after warranty expiration, how to find windows 8.1 product key?

[mike884]

My HD crushed

I moved the HD into enclosure and made it USB external

The regular partition does not open, however

recovery partition in the separate logical drive is alive and it does open on a different computer,

so I believe this is copyable and I could use it for restore to a new disk, But how?

I tried to attach it as usb external, but get "boot device not found"

To create ISO  I need my windows product key; according to this forum, other people got it free through chat

There is no access to chat since my warranty expired and

I think paying for my product key by going on paid support is just wrong;

I have paid for it already when I bought the computer previously

Unless there is another way to recover ?

[IT_WinSec]

Hi @mike884

PLEASE, READ ALL THE INSTRUCTIONS - THERE ARE DETAILS

Your PC model originally comes with Windows 8/8.1

The recovery key is bundled into the BIOS since Windows 8 was originally released - here is more info >>  http://www.cnet.com/news/windows-8-moves-to-bios-based-product-keys/

You cannot simply copy the recovery partition - it won't work.

You have 2 options

-1- use HP original recovery media (official method, costs around 27-30$, slightly easier to perform/use). Restore your original OS Windows 8/8.1

or

-2- perform clean installation of Windows 8.1  (unofficial method)

Here are details below:

-OPTION 1-

You can purchase original HP recovery media from here

>> http://www.computersurgeons.com/p-24911-windows-8-64-bit-recovery-kit-743772-001-for-hp-pavilion-tou...

It's a kit of 4 DVDs

Once you receive it, insert the first DVD from the set and boot from it (F9). Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.

If you use it, it will restore the PC to factory default condition - install Windows, drivers, certain preinstalled apps, etc...

If you decide to choose the official way, here are instructions how to use the recovery media

>> http://hp.dezide.com/ts/start.jsp?guide=HPSystemRecovery.net&section=ccweb&sfs=tdoc&lc=en&language=e...

[IT_WinSec]

- OPTION 2 -

If you do not want to pay the small sum, there is one additional way (unofficial way). You can use this free utility

>> https://www.heidoc.net/php/Windows%20ISO%20Downloader.exe

>> https://www.heidoc.net/joomla/technology-science/microsoft/67-microsoft-windows-and-office-iso-downl...

The tool will download ISO images from Microsoft and has lots of options for many Windows versions including OEM. If you use it, be careful to select the correct Windows ISO for the OEM, x86 or x64 edition, Home/Pro/Ultimate, etc...

When download completes, you will need to write or "burn" the ISO image and boot from a bootable media. You need to use either 1 empty/blank USB pendrive (4 GB capacity or more)  OR  an empty/blank DVD disc (4.7 GB capacity)

** How to create bootable ISO on USB device >> http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop/create-a-usb-stick-on-windows

or

** How to write ISO to DVD >> http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop/burn-a-dvd-on-windows

 instructions are for Ubuntu, but you need to use the ISO image of Windows 7

When ready with the USB drive or with the DVD:

Please, shutdown the computer using the power button.

Insert the Windows USB thumdrive prepared previously

Power on the PC.

As soon as you press the power-on button, start hitting the Esc button repeatedly (like tap-tap-tap).

This should open a HP Startup Menu

Choose F9 to open Boot options. Select the USB thumb drive or the DVD as a boot option.

- Follow the on-screen instructions to install Windows 7. Perform clean installation/custom installation (not repair).

Delete all existing partitions and install Windows on Disc 0 Unallocated space

- After successful Windows installation, install drivers taken from HP web site

- Make sure Windows is Activated by going to Start > Control Panel > System

Let me know if this helps. Provide your feedback/update and let me know if you face difficulties

**** I would appreciate if you click the White Thumb-up+ for encouragement and kudos ****
**** Please mark this post as an accepted solution if it helps ****

[mike884]

Hi Dean

regarding:

"If you use it, be careful to select the correct Windows ISO for the OEM, x86 or x64 edition, Home/Pro/Ultimate, etc..."

I have my serial number on bottom of laptop

How can I find the exact detail of my computer to select correct windows?

My European bought older HP laptop has a windows sticker in battery compartment but not this one

[IT_WinSec]

---

@mike884 wrote:

Hi Dean

regarding:

"If you use it, be careful to select the correct Windows ISO for the OEM, x86 or x64 edition, Home/Pro/Ultimate, etc..."

I have my serial number on bottom of laptop

How can I find the exact detail of my computer to select correct windows?

My European bought older HP laptop has a windows sticker in battery compartment but not this one

---

Hi,

The serial number will not help you for this website.

100% sure is that your Windows 8/8.1 is:

- x64 edition

- COEM / OEM

I suspect it is Windows 8 Home (or just Windows 😎 not Pro.

Try this edition/options.

The Windows sticker is valid for Windows 98, 2000, XP, Vista, 7

Stickers with codes (known as COA stickers) are long gone - keys are now bundled into the BIOS - here is more info >>  http://www.cnet.com/news/windows-8-moves-to-bios-based-product-keys/

 **** I would appreciate if you click the White Thumb-up+ for encouragement and kudos ****
**** Please mark this post as an accepted solution if it helps ****

[mike884]

Hi Dean

I believe initially it was win 8 pro, then upgarded to 8.1pro

how can I be sure?

this info not findable by my my serial number on bottom of laptop?

Give me a link for me to send my serial number so you could check?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi, @mike884

Below is the link to the product specs page for your notebook.

It originally came with W8 (standard).

https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c03903697

The problem is that the only place you can get W8 OEM would be to order recovery media from HP at the link below.

https://support.hp.com/us-en/mediaorder/HP-Pavilion-TouchSmart-15-n000-Notebook-PC-series/5405518/mo...

You can also try this free way to install W8.1 using the W8 product key in your notebook's BIOS.

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

[mike884]

Hi Dean

Read the article

The picture there appears to be asking for a valid w8 key

What do I do differently

or it would be much easier if can I get my key emailed to me please?

I can email you my my serial number on bottom of laptop

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

HP has no record of your notebooks product key.  The key is in the BIOS.

HP's answer would be to order the W8 recovery media from the link I posted above.

See if you can install W8.1 using the Microsoft installation media...

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

If you are asked to enter a product key during the installation process, see if using this generic key works, and then change the key to the one in your notebook's BIOS in the PC settings menu after you install Windows.

This is the generic key for W8.1 'standard.'

 334NH-RXG76-64THK-C7CKG-D3VPT

I have 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.

[IT_WinSec]

---

@mike884 wrote:

Hi Dean

Read the article

The picture there appears to be asking for a valid w8 key

What do I do differently

or it would be much easier if can I get my key emailed to me please?

I can email you my my serial number on bottom of laptop

---

Hey @mike884

Please, don't concentrate on the articles - they are just an example, for reference, not a 100% match all the time 🙂

You can skip entering a product key during installation.

Your key should be bundled into BIOS >> http://www.cnet.com/news/windows-8-moves-to-bios-based-product-keys/

and Windows should detect it automatically eventually (like after installation).

If it doesn't there are tools which can help you with but this should not be the standard case. The keys are generic, they are not as per user and HP does not keep a record of them (or at least this record is not publically available).

Install Windows and let me know how it goes.

 **** I would appreciate if you click the White Thumb-up+ for encouragement and kudos ****
**** Please mark this post as an accepted solution if it helps ****