Recover lost windows original

[VivekM94]

Hi,

Recovery disk created was not working nd lost my lost the windows original. Then formatted the system and installed other os.

Is there any way to get the windows original back? Is there any way to get serial key or download recovery for the same ?

[banhien]

@VivekM94 

Your machine came with Windows 8. Please use the following tool to get Windows 8/8.1 key

       https://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/

You can fresh install Windows 8.1 on your machine and Windows 8.1 will activate using the key which is embedded is BIOS.

Regards.

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi, @VivekM94 

You cannot simply install W8.1.  That only works if your notebook has a W8.1 product key in the BIOS.

See my solution at the link below for how to clean install W8.1 by using the W8 product key in your notebook's BIOS.

https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Desktop-Operating-Systems-and-Recovery/How-to-re-install-windows-after...

[VivekM94]

Thanks for your reply. I have got the product key

[VivekM94]

Thanks for your reply.

Hope this will solve my issue .

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

[VivekM94]

I have downloaded windows 8.1 from the MS site as per the solution you gave:

 https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows8ISO

This is a  iso file. Can i directly copy it to a usb drive, or should use some software (poweriso, or rufus) to create a bootable usb?

Once this is done, i can boot from usb to install windows, right?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

You cannot just copy and paste the ISO file to a DVD or USB flash drive.  It won't boot that way.

You can use Rufus or the Microsoft tool I had attached in that post I shared with you the other day.

Or I have zipped it up and attached it below...

[VivekM94]

I tried installing this tool. Once installed, it is asking if i need to repair the windows or not. 

If i click repair, i am getting screen as :(your pc ran in to some problem and needs restart.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

I don't understand the problem you are having.

You use that tool to transfer the ISO file to a USB flash drive or DVD.

it should not be asking you to repair windows.

If you can't figure it out use Rufus if you are more familiar with it.