No Windows 8 Product Key to reinstall to a new hard drive, no replacement CD's availible either.

[Krabinator]

The original HD is FUBAR. Recovery disks from HP are not available. Mircosoft allows a download but I don't have a Product Key - there are no Product Key stickers on the machine but there is a windows 8 sticker with no data. I assume I can create a recovery disk via a microsoft download but shouldn't I be able to get the key from HP? If it's encrypted in the BIOS will the Microsoft windows Recovery disks be able to read it or is that an HP hack that I don't have the code for?  Someone out there must know the correct procedure to do this and any guidance would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi:

The product key is in the BIOS and it should work with an OEM W8 installation disk.

There are also some tips out there on how to clean install W8.1 using the W8 OEM product key in the BIOS, such as this one.

https://www.howtogeek.com/187525/how-to-perform-a-clean-install-of-windows-8.1-with-a-windows-8-key/

And while HP no longer sells recovery media for your notebook, this place does. 

They buy up all the recovery media inventory when HP decides to no longer directly sell recovery media for a model series.

http://www.computersurgeons.com/p-24216-windows-8-64-bit-recovery-kit-708667-001-for-hp-pavilion-not...

[Krabinator]

Thank You! This is just what I needed!

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.