Trying to downgrade back to Windows 8.1. Microsoft won't accept Product Key.

[Johnofnaught]

I'm trying to downgrade from Windows 10 back to 8.1 on my Stream 13.  I got it directly from HP with 8.1 and Bing preinstalled.  Microsofts Media Creation tool won't accept my product key ("This Key dosent work with this edition of Windows").   Any ideas on a fix?

[mdklassen · Accepted solution]

From: https://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/selfservice/hp-stream-13-c000-notebook-pc/7372147/model/7499092

Order Recovery Media-CD/DVD/USB (1)
USB - Windows 8.1 64b Recovery Kit
System Recovery Kit for Consumer Notebook

Hyperlink: Order Media

For a small fee, you can order the original Windows 8.1 software for your computer.

Did the upgrade to Windows 10 destroy/damage the hidden "System Recovery" partition that was created on your disk-drive?

[visruth]

Hi,


Your laptop came with Windows 8.1 with Bing (64-bit)

https://support.hp.com/in-en/document/c04484937

There are NO DOWNLOADABLE ISO IMAGES for this edition is Windows FROM ANYWHERE, not even Microsoft.

Your only option is to use HP Recovery USB that you must have created after first setup of this notebook, to factory reset.

If this is not available now, you've to order HP Recovery USB directly from HP technical support for your model: https://support.hp.com/us-en/product/hp-stream-13-c000-notebook-pc/7372147/model/7499092/document/bp...

Or you can order USB from here: http://computersurgeons.com/p-27645-windows-81-recovery-kit-799727-003-for-hp-stream-notebook-model-...

Since you've upgraded to Windows 10 Home 64 bit, you can alternatively clean install Windows 10 Home using Microsoft windows media creation tool by creating bootable installation USB.

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/1950-clean-install-windows-10-a.html

Additional drivers from here: https://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/selfservice/hp-stream-13-c000-notebook-pc/7372147/model/7499092


Regards

Visruth

[Johnofnaught]

Thanks for the suggestions.  The recovery partition is no longer available.  I've ordered the 8.1 Recovery kit ($47.73, including S&H)