Help recover windows 8.1 product key on linux machine

[swimdrasyl]

My computer was hacked pretty bad so I nuked the disk and installed linux mint. I'd like to go back to windows 8.1 (7 would be marvelous but hey, can't win 'em all).

I understand that the product key for windows is in my BIOS firmware but can't seem to find it, and I need the key to download another windows 8 installation from microsoft. Any tips? Thanks

[WAWood]

swimdrasyl

Hello;

Allow me to welcome you to the HP forums!

Sorry, but the utilities that retrieve the Windows product key from the UEFI firmware run ONLY in Windows.

Here is an example:  http://www.tenforums.com/software-apps/2577-showkey.html

Second, your PC came with an HP OEM version of Windows, and not only does no one make that available for download (including HP), but the version that MS has requires a Retail product key to download (which you do not have), and even if you DID download it, it would not activate using the key in your PC because that key works ONLY with HP OEM versions of Windows.

If you will provide the detailed product number of your laptop, I will check to see if HP Recovery Media for Win8.1 is available.

You will find that information on a sticker like the one below, usually in the battery compartment:

We can proceed once you provide the information.

Thanks

[swimdrasyl]

Hi, thanks for responding.

i see this info on the bottom of my laptop
FN: F9J18UA#ABA
Model: 11-n010dx

Are any of these what you're looking for or do I need to open the laptop up and find a sticker in the internals (near battery?)?

[WAWood · Accepted solution]

Hey ... thanks for getting back so quickly ... and you're in Luck!!  HP stocks Recovery Media for your PC.

HP Recovery Media is a set of DVDs and a CD, or USB stick, that will erase the hard drive (removing all data, settings, and applications, reinstall the original OS, drivers, and some HP Utilities. In some cases, you may be able to order a USB stick instead of disks. You have to order these from HP; they can not be downloaded.

You can order the media from this page:  http://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/selfservice/HP-Pavilion-11-n000-x360-PC-series/6796818/model/697...

Look down near the bottom where it has Order Recovery Media -- and click there.

Good Luck

[swimdrasyl]

awesome, thank you for your help!

now my next hurdle... my life seems to be a twisted joke on all fronts, and here it is toying with me as usual: i can't type in the serial number (text field won't let me type or paste. its not "grayed out" or anything, just doesn't do anything except show cursor line) ... not that i'm expecting some magical answer from you... just... complaining... T_T lol