Pavilion G6 Windows 8 product key

[0t1s]

Hi all,

I have an older HP Pavilion G6 laptop that came with Windows 8 installed. The hard drive crashed several months ago and I am just getting around to replacing the drive.

Since there is no Windows product label on this particular model, how do I find the product key. I know its in the BIOS but obviously that is not accessible.

Also, despite the warnings I never created backup media for this machine.

What are my options?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

[visruth · Accepted solution]

Hi,


If your laptop came with Windows 8 64 bit from factory, you can try clean installing Windows 8.1 64 bit Single Language by creating bootable installation USB using Microsoft windows media creation tool.

Follow this tutorial to create bootable USB:
https://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/18309-windows-8-windows-8-1-iso-download-create.html

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2299-clean-install-windows-8-a.html

Windows 8.1 will be automatically detect Windows 8 activation key embedded in the laptop BIOS chip on board and get activated after installation while connected to internet.


Regards

Visruth

[0t1s]

Visruth,

Thanks for the response. I will try that later today after work and post the results.

Thanks again

[visruth]

You're very welcome.

Let me know how it goes.

[0t1s]

Visruth,

Sorry for the late reply, but I just got around to installing. 

Everything seems to be working perfectly.

In fact I am sending this message from the laptop with the new installation.

THANK YOU for your help.

One question though: Window Update does not seem to be working.

I get the "Checking for Updates" screen but it never changes.

Any thoughts?

[visruth]

You're very welcome.

Most probably, internet connection is slow to connect to Microsoft servers. Disabling all antivirus softwares temporarily is a good thing to do until you finidh updates. Do the updates in batches of 5 at a time.

It'll take great time finding updates.

Any error messages you get?

Install this update manually:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/3021910/april-2015-servicing-stack-update-for-windows-8.1-a...

Then,
Install the following Win8.1 update - KB3172614
Microsoft Update Catalog:

www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=3172614

This update rollup contains Windows Update Client v7.9.9600.18340 from KB3163023 that should resolve the long "checking for updates".

Restart system

Check updates again.

[0t1s]

Ok, I installed the first update you mentioned. It has been running for 2.5 hours and reads "Searching for updates on this computer..."  with a green strip running across the window.  How long should I wait?

[visruth]

Install both updates I've posted and restart system

Try again checking updates

[0t1s]

Hi Visruth,

Thanks again for helping me out.

When I try to install the updates, the "Windows Standalone Installer" opens and says "searching for updateson this computer". Nothing is really installed when I run these updates.

[visruth]

You're welcome.

Try the suggestions given in this thread: https://www.eightforums.com/windows-updates-activation/77039-windows-update-never-completes.html