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‎10-29-2016 05:52 AM - edited ‎10-29-2016 06:17 AM

HP Recommended
Product: 14 NOTEBOOK

Hello,

 

I recently formatted my laptop using gparted and I'm since struggling to install windows 8 back on it.

Before I wiped everything out I managed to retreive my W8 Product Key using "ProduKey".

I know that during the installation Windows 8 is supposed to read its OEM Product Key stored in the BIOS but it apparently doesn't work, and even when I type it myself, the Product Key isn't valid.

 

So since my hardware hasn't changed at all, am I trying to install the right version of Windows 8 ?

I tried with W8 PRO both x32 and x64, and W8.1 x64. There is so many versions.

 

Can you tell me what version of windows was installed by default on my laptop ?

 

Product: K2P02P4#ABG

Model: 14-r064TU

Rev: 220F-100

 

Thanks a lot for your help,

I'm really stuck here.

 

Cheers

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1 ACCEPTED SOLUTION

Accepted Solutions

‎10-31-2016 06:10 AM - edited ‎10-31-2016 06:31 AM

HP Recommended

Finally ! Big Success !

 

So it was definitely Windows 8.1 Bing Edition pre-installed on my laptop HP 14-r064TU.

It's not a public edition of windows so I couldn't get it legally.

 

For the little story, Microsoft gave this version for free (or really cheap) to the manufacturers (HP&Co) so they would make cheap laptops and tablets (because they could cut the windows license to the price) and thus sell lots of them. Microsoft objective was to popularise Bing quickly and concurrence direclty google. So nobody has this version apart from a few compagnies, even repair stores apparently struggle to find proper copies of it.

 

So usually very cheap (~300 USD) windows 8.1 laptop are under a Bing license.

 

Anyway, I downloaded it through torrent and managed to make a UEFI bootable USB stick with the '.img' file. During the installation the BIOS embedded Product Key's been read - didn't have to write it down- and Windows's been registered automatically in the process. Marvellous.

 

You may understand that I can't put the link to the torrent file in here. The source would be put down quickly.

 

Took me time but it finally paid off !

 

Thank you !

 

View solution in original post

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15 REPLIES 15

‎10-29-2016 06:22 AM

HP Recommended

Hi:

 

According to the specs, it came with W8.1 (non-Pro) 64 bit.

 

The problem is you can only use an OEM version of the operating system to work with the OEM product key.

 

What you can download from Microsoft are for the retail versions of Windows. which is why they don't work with the product key in the BIOS.

 

There may be ways to get the W8.1 download to work with the OEM key.  You can search the internet for such tips.

 

I found this one for example...

 

http://www.eightforums.com/installation-setup/44415-how-install-windows-8-1-8-1-oem-key-4.html

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‎10-29-2016 06:39 AM

HP Recommended

Thanks a lot I haven't thought of that ! I'll tell you if I find it and if it works.

 

Cheers !

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‎10-29-2016 06:41 AM

HP Recommended

You're very welcome.

 

Please do let us know if you can get a MS download of W8.1 to work with the product key in the BIOS and how you did it.

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‎10-30-2016 07:33 AM

HP Recommended

I asked Windows directly through their customers service and they verified my Product Key stored in the BIOS: it's a valid key !  Problem: they checked every (they said) Windows 8.1 version they had to offer for download and no one matched the Product Key. They then turned me into asking HP for their specific OEM.

 

I checked and for my laptop there's no Media Creation Download offered... seems like HP nailed it.

 

So now I do have a valid Product Key and no Windows to go with. How stupid is this ?

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‎10-30-2016 07:37 AM

HP Recommended

Then I guess you will have to contact HP in the country you live in and order a set of W8.1 recovery media.

 

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

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‎10-30-2016 07:46 AM

HP Recommended

Thank you for your support I appreciate.

I'm going to do so, even if I find it quite sad that they make it so difficult while windows offers W8.1 ISO for free.

It's probably because they're going to charge me the Media Recovery... Marketing strategy you said ?

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‎10-30-2016 07:51 AM

HP Recommended

You're very welcome.

 

Actually, I blame both Microsoft and HP--mainly Microsoft.

 

I cannot understand why you can't use a download that Microsoft provides on any product key--retail, OEM, whatever.

 

The software doesn't work for more than 30 days without a product key, so I cannot understand what the big deal is.

 

You got a valid prioduct key, then you should be able to use the Windows download provided by Microsoft!

 

...and yes, you will have to pay for the disks (probably around $25 USD)...you might not have to pay if your notebook is still under warranty.

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‎10-30-2016 08:51 AM - edited ‎10-30-2016 08:53 AM

HP Recommended

Yes you're right maybe I should try to push microsoft a bit so they would give me another key 😄

The HP assistance redirect me to this address http://www.best2serve.com/page/rcd_landing to find my recovery media (around 53 USD it's 48 EUR). Unfortunatly my laptop Product Number isn't found so no recovery media is available.

No support offered at all.

 

That's when I told them that I'm from Belgium and bought it in New Zealand.

 

But when I wrote that I'm from NZ too... miracle !

 

I could directly chat with the support and they could send Recovery Media for my laptop for free!

-- Only in NZ -- **bleep** it ! As I finally discovered that my laptop was only sold in NZ.

I didn't think about it when I bought it while travelling.

 

Now I need to find someone in NZ that would receive the Recovery Media for me and send it to me. Kim Dotcom maybe ?

 

What a mess !

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‎10-30-2016 10:20 AM

HP Recommended

Yes, that would be great if you have a friend or relative in NZ that can order the disks using the model # and serial # from your notebook, and mail them to you.

 

There has got to be a way to get the W8.1 ISO download to work with the key in your notebook.

 

I know others have done it but I can't find the exact steps to take.

 

See if this YouTube video helps...

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meWKm6lWtmw

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