Hard drive failed and I've lost my product key?

[KiddG]

Hi guys,

So my friends hard drive failed and unfortunetly he has lost everything.

I've replaced the broken hard drive for him and reinstalled Windows 10. However when I went to check if the OS was activated, it was showing as not been activated?? I thought machines after Windows 8 had their licance saved in the BIOS so we didn't have this issue?

Also there is no sticker on the back or under the battery containing the product key for Windows.

I also spoke to Microsoft but they were uable to help.

Any help is appreciated!

Thanks. 

[IT_WinSec]

Hello,

Thank you for posting in the HP Support forum. Welcome!

Yes, you are correct - computers with WIndows 8/8.1/10 do not have COA stickers but instead their keys are bundled in the machine's BIOS >> http://www.cnet.com/news/windows-8-moves-to-bios-based-product-keys/

What is the full HP computer model ? >> http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/First-Time-Here-Learn-How-to-Post-and-More/Advice-for-asking-the-quot-V...

If this computer originally came with another Windows (not 10) and you now installed Windows 10 for a first time, then this is no-go for the activation. Windows 10 upgrade is free as long as you upgrade from previous Windows version to Windows 10 from inside the operating system.

If this computer originally came with another Windows version (not 10) but was later upgraded to Windows 10 and activation was then successful, it should not be a problem now as Windows was activated using a new method called Windows Digital Entitlement - therefore no more keys for the end user to remember/store >> http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/activation-in-windows-10

If the computer originally came with another Windows (not 10) and this was preinstalled Windows (OEM), you will need to get recovery media from HP and use to install the original Windows version/edition. Windows 10 can be installed after that via upgrade from inside Windows (Windows Update OR ISO method). More info

>> http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/bph07143

>> http://www8.hp.com/us/en/contact-hp/ww-phone-assist.html

Please, elaborate on your case - which one is it ? What was the Windows before the HDD failure?

I will then provide you with details.

[KiddG]

It is a HP Pavilion 15-p264na. It came with Windows 8.1 Home preinstalled as an OEM licance. It was then successfully upgraded to Windows 10 at a later date using the free upgrade.

So I take it I'm going with your third option and using the recovery media?

I have 2 HP Disks here for Windows 10 Pro for two different HP devices. I think these are the recovery CD's, it says they cotain the softwre if that's correct? Can I use these Pro disks on a Home OS? Or would I be better following the links you provided?

[IT_WinSec · Accepted solution]

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@KiddG wrote:

It is a HP Pavilion 15-p264na. It came with Windows 8.1 Home preinstalled as an OEM licance. It was then successfully upgraded to Windows 10 at a later date using the free upgrade.

Then, this is the second option mentioned above. Did it actually activate successfully after Win 10 upgrade ?

If it did, you should be able to activate fine without issues IF you use the very same edition of Windows. You write it was 8.1 Home - did you now install Win 10 Home ? You mentioned 10 Pro down...

So I take it I'm going with your third option and using the recovery media?

I have 2 HP Disks here for Windows 10 Pro for two different HP devices. I think these are the recovery CD's, it says they cotain the softwre if that's correct? Can I use these Pro disks on a Home OS? Or would I be better following the links you provided?

No.. I'm sorry. I am afraid you cannot just mix DVDs / CDs/ etc - they are for one specific model for the specific Win version/edition. You cannot use a recovery media for one HP computer to another one - it simply will not work 99% of the time. You cannot mix Windows editions (Home is for Home, Pro goes to Pro).  You want the recovery media for this device, you need to follow the links.

However, IF you activated fine post Windows 10 upgrade, you can simply download Win 10 ISO from here:

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

Download the tool, it will download an ISO and burn it on a DVD or write it to a USB pen drive. Follow the on-screen instructions, skip entering the key and proceed. After installation, Windows 10 HOME should activate fine using Digital Entitlement if Win 8.1 Home was ok initially.

Let me know how this goes for you.

[KiddG]

Ow I have it working now!!!!

After replacing the broken hard drive with a new drive, I installed Windows 10 using the ISO on a USB like you suggested. But for me it ws not activating. I then noticed the machine had a lot of Windows updates so I done all of the updates which took some time. After the machine had restarted I noticed Windows was activated?

I done some reseach into the digital entitlement and it turns out the digital entitlement you were talking about is only avalible after version 1511 of Windows, and my version was 1110 or something like that. around that, cannot remember exactly. So all I needed to do was update Windows lol.

Thank you so much for your help! Really appreciate your help here and thank you so much for explaining everything!!! 

 

[IT_WinSec]

You are welcome !