windows 8.1 2 years old now saying not activated and dont have product key HELP please !!!!!!

[axell02]

windows 8.1 is 2 years old now saying not activated and don't have product key.

this is so frustrating. So many nonworking fixes I've tried. this is ridiculous to not have an activation code for preinstalled windows. can anyone please help me fix this without telling me i have to buy something to fix this problem which should not be an issue when i paid for it 2 years ago.. thank you.

[IT_WinSec]

Hello @axell02

Thank you for posting in the HP Support forum. Welcome !

You do not have activation key the easy way on a sticker because of Microsoft decision to change the way keys are distributed (long time ago). Please, read this article > https://www.cnet.com/news/windows-8-moves-to-bios-based-product-keys/

(ignore the video/sound from the Cnet article)

You may try to use some of the offered tools here in these articles to get the key from BIOS (no guarantee this will work - unofficial tools):

>> https://www.pcsteps.com/4198-get-windows-8-1-product-key-bios/

or >>  https://itsolutionsblog.net/3-ways-to-extract-the-windows-8-product-key/

With regards to your issues :

- Did you perform some major software or hardware changes recently ?

What did you do so that it asked you for activation ? These things do not happen just like that out of nowhere...

- Can you read this HP official article about Win 8 activation issues >> http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c03486254

Can you try the phone activation and get in touch with Microsoft system >> http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c03486254#AbT4

Looking forward to your reply.