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Windows 8 product keys
chunter
Posts: 2,023 Forumite
in Techie Stuff
Does windows 8 still have product keys?
i have yet another Toshiba laptop with yet another failed hard drive (quite a few this last few months), but i don't see a product key sticker on it.
Did i read it's in the bios somewhere?
i have yet another Toshiba laptop with yet another failed hard drive (quite a few this last few months), but i don't see a product key sticker on it.
Did i read it's in the bios somewhere?
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Yes it is.
Shouldn't be a problem.
After you re-install the OS it will probably fail activation because of the hardware change. You will then need to do a telephone activation via Microsoft Support.One by one the penguins are slowly stealing my sanity.0 -
Not in my experience (mostly Windows 7) for just a hard drive, but painless enough anyway.After you re-install the OS it will probably fail activation because of the hardware change0 -
It is very common these days for vendors to put the CoA sticker inside the manual rather than on the device itself.
I have an HP Pavilion 500 desktop and it came without any manuals as I got it from CashCon (the PC was made in Jan. 2014 and had only been used for 10 hours before it was sold). There was no CoA anywahere, so I had to use Belarc Advisor to find it.
Also be aware that keys from retail versions of Windows 8 will not work on RTM versions and vice-versa.
I am lucky in that HP have made their RTM build of Win 8 available for download.Never Knowingly Understood.
Member #1 of £1,000 challenge - £13.74/ £1000 (that's 1.374%)
3-6 month EF £0/£3600 (that's 0 days worth)0 -
It is very common these days for vendors to put the CoA sticker inside the manual rather than on the device itself.
I have an HP Pavilion 500 desktop and it came without any manuals as I got it from CashCon (the PC was made in Jan. 2014 and had only been used for 10 hours before it was sold). There was no CoA anywahere, so I had to use Belarc Advisor to find it.
Also be aware that keys from retail versions of Windows 8 will not work on RTM versions and vice-versa.
I am lucky in that HP have made their RTM build of Win 8 available for download.
What are you talking? That is irrelevant to this post anyway.
Retail and RTM are exactly the same.0 -
If you created recovery media, the key will be saved in it, so when you reinstall from it, you've no need to enter a key.Squirrel!If I tell you who I work for, I'm not allowed to help you. If I don't say, then I can help you with questions and fixing products. Regardless, there's still no secret EU law.
Now 20% cooler0
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