Dell W8 disc with other laptops

AlecEiffel

Jivesinger wrote: »

I've never tried it myself, but my understanding was the same as yours. I've certainly seen reports on other forums of people installing windows 8 from generic media and it picking up the embedded key. Obviously it wouldn't work on a computer which didn't come with Windows 8 in its OEM state, but it looks like that's not an issue for you.

Yep both are W8 OEM installed machines. I was sent a generic (though branded) W8 disc as my laptop failed to burn recovery media correctly.

prowla

One possible gotcha is that the Dell disk might contain Dell-specific drivers, and be missing the non-standard ones that you would get from another vendor's release.

Of course, you would likely be able to download those drivers post-install.

Johnmcl7

AlecEiffel wrote: »

Everywhere I've read tells me that the key is embedded in the BIOS and is read by Windows during install to confirm that it is a valid key for the version being installed (provided install is from a correct version generic W8 media not an OEM recovery image). Is that not right?

You are correct, many W8 machines don't have the CoA sticker on the machine with the product key (which frequently rubbed down and became unreadable when it was on the outside of the machine) and instead the key is in the bios. When the machine is installed using a standard W8 disc of the correct version, if there is a matching key of the correct type in the bios the install process will read it and activate Windows.

John

NiftyDigits

AlecEiffel wrote: »

Everywhere I've read tells me that the key is embedded in the BIOS and is read by Windows during install to confirm that it is a valid key for the version being installed (provided install is from a correct version generic W8 media not an OEM recovery image). Is that not right?

Indeed, but yours is not 'generic media'. The SKUs have to match.

In addition, if you were going to run a clean install, it would make sense to install Windows 8.1.
Though that would be slightly more complicated that simply installing the same SKU.

Lum

NiftyDigits wrote: »

In addition, if you were going to run a clean install, it would make sense to install Windows 8.1.
Though that would be slightly more complicated that simply installing the same SKU.

Clean installing 8.1 is a pain in the backside as the generic disc will not accept Windows 8 keys, though it may work with the embedded ones. In any case getting the 8.1 installer involves naughty torrents and a few other slightly dubious steps to make it install. The end result is a legit install activated with your proper key but getting there isn't fun.

NiftyDigits

Lum wrote: »

Clean installing 8.1 is a pain in the backside as the generic disc will not accept Windows 8 keys, though it may work with the embedded ones. In any case getting the 8.1 installer involves naughty torrents and a few other slightly dubious steps to make it install. The end result is a legit install activated with your proper key but getting there isn't fun.

It really isn't that complicated. Simply put, you use a matching generic key for the install and your product key for activation.

Lum

I'm well aware, am writing this post from a machine that has been installed in that way.

Not sure how it changes when embedded keys and stickerless PCs are involved, as mine is an upgrade install from Win7.

AlecEiffel

NiftyDigits wrote: »

Indeed, but yours is not 'generic media'. The SKUs have to match.

Ok how do I go about checking they do match? And to my knowledge it is generic media. It is a dell branded disc, but doesn't include any dell software, and only installs standard drivers, I need to get dell specific drivers from a separate disc or the dell website. If you can actually be specific rather than just telling me I'm wrong I may understand better.

gjchester

AlecEiffel wrote: »

Ok how do I go about checking they do match? And to my knowledge it is generic media. It is a dell branded disc, but doesn't include any dell software, and only installs standard drivers, I need to get dell specific drivers from a separate disc or the dell website. If you can actually be specific rather than just telling me I'm wrong I may understand better.

The Dell Disk is most likely a OEM version. The key on the bottom of most laptops will be a OEM Key. There is no such thing as "generic media" it may be you have a unbranded (Or Microsoft retail branded) copy rather than a OEM version that your key is for.


It *may* also be set to check the BIOS not for a code but for model of the device, so the restore disc tries to make sure its a DELL device before it can be run. It may also be the Key is in the BIOS as well, remember that OEM versions live and die with the device they are on, so cannot be moved anyway.


Win XP and Win 7 (never really did much on Vista) were the same, OEM keys needed OEM media, and retail keys will only work on retail media. The Service version usually wasn't an issue just the media version in use has to make the key type.


It's also possible the Dell disk is coded to load a specific version, but as you said the disk and key were both for W8 standard that should not be an issue.


Hopefully that explains it better...

NiftyDigits

AlecEiffel wrote: »

Ok how do I go about checking they do match? And to my knowledge it is generic media. It is a dell branded disc, but doesn't include any dell software, and only installs standard drivers, I need to get dell specific drivers from a separate disc or the dell website. If you can actually be specific rather than just telling me I'm wrong I may understand better.

I have been specific. You either didn't understand or you simply ignored what I wrote.

I told you that the SKU have to match(for OEM) and I also gave you examples of SKU.

The is no such variation as Windows 8 Standard. Even if you were generalising it would be unlikely. As 'Standard' would more than likely refer to a 'Retail' licence. Substitute 'Core' for 'Standard'.

If you want to check what you have.....

Open an elevated Command Prompt and enter:slmgr.vbs /dlv