oem pre installed windows 8 new laptop

[skeggy]

hi I had new laptop with win 8 pre installed activated it did not like so formatted and installed windows 7 with new product key activated. I have been reading the forums and am led to believe windows 8 product key is stored in the bios of my laptop. if I use a usb flash drive with windows 8 oem installed will it activate itself or do I have to search bios to find key. I dont want to use windows 8 I am just curious,thanks.

 

[theog]

Have you made the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Disks?

   Information

We always assume you have made your Recovery Disks using the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Media Creator app the first day you had your new PC.
& made the Startup Repair CD. (Windows 8 only)
Recovery Drive - Create with USB Flash Drive in Windows 8
System Repair Disc - Create in Windows 8 (Windows 8 only)
​

I would recommend you making the OEM manufacturer's Recovery DVD's or USB drive.
Windows 8 - Create a Factory Default Backup - Acer Recovery Management - YouTube
Windows 8 - Create a Drivers and Applications Backup - Acer Recovery Management - YouTube
Windows 8 - Restore Windows With a USB Recovery Drive - YouTube
or
You can order the Microsoft official OEM Recovery disks from the OEM manufacturer's website.
You can Order Acer recovery disks from here:
https://secure.tx.acer.com/RCDB/Main.aspx?brand=acer
or
Acer | Recovery Media
Check in Accessories
or
https://store.acer.com/store?Action...rvicePage&Env=BASE&Locale=en_US&SiteID=acerna
or check the main web site.
Acer Worldwide - Select your local country or region

After Reinstalling Windows 8, will ACTIVATE using Product Key in the UEFI/BIOS firmware.

 

[whs]

After Reinstalling Windows 8, will ACTIVATE using Product Key in the UEFI/BIOS firmware

Theog, and this is automatic, isn't it. That's a question.

 

[theog]

YES, Once the PC is on Internet will ACTIVATE within 4 hours.

 

[whs]

Thanks Theog

 

[alphanumeric]

Official Microsoft Windows 8 install media will read and use the embedded key automatically. You don't get prompted to enter a key and the installed version will match the embedded key. If the embedded key is Core, core is installed, if its Pro you get Pro. Activation is automatically done online once you get an internet connection. That's how it worked on my ASUS Laptop that came with 8 Core OEM. My 8.0 TechNet ISO's read and use the key. 8.1 install media won't though, you'll get prompted to enter a key and it has to be an 8.1 key for the install to continue.

 

[whs]

I guess they wanted to make it easier by complicating things. So those 8.1 PCs don't have a COA sticker any more ??

 

[theog]

Windows 8 COA.



Solved Activate retail Windows 8.1 with Windows 8 Product key.

 

[skeggy]

sorry I did not explain propperly I did note make any back up or recovery formatted and deleted all partitions custom installed windows 7 ie clean install used windows 7 key and activated. what I am asking is if I purchase online windows 8 oem recovery usb stick will I need a key to activate or will the bios automatically activate the recovery stick is not from microsoft.ie no key

 

[andrew129260]

Official Microsoft Windows 8 install media will read and use the embedded key automatically. You don't get prompted to enter a key and the installed version will match the embedded key. If the embedded key is Core, core is installed, if its Pro you get Pro. Activation is automatically done online once you get an internet connection. That's how it worked on my ASUS Laptop that came with 8 Core OEM. My 8.0 TechNet ISO's read and use the key. 8.1 install media won't though, you'll get prompted to enter a key and it has to be an 8.1 key for the install to continue.

I guess they wanted to make it easier by complicating things. So those 8.1 PCs don't have a COA sticker any more ??

And these are just one of the multiple things I hate about windows 8. Its completely ridiculous.

sorry I did not explain propperly I did note make any back up or recovery formatted and deleted all partitions custom installed windows 7 ie clean install used windows 7 key and activated. what I am asking is if I purchase online windows 8 oem recovery usb stick will I need a key to activate or will the bios automatically activate the recovery stick is not from microsoft.ie no key

From what I understand, the key is not needed, it will auto use the one built into the system.
You should be fine.

 

[theog]

If you buy from ACER, the Recovery of Windows 8 will automatically activate.

If you buy from MS, you will be buying the DVD & a Product Key.

 

[alphanumeric]

I guess they wanted to make it easier by complicating things. So those 8.1 PCs don't have a COA sticker any more ??

My ASUS has a sticker, there just isn't any product code printed on it, as shown in Theog's post. I guess the assumption is you'll never have to know what it is. You can activate an 8.1 install with an 8.0 code, you just can't install with it. You use one of the generic install keys that won't activate to get around that. It's in the link he posted. Finding out what you OEM key is can be a pain though. I won't go into that as I don't want to drag this off topic.

 

[whs]

So I guess my statement was not all that wrong. Welcome to the future. I like Linux more every day.

 

[alphanumeric]

As Theog stated, if you buy from Microsoft you'll end up buying a key that you don't need and pay a lot for the media. They won't sell you just the DVD. The Microsoft Windows 8 DVD will read and use your embedded key. If you buy from Acer it should be a lot cheaper as your just buying recovery media. The Microsoft DVD will let you do a clean install. The Acer media likely only does the factory restore which will load all the factory bloat ware back on. It will be like it was the first time you turned it on after taking it out of the box.

 

[SIW2]

Run this and see if it picks up your firmware key, and note it down. If it does , you will be able to install 8.0
( lord knows why you would want to ).

Download | RWEverything
Under ACPI > MSDM table the key will be at the bottom.

sorry I did not explain propperly I did note make any back up or recovery formatted and deleted all partitions custom installed windows 7 ie clean install used windows 7 key and activated. what I am asking is if I purchase online windows 8 oem recovery usb stick will I need a key to activate or will the bios automatically activate the recovery stick is not from microsoft.ie no key

 

[alphanumeric]

Run this and see if it picks up your firmware key, and note it down. If it does , you will be able to install 8.0
( lord knows why you would want to ).

Download | RWEverything
Under ACPI > MSDM table the key will be at the bottom.

sorry I did not explain propperly I did note make any back up or recovery formatted and deleted all partitions custom installed windows 7 ie clean install used windows 7 key and activated. what I am asking is if I purchase online windows 8 oem recovery usb stick will I need a key to activate or will the bios automatically activate the recovery stick is not from microsoft.ie no key

It can't hurt to know what it is but its not needed if your using unmodified official Microsoft Windows 8 install media. The Acer recovery media should detect it also. You'll want it though if you decide to go right to windows 8.1.