is what they are suppose to do, bareboned default driver OS installs, no.
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04-03-2013, 10:24 AM
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#16
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Diamond Member
Join Date: Oct 1999
Posts: 5,800
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Quote:
Originally Posted by atguy10
The tools are only available to authorized repair shops. You might find them via Google.
From my understanding, there would be no need to retrieve the old key from the old motherboard. Microsoft stores your activation statistics in their database. When you boot up the first time after a motherboard swap, your computer sends the new key to Microsoft and they remove the old key from their database.
Microsoft has a way to figure out which key is tied to which motherboard.
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I don't think it's that complex. At least with Windows 7 it is just a key in the bios that the OEM install/restore looks for and if found windows activates. No reporting back to the mothership...
__________________
Committee for the Liberation and Integration of Terrifying Organisms and their Rehabilitation Into Society
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04-03-2013, 10:25 AM
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#17
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Diamond Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 6,513
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Quote:
Originally Posted by knev
if the laptop has come with OEM License, there should windows8 label on your laptop.
When buying a laptop, opt for OS CD which willbe addon cost. Recover CD helps only to recover the corrupted OS but do not make any fresh installation.
You can download trial version of the OS and then activate it by using your OEM key.
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Please don't just make stuff up as you go along.
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04-03-2013, 10:28 AM
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#18
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Diamond Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,089
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Quote:
Originally Posted by atguy10
The key is embedded in the BIOS.
Technically, you shouldn't ever need to use the key. If you need to reinstall Windows 8 (and you are using the correct media), it will automatically fetch the key from the BIOS.
Also, when repair shops replace a motherboard, a new key will be embedded into that motherboard and registered with Microsoft automatically, and the old key from the old motherboard will be de-activated.
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So what happens if you want to install a different version of the OS? For example, if it came with Windows 8 "Home" or whatever the non-Pro one is called, and I want to install Pro?
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04-03-2013, 10:54 AM
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#19
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Diamond Member
Join Date: Oct 1999
Posts: 5,800
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Quote:
Originally Posted by douglasb
So what happens if you want to install a different version of the OS? For example, if it came with Windows 8 "Home" or whatever the non-Pro one is called, and I want to install Pro?
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If you were installing a different version of the OS it wouldn't be the OEM version anymore so it will prompt you to enter your newly purchased key.
__________________
Committee for the Liberation and Integration of Terrifying Organisms and their Rehabilitation Into Society
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04-03-2013, 03:01 PM
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#20
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Super Moderator
Elite Member
Join Date: Oct 1999
Posts: 26,932
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Quote:
Originally Posted by douglasb
So what happens if you want to install a different version of the OS? For example, if it came with Windows 8 "Home" or whatever the non-Pro one is called, and I want to install Pro?
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You upgrade using the Pro Pack. In fact that's basically the only way that will work, as if you try to install Pro, the Windows installer will see the BIOS key for Core and install that instead.
__________________
ViRGE
Team Anandtech: Assimilating a computer near you!
GameStop - An upscale specialized pawnshop that happens to sell new games on the side
Todd the Wraith: On Fruit Bowls - I hope they prove [to be] as delicious as the farmers who grew them
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