Windows 8.1 Activation

[rishabh18]

I bought a laptop that came along with genuine windows 8.1. A few months back I had a problem with my laptop because of some virus, so I went to the store and showed to them & they repaired it. But now some message comes as soon as I start my laptop that my Windows will get deactivated by this month End. As far as I know, genuine Windows 8.1 has lifetime validity. And I didn't receive any CD or Key for my Windows. When I asked the guy whom I Bought the Laptop he said that it's written somewhere inside so we don't have it. So I have literally no idea what to do. I need some help & I don't want to buy windows 10.

[Lil_Boy_Blue]

Hi

KeyFinderInstaller may help....
https://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/

Doing research, and none of the methods are mine, I have some, simple single lines of code that will list the same value for your Windows 10 Product Key…
Two for Windows 10 and one for Linux.

W10 Using cmd.exe as an Administrator (copy and paste accordingly).

wmic path softwarelicensingservice get OA3xOriginalProductKey >> c:\ProdKey.txt

Creates a text file called ProdKey.txt on your C:\ area.

Next is a PowerShell command, as Administrator...
(Get-WmiObject -query ‘select * from SoftwareLicensingService’).OA3xOriginalProductKey

but it will run within W10 using cmd.exe as an Administrator.
powershell (Get-WmiObject -query ‘select * from SoftwareLicensingService’).OA3xOriginalProductKey

Last, but not least....
Linux@Lubuntu:~$ sudo cat /sys/firmware/acpi/tables/MSDM | strings | tail -n 1

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10ISO

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi, @rishabh18 

First run the utility that I zipped up and attached below which will show you the product key in your PC's BIOS.

The most likely reason for your current dilemma is the shop probably installed the wrong version of W8.1 and it doesn't match the product key in your notebook's BIOS.

There is W8.1, W8.1 single language etc.

Once you determine what version of W8.1 the key is good for, let me know and I will give you the instructions to install W8.1 so it works.

If you can't figure it out, post the info that showkey plus reports.

Do not post the 25 character product key.  Just post the description of the version W8.1 the report gives you.

[rishabh18]

hi@Paul_Tikkanen

I tried it & its showing W8.1 Single Language. I even tried entering the original Product key and it was saying that you can't try the same key for activation.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

OK...you will have to reinstall W8.1 as follows...

Install W8.1 by creating the Microsoft installation media, using another Windows PC, if yours is not working...You want W8.1 Single Language 64 bit. 

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

Only if you are asked to enter a product key during the installation process, use this generic key.

This is the generic key for W8.1 Single Language.

Y9NXP-XT8MV-PT9TG-97CT3-9D6TC

If you had to enter the generic key, manually change the generic product key to the W8.1 SL key in your PC's BIOS in the PC settings menu.

After you get W8.1 installed, and you had to manually enter the W8.1 generic product key, you will need to run the free utility I zipped up and attached earlier, that will show you show the W8.1 product key in your PC's BIOS.

I have also zipped up and attached below, the Microsoft tool which hopefully will transfer the ISO file to a DVD or usb flash drive so it is bootable.

Then you can install the available drivers and software from your PC's support page.

https://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/selfservice/HP-Pavilion-15-Notebook-PC-series/7771366/model/791...

[rishabh18]

Hi 

I tried your solution but once it started to install it was showing oops something went wrong.

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi:

Did you follow the instructions I posted?

You have to download W8.1 SL from the link I posted the other day.

Create the installation media and install W8.1 SL.

Install W8.1 SL and the key in your BIOS should work.

If you already did that, then unfortunately, I have no idea why it didn't work.