HP/OEM Windows 8.1 discs will not activate Windows

[mattleppard]

Hi there

I am using an HP 14 series laptop.

For various reasons I was using Win 10 fine after upgrading from an HP OEM version of 8.1 but it crashed and I could not use the recovery partition. 

So I reinstalled Windows 8.1 on discs HP sent me awhile back (my PC did not come with any discs). HP sent me these discs because I was having problems with my wifi and a downgrade did not solve this.

As it happens the wifi problem was a hardware failure that is now fixed.

But I just had to reinstall from the three system recovery discs that HP sent because of a hard drive issue. These completely reformatted the hard drive.

Now I am told that my activation key is wrong and Windows cannot be activated. I contacted Microsoft tech support but after checking my PC remotely they could not fix it and told me it's an HP problem not a Microsoft problem.

Can anyone help? I have done nothing illegal, everything is legit. But I am out of warranty period for my HP.

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi:

I wouldn't know why the HP recovery disks aren't working.  There should have been no need to activate the installation.

However, if W10 was working fine on your PC and it had been successfully activated previously, you can reinstall W10 without going through the upgrade process again.

Make the W10 installation DVD or usb flash drive from the link below...

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

When you go to install W10, it will ask you to enter a product key (which you don't have) and there will be an 'I don't have a product key' selection.

You choose the 'I don't have a product key' option, W10 will install and once you are reconnected to the internet, it will automatically activate since Microsoft has a record that your PC was previously legally upgraded to W10.

[mattleppard]

Are you sure this will work? Like 100% sure? I don't wanna waste time upgrading.

Bear in mind that an online MS chat technician couldn't activate it with a product key he had. I'm loathed to update to Win 10 only to have the same problem. My version of Win 8.1 is working but un-activated. But the main thing is, it's working.

The MS technician tried Jelly Bean to find a code, and this was the same code "rejected" as per the screenshot below. At the bottom you can see that it "sees" a product key but can't use it. I worry that this will happen with Win 10 too. After all, if it can't do it in Win 8.1 how will it do it in Win 10?

When MS tech tried a new one, it said it couldn't be used with this version of Windows and he said it's an HP problem not an MS problem.

Like you I don't see why there is a problem at all really. But there is 😞

HELP!

[mattleppard]

So I called the MS toll-free number and tried to activate over the phone. I jumped through all the hoops and ended on the line with a nice lady to whom I gave my product ID. She said it was invalid with this version of Windows and I need to return it to HP to reinstall.

I am just outside my warranty period now. I don't want to have to shell out cash for something that's not my fault.

She said upgrading to Win 10 via ISO would lead to the same problem because this PC's product ID is wrong, or whatever, even though it worked with both 8.1 and 10 before, fully activated and legal.

So I ask again before I install via ISO: is it likely to recognize that I/my PC are legitimate, or do I need to resort to underhand means to get an activation key?

Stupid tech stuff...

[mattleppard]

You were right.

MS tech support -- online and on phone -- were wrong. They said it could not be done. That Win 10 would see the wrong product key, etc.

But I went ahead and clean installed from the ISO disc you mentioned and lo and behold, I have a fully activated Windows 10.

Thanks so MUCH! I HAVE MY LIFE BACK! 

I wish I could call MS back and tell them. Idiots!

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

I've done it twice myself, so I knew it would work.