Updated computer to Windows 8.1 but need old Win 8 key

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Throckmorton

Throckmorton

Lifer
Aug 23, 2007
16,829
3
0
My laptop updated itself to Windows 8.1... I think I accidentally gave it approval to do the app store nonsense and update.

Well now I'm trying to do either a clean install or boot from USB. The problem is that I don't have my 8 key. I had done an update from the OEM Windows 8 Home to Professional, and stupidly didn't email myself the key.

Magical Jelly Bean can show me only the 8.1 key.

How do I obtain my Windows 8 key?

Why did Microsoft decide to do separate keys for Windows 8.1? What possible reasoning could they have for that? Are they trying to prevent people with Windows 8 from pirating Windows 8.1 which is FREE?
 
Iron Woode

Iron Woode

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 10, 1999
31,371
12,859
136
this may sound obvious but, what about just restoring using the restore partition that comes with the laptop?
 
U

Underclocked

Platinum Member
Oct 9, 1999
2,042
1
76
Can't level the blame for that on Microsoft, you upgraded to Pro so the more expensive OS required a different key. If the key for Windows 8 is embedded in the bios, you could retrieve it using rweverything. Which OS are you trying to clean install ... 8 or 8.1?
 
Throckmorton

Throckmorton

Lifer
Aug 23, 2007
16,829
3
0
Iron Woode said:
this may sound obvious but, what about just restoring using the restore partition that comes with the laptop?
Click to expand...

I don't have a restore partition because I upgraded to an SSD. Even if I did a restore, I would only be able to get the Windows 8 Home key because that's the one that came with the laptop.

It would be nice if Microsoft had sent an email receipt with the new Windows 8 Pro key... Or even better, if installing the 8.1 service pack (essentially what it is) didn't change your key.
 
Ketchup

Ketchup

Elite Member
Sep 1, 2002
14,559
248
106
Not sure why you lost your recovery partition unless you didn't clone it. Probably the best way at this point, if you don't have the original drive, would be to order recovery media from the manufacturer. Then apply the 8.1 update again (assuming you want it).

To answer your first question, the original 8 key will be in the BIOS, although I am not sure it will do you much good.
 
Q

quikah

Diamond Member
Apr 7, 2003
4,223
766
126
You bought the 8.0 Pro upgrade from MS? Can't you just contact them for the key?
 
Throckmorton

Throckmorton

Lifer
Aug 23, 2007
16,829
3
0
ketchup79 said:
Not sure why you lost your recovery partition unless you didn't clone it. Probably the best way at this point, if you don't have the original drive, would be to order recovery media from the manufacturer. Then apply the 8.1 update again (assuming you want it).

To answer your first question, the original 8 key will be in the BIOS, although I am not sure it will do you much good.
Click to expand...

I think you missed the part where I upgraded to 8 Pro from 8 Home-- Win 8 Pro is a different key right? The issue is I don't have that key and can't find it with Magical Jelly Bean because Windows 8.1 update overwrote that key with a new one, because Microsoft believes that a free SP warrants a new key.
 
Throckmorton

Throckmorton

Lifer
Aug 23, 2007
16,829
3
0
I called again and they said to call Windows App Store. Well the App Store doesn't sell Windows 8 Professional Upgrade
 
Ketchup

Ketchup

Elite Member
Sep 1, 2002
14,559
248
106
Throckmorton said:
I think you missed the part where I upgraded to 8 Pro from 8 Home-- Win 8 Pro is a different key right? The issue is I don't have that key and can't find it with Magical Jelly Bean because Windows 8.1 update overwrote that key with a new one, because Microsoft believes that a free SP warrants a new key.
Click to expand...

So they didn't send you an email or anything when you upgraded? Hindsight is 20/20, but if I purchased something without any kind of receipt, I would have asked for one at the time.

Hmm, so you bought Pro, upgraded from Home, then got the free upgrade to 8.1. If you don't know the key for your original Win 8 Pro you bought, how do you know the key you are seeing now is not it?
 
Fardringle

Fardringle

Diamond Member
Oct 23, 2000
9,200
765
126
When you downloaded and installed the upgrade, you should have been asked to log in to (or create) a Microsoft account, and the license key would be tied to that account. So if you log back in to that same account it will give you the option to recover the key and download the 8 Pro installation files.
 
Throckmorton

Throckmorton

Lifer
Aug 23, 2007
16,829
3
0
ketchup79 said:
So they didn't send you an email or anything when you upgraded? Hindsight is 20/20, but if I purchased something without any kind of receipt, I would have asked for one at the time.

Hmm, so you bought Pro, upgraded from Home, then got the free upgrade to 8.1. If you don't know the key for your original Win 8 Pro you bought, how do you know the key you are seeing now is not it?
Click to expand...

I know it's not the key I bought because it doesn't work for a new Windows 8 Pro install, and according to my research Windows 8.1 comes with a new key for some insane reason
 
Throckmorton

Throckmorton

Lifer
Aug 23, 2007
16,829
3
0
Fardringle said:
When you downloaded and installed the upgrade, you should have been asked to log in to (or create) a Microsoft account, and the license key would be tied to that account. So if you log back in to that same account it will give you the option to recover the key and download the 8 Pro installation files.
Click to expand...

I logged into the Microsoft account and it shows zero purchases!
 
U

Underclocked

Platinum Member
Oct 9, 1999
2,042
1
76
Download an iso of 8 (your original version), they are out there and the hash values are available. Use the generic install key to install, then retrieve your key from bios and activate it using that key.
 
ViRGE

ViRGE

Elite Member, Moderator Emeritus
Oct 9, 1999
31,516
167
106
Throckmorton said:
I know it's not the key I bought because it doesn't work for a new Windows 8 Pro install, and according to my research Windows 8.1 comes with a new key for some insane reason
Click to expand...
I may be wrong here, but the last time I checked Windows 8.1 doesn't give you a new key. For example the key I have on my 8.1U1 desktop is my ProWMC key (key to upgrade from 8 Pro to 8 Pro w/Windows Media Center), which is identical to the day I got it back when Win8 first came out.
 
bbhaag

bbhaag

Diamond Member
Jul 2, 2011
7,507
3,156
146
I have three different keys stored in a .txt file along with an ISO of Win8 that I got from Microsoft for $40.
The first key is the original one Microsoft sent me in an email. The second key is for Win8.1u1 with WMC and the third one is for Win8.1 without WMC.

I got these keys using magic jelly bean. I always scan and save the key before doing any major upgrade. Like going from 8 to 8.1 or 8.1 to 8.1 with WMC.
 
Throckmorton

Throckmorton

Lifer
Aug 23, 2007
16,829
3
0
ketchup79 said:
See if this works:

Go to this link and select the Download Windows 8 button:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/upgrade-product-key-only

One if the first things it asks you for is a key. See if the one you have works. Since you are on 8.1 already, the app may not work, but thought it was worth a shot. This should work if you run it on a Windows 7 machine.
Click to expand...

If I put in the Windows 8 Home key it says it can't be used for a retail install.

If I put in the Windows 8.1 Pro key that I got with Magical Jellybean it says that it's an upgrade key and can't be used to install Windows 8.
 
Ketchup

Ketchup

Elite Member
Sep 1, 2002
14,559
248
106
Throckmorton said:
If I put in the Windows 8 Home key it says it can't be used for a retail install.

If I put in the Windows 8.1 Pro key that I got with Magical Jellybean it says that it's an upgrade key and can't be used to install Windows 8.
Click to expand...

Figured. Oh well. Sounds like you need to get back on the horn with Microsoft if you want to have Pro but go back to 8.0.
 
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