Need activation code

[PB-in-Philly]

Hello again, Paul,... I, too, wondered whether my description of what transpired was entirely accurate.   When the on/off switch broke on my main computer, I switched the backs.  It just dawned on me that I also switched the hard drives.  It has been so long ago,....(I have just lived with this inactivation problem since it can be easily circumvented, at least temporarily)...that I am trying to remember what exactly I did.  Upon further reflection, I think I also swapped out the hard-drives since the backup machine had not been used.  So, I had the hard drive from my daily use machine swapped onto the motherboard of the backup machine, which had the working on/off switch, and the back panel as well.  My apologies for not having been clearer about that.   When I bought the machines, I was not given any Windows installation discs.

If I factory reset the PC (option1) , would that overwrite or destroy the files and programs that I now have on the machine?  The idea of doing anything that might jeopardize all the materials I have on the hard drive, or require me to back up all these materials (a few are backed up periodically, but not all), makes me sick to my stomach. 🤔  I would rather have a root canal than do that.

On the clean install matter (option 2), you sent a generic product key.  What prevents that generic product key from being used now when the present circumstance asks for an activation code?  (A friend once suggested that I contact HP directly, explain to them the problem, and see if they would give me an activation code, but I could not locate a phone number for HP.) I understand that a clean install would definitely wipe materials from the drive; again, a root canal would be better than that.

Anyway, let me ponder these alternatives to make sure I understand them.  As before, I do appreciate very much your  time and assistance.  Thanks again,...   Paul B.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi, Paul:

Yes a factory reset would remove everything currently installed on the drive.

Clean installing W10 would require you to reinstall all of your programs and files.

As I had stated earlier...I have no idea why the PC would not let you change the installed W8.1 product key to the OEM W8 product key in the BIOS.

The PC's originally came with W8, which I assume you then wisely upgraded to W8.1

HP Pavilion 23-b010 All-in-One Desktop PC Product Specifications | HP® Customer Support

And you raise a good question...why would clean installing W8.1 allow you to use the W8 OEM product key, when you can't use it now?

That I do not know for sure.  All I can tell you is that I have given the above method to many forum members that needed to install W8.1 on PC's that came with W8, and had no installation media.

Windows 8 is not available for download and never was, for some reason.

These are just a few discussions that show the above method to clean install W8.1 should work.

Solved: Hello! I need a windows activation key for my hp pavilion 1... - HP Support Community - 8120...

Solved: Need operating system and recovery discs - HP Support Community - 8117006

Solved: Recover Windows 8 Key and Install Windows 8 (Factory Conditi... - HP Support Community - 809...

Solved: Restore did not complete - HP Support Community - 8073684

Solved: System crashed need my windows serial number to do fresh in... - HP Support Community - 7993...

I doubt that HP will give you a product key since your PC has one in the BIOS.

Unfortunately, we are not allowed to post any phone numbers for HP customer support, due to so many scammers/spammers posting fake HP support phone numbers.

The only link we are permitted to post here is the HP support site...

Contact HP | HP® Official Site

I'm afraid that getting a hold of someone may be harder than getting a root canal.

[PB-in-Philly]

Hello again, Paul,...

I tried the ShowKeyPlus for a third time; still no go.  Curious that it would not work.

I just noticed that SKPlus indicates "Product name Windows 8.1" and "Upgrades (0)", but the OEM edition was listed as "Win 8 RTM".  When I got the machines, Windows 8.0 was installed, I seem to recall; shortly thereafter, Windows 8.0 was automatically upgraded to Windows 8.1; I did not do the upgrade myself.  I have never seen any Windows installation discs. I wonder why it does not say "Upgrades (1)"

So, a clean install of a full Windows 10 (not an upgrade) would work, but I'd have to reinstall all my programs.  Hmmm,... I might wind up doing that at some point.  As long as I have to go through all that, there would be no point in doing an 8.0 reset.  I'll examine my hard drive to see what is installed and then back everything up.

Just out of curiosity, when SKplus retrieves the information, is it doing so from the motherboard or from the hard drive?

Thanks again,...will keep you posted.

Paul B.

[PB-in-Philly]

Also, I noticed on the activation page an option to buy an activation key.  When I clicked onto it, it did not take me anywhere.  Can one still just buy an activation key?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

The SK plus report is pulling the key data from two places.

The installed key is from the hard drive.

The OEM key is from the PC's motherboard.

All of the OEM key descriptions include the 'RTM.' 

I believe that stands for Release To Market.'

See if you can change the product key one more time by using Method 2 in the link below.

How to Change Windows 8.1 Product Key [2 Methods] (zerodollartips.com)

The reason you can't buy a key anymore is because Microsoft has moved on to W10 and does not sell Windows 8 or 8.1 anymore.