Windows 8/8.1/10 Product KeysSITUATION
You have a new computer and you test out Linux destroying everything on the hard drive. You go to reinstall Windows and you realize that you do not have the PRODUCT KEY. There is no label on the side/back/inside of the pc. You have an OEM Windows 8.1 disk. The pc does not have a DVD drive.
RESOLUTION
Find a pc that has a DVD drive.
1-create an ISO with 7ZIP.
- -open 7-ZIP-FILE-MANAGER as ADMINISTRATOR.
- -select the DVD DRIVE.
- -click VIEW (at the top).
- -click OPEN ROOT FOLDER.
- -click VIEW (at the top).
- -click UP ONE LEVEL.
- -in the main window you will see: \\. (backslash, backslash, dot).
- -double-click \\.
- -select the DVD drive.
- -click FILE > COPY-TO (at the top)
- -select the folder where you want the ISO to go.
2-copy that ISO to your EASY2BOOT USB.
- -easy squeezy.
NOTE: if you do not have one, get one. It's super easy. Run tool. Have USB.
3-install WINDOWS.
- -the install should use the PRODUCT KEY from the UEFI (or in laymans terms BIOS).
- -if you are being prompted for a product key, it means that you have the wrong installation media and that's when the Windows 8.1/10 installer can't detect Windows 8/8.1 product key from UEFI firmware (BIOS).
- -it will prompt which version to install, WINDOWS 8.1, WINDOWS 8.1 CORE, WINDOWS 8.1 SINGLE LANGUAGE (same as PRO), WINDOWS 8.1 PRO
- -do NOT select "I don't have a product key". Activation will not be successful.
4-find WINDOWS PRODUCT KEY in the UEFI.
- -use a wonderful tool called RWEVERYTHING here: http://rweverything.com/download/
- -open the tool.
- -click ACPI (at the top).
- -click MSDM tab (towards the top)
- -look at the last line, it is the embedded PRODUCT KEY ;-)
There are other ways to do this such as:
- -open COMMAND PROMPT.
- -type: WMIC Path SoftwareLicensingService Get OA3xOriginalProductKey
As well as other ways.
NOTES:
- -media creation tool for WINDOWS 10 here: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10
- -media creation tool for WINDOWS 8.1 here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows8
- (WINDOWS 8 is no longer being supported [not WINDOWS 8.1].)