windows 8 pro installation problem

[AhaPro]

Hi, 

The hard drive on my HP Probook 450 G0 has stopped working and I have to replace it with a new one. Then when I tried to reinstall Windows 8 driver that is supplied with the laptop I received the following message:

"the unattended answer file contains an invalid product key. either remove the invalid key or provide a valid product key in the unattended answer file to proceed with windows installation"

After clicking OK, then the installation process will terminate, and I could not install Windows since then. Can anyone please help me in solving this problem?

Thanks

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

Here is how you can install W8.1 Pro by using the W8 key in your notebook's BIOS...

Install W8.1 by creating the Microsoft installation media, using another Windows PC, if yours is not working...You want W8.1 Professional 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 Professional:

XHQ8N-C3MCJ-RQXB6-WCHYG-C9WKB

If you had to enter the generic key, manually change the generic product key to the W8 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 below, that will show you show the W8 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-probook-450-g0-notebook-pc/5359405