Replace HDD and activate windows 10.

[Afandilebok]

i bought an HP notebook without a recovery disk included (HP NOTEBOOK-14-BS581TU) but unfortunately, in the 3rd year my hdd was damaged for unknown reasons. I have replaced the hdd but can not activate windows 10. I thought the product key is stored in the BIOS but unfortunately is not. The question is, how do I get back the genuine product key for my notebook. because at the time of purchasing this notebook, windows was already activated.

[Prométhée]

hi

you reinstalled with what exactly?
because indeed the key is normally registered in the system, the activation must be done automatically.
but what I read here, seems to me perhaps particular, possible that it is a problem of version?!

https://support.hp.com/us-en/product/hp-14-bs500-laptop-pc/16779156/model/18017594/document/c0563826...

Windows 10 Home Single Language 64

try

•  Using the HP Cloud Recovery Tool (Windows 10, 7)

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

According to the product specs for your notebook, it came with W10 Home Single Language, which means the product key should have been in the BIOS.

HP Notebook - 14-bs581tu Product Specifications | HP® Customer Support

In rare circumstances, sometimes HP installs the wrong motherboard (for the 14-bsXXX models that come with FreeDOS), with no product key and since the factory image is pre-activated, it works as long as you don't erase the operating system or replace the hard drive.

I suggest that you install the free Showkey Plus app from the Microsoft Store, and it will show you the W10 OEM product key in the BIOS, and you can use that key to activate Windows.

Get ShowKeyPlus - Microsoft Store

If there is no product key in the BIOS, you will have to contact HP customer support for further assistance, since this is a peer to peer forum, and none of us here would be able to help you obtain a W10 Home SL product key.

Contact HP | HP® Malaysia

[itsmyname]

It is good that your computer has been "activated".

When reinstalling Windows, click "I do not have a product key". 

The installation of Windows will continue.

When the installation completes, Windows will "call home" and retrieve the product-key that was used when your computer was previously activated, and Windows will automatically, and silently, re-activate.

Are you reinstalling from genuine HP Product Recovery media, or from the "generic" Windows 10, downloaded from: Download Windows 10 (microsoft.com)

???

[itsmyname · Accepted solution]

> windows was already activated.

That is good. The activation sent the product-key to Microsoft.

So, Get Windows 10 | Microsoft

to create Windows Installation Media (one DVD-writeable disk or one 8 GB USB memory-stick).

Disconnect any Ethernet cable from your computer.

Boot from that media.

At some point, when asked for the product-key, click "I do not have one".

On the next screen, choose "Windows 64 Single Language" -- because that is what you previously had installed.

When the Installer tries to help you to connect to the Internet (wired or wireless), click "skip" or "later".

Windows will restart a few times, before the installation is complete.

Connect to the Internet, either by connecting the Ethernet cable, or selecting your WiFi network.

Windows will automatically connect to the Internet, and will download the product-key from Microsoft, and will automatically activate.

[WAWood]

@Afandilebok 

You were already provided a link by @Paul_Tikkanen to a utility you should run that will then retrieve and display the product key stored in the BIOS firmware.  You can they try entering that key to see if it works.

If it does not, the problem then is probably something else that @Paul_Tikkanen mentioned -- version mismatch.  Your PC came with an HP OEM version of Windows, The stored product key will only work with that version.  If you install a different version, like Retail or System Builder, the HP product key will NOT work with that version.

[Prométhée]

---

@Prométhée wrote:

hi

you reinstalled with what exactly?
because indeed the key is normally registered in the system, the activation must be done automatically.
but what I read here, seems to me perhaps particular, possible that it is a problem of version?!

https://support.hp.com/us-en/product/hp-14-bs500-laptop-pc/16779156/model/18017594/document/c0563826...

Windows 10 Home Single Language 64

try

•  Using the HP Cloud Recovery Tool (Windows 10, 7)

---

indeed !

[Afandilebok]

hi Thanks for your advice. i tried this method, and notebook back to normal. TQ very-very-very much.