Windows 8 Reinstall

[Whisky Lima]

Hey guys, so I have my first major issue with windows 8.. I have a customer who bought her laptop just 4 weeks ago and it had windows 8 installed from factory. The laptop didnt come with any CD key information or any recovery media which is usually fine as you can use the recovery partition right? Well not in this case, as the customer had managed to bang the machine so hard she damaged the hard drive making it unreadable and needing replacement.

So heres my question, what can I do now to reinstall windows? No recovery media, no hidden partition and no CD key....

I understand microsoft have started to embed the cd key in the bios somewhere as a way to stop piracy, but surely if they make it this difficult to reinstall legitimately... well im sure you can guess the rest.

Any help on this one would be greatly appreciated guys!

 

[MobileTechie]

As far as I know (i could be wrong) but on computers with no licence sticker, you have to use the restore partition, the recovery media that you are prompted to create (repeatedly) or suitable installation media.Since you've no recovery partition and 90% of people don't bother to create recovery media then I think you're left with getting a disk from the laptop manufacturer.

However I guess it's possible that using the correct retail disk might work. I don't know. Maybe it can pick up the key from the BIOS? I'm sketchy on that part.


You might want to check under the batter BTW since they've started putting them under there on some models.

 

[nlinecomputers]

Windows 8 OEM systems store the key in the UEFI bios. If you have a Windows 8 install disk or USB Key then you can install it and it will NOT prompt you for a Serial number. The installer will retrieve the DPK (Digital Product Key) from the bios during the install. Just install Windows 8. It will work.

 

[Martyn]

Windows 8 OEM systems store the key in the UEFI bios. If you have a Windows 8 install disk or USB Key then you can install it and it will NOT prompt you for a Serial number. The installer will retrieve the DPK (Digital Product Key) from the bios during the install. Just install Windows 8. It will work.

Does that mean a Technet cd will work?

 

[nlinecomputers]

Does that mean a Technet cd will work?

YES. ANY Windows 8 cd will work.

 

[Whisky Lima]

Oh cool, cheers for the input guys. I had read somewhere about the product key being stored in the bios, which is great if it works.. fingers crossed, I will let you know how I get on.

Cheers all!

 

[Whisky Lima]

Well guys, that seems to have worked out a treat! Can't believe I spent so long trying to find a sollution when it was as simple as that...

To install windows 8.. put the windows 8 disk in the computer, go figure.

Thanks very much for your input guys, I think I will have to arm myself with better knowledge of windows 8!!

 

[Xander]

So, how would this have worked if the BIOS was older and not UEFI?

 

[nlinecomputers]

It wouldn't have an OEM version on it. So you'd have to have a key from the Retail box or an emailed key from a download.

 

[nlinecomputers]

To clarify this is only talking about OEM versions of Windows 8. Versions preinstalled and shipped by the major PC makers. Dell, Hp, Lenovo, Acer, Sony, etc.

On previous versions of Windows. The systems were installed at the factory using a single VLK Volume License Key that would only work with a special in house disk. The key was on the disk and you would not be prompted for it so long as the bios could be ID with a Manufacture code that matched. Dell often shipped with disks that if it didn't see a Dell bios code either refused to install(rare) or gave you the normal serial number key prompt. If the bios did match it would install without a key prompt and a check of the serial code in Windows shows the same key on every Dell machine. (Or HP or whatever.)

All these systems had a product key slapped on the side of the machine that was not used. Only if you reinstalled Windows and didn't have either a image disk or a bios locked disk could you use a generic OEM whitebox Windows disk and install using the key slapped on the side of the PC. Obviously those "unused" keys on the side of every Windows PC were a source of Piracy. Almost all of them could be used to install bogus unpaid copies of Windows.

Windows 8 solves this problem. OEMs are no longer being issued single VLK keys. Every copy of Windows 8 has it's own serial number placed in the bios on the assembly line along with the hardware serial number and anyother info that PC maker wants to put in the system. The PCs are installed unactivated and will activate on the first connection to the internet using the serial number stored in the BIOS. And all copies of windows check for the key. If no key is found you get a serial number prompt.