Help to active Windows 8 license

[heradio]

I need help to active the Windows 8 license after a system recovery, in a Notebook HP Split 13x2. This notebook was bought in USA but now I`m in Mexico, so I need to active the license from Mexico.

When I try to active Windows, I get the following message:

Windows isn`t activated.

The product key didn`t work. Try a different key or buy a new one.

[mdklassen · Accepted solution]

With Windows 8, the product-key is embedded in the BIOS.

There are free programs to display that value.

How did you reinstall Windows ?

From the "hidden" partition on the disk-drive ?

From the original media (either one USB memory-stick, or a few DVD disks) ?

From a "retail" Windows 8 product (which would have its own product-key) ?

[heradio]

Tanks for help me,  I just extracted the Product Key form bios and typing it and ready.

[HotAZ-Jeff]

How do I Activate Windows 8.1 since Microsoft says I need to get a valid "Windows 8.1" CD Key from the Manufacturer (after performing a system reset from the recovery partition, when my computer was previously activated)?

The computer I had purchased at BestBuy is an "HP Split 13-g210dx x2 PC", Model: E8C36UA#ABA

Microsoft claimed my OEM CD Key is invalid 😠

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

[mdklassen]

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@HotAZ-Jeff wrote:

How do I Activate Windows 8.1 since Microsoft says I need to get a valid "Windows 8.1" CD Key from the Manufacturer (after performing a system reset from the recovery partition, when my computer was previously activated)?

The computer I had purchased at BestBuy is an "HP Split 13-g210dx x2 PC", Model: E8C36UA#ABA

Microsoft claimed my OEM CD Key is invalid 😠

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Your computer: HP Split 13-g210dx x2 PC Product Specifications

was factory-loaded with Windows 8.1 -- both onto the 'C:' drive-letter, and into the "recovery partition".

See: https://www.tenforums.com/software-apps/2577-showkeyplus.html

for software that extracts the Windows 8/8.1/10 product-key from the motherboard.

Have you tried to click the "Activate" button? Windows should extract the product-key from the BIOS, and use it, without you needing to use that ShowKeyPlus software.

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[HotAZ-Jeff]

When I tried to Activate, the OEM "CD Key" was not accepted. I tried this through both Microsoft and HP web based troubleshooting type avenues, to no avail! 😠

After finally reachinga live person through Microsofts Activation Team, I was told that my OEM "CD Key" is invalid and that I would have to get one from the computer manufacturer (HP).

Any Other, Next Level suggestions would be Greatly Appreciated.

[mdklassen]

The OEM key is embedded in the Windows Installer.

It is the same value for every identical computer that HP manufactures.

So, one cannot "activate" with that key.

See: https://www.tenforums.com/software-apps/2577-showkeyplus.html

for software that extracts the Windows 8/8.1/10 product-key from the motherboard.

Enter that product-key, and try again to activate.

[mdklassen]

> Any Other, Next Level suggestions would be Greatly Appreciated.

This a "user-to-user" forum, not a formal path to contact HP Support.

So, there is no "next level" on this forum.

[mdklassen]

Two more options:

1. http://www.intowindows.com/how-to-recover-windows-88-1-product-key-from-bios/

2. See "Option 7" at:
https://www.eightforums.com/threads/product-key-find-for-windows-8.27129/#option7

to extract the product-key from the motherboard.

-----------
Welcome to this forum.

Please click the purple/white "Thumbs Up" icon for every response that is helpful.

Also, please click "Accept As Solution" for the best response.

[HotAZ-Jeff]

I had originally had this computer working fine and it was activated, but after MS WindowsUpdate had locked it up, I did a system reset from the recovery partition on the hard drive.

That is when I noticed it would come up with the activate windows message.

Itried all of the applicable steps here: https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c03486254#2a3d94b2-8114-46fd-90cb-dade3d1e0872

I have also used multiple key finder type softwares and have retrieved the same MS Windows 8.1 keys.

1. Original Key

2. Installed (OEM, BIOS) Key

3. CD Key

The (3-Ea) keys I had tried to "Activate" with continue to come up as "invalid" :'( ...

Any other suggestions would be extremely appreciated!