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| Thread ID: 128466 | 2012-12-21 23:17:00 | Win 8 COA? | bk T (215) | Press F1 |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 1319636 | 2012-12-21 23:17:00 | Understand that OEM machines preinstalled with Win8 have no COA sticker labels (with product key) anymore - the product key is embeded in the BIOS, if that is true, how do we reinstall the OS if we need to? Am I right to say that no keys are needed to reinstall the OS even not using the recovery partition / recovery DVD? Most end-user don't bother to create their own recovery DVD and most manufacturers don't supply the Windows install DVD. Does it mean that they have to buy a new copy of Win 8? Anyone here bought any machines with preinstalled Win 8 can confirm the above? Cheers |
bk T (215) | ||
| 1319637 | 2012-12-21 23:27:00 | If the key is embedded in the BIOS then Windows setup probably reads it from there and you don't have to type anything in. Or maybe that's too clever... |
Agent_24 (57) | ||
| 1319638 | 2012-12-22 00:41:00 | Agents right -- From what I've read, ( got a few mails from MS about this as well) With OEM computers from the big manufactures, they have the product key in the BIOS, so if you need to reinstall there is no need for a product key. You could put in a new HDD and reinstall Windows 8 and it will pick up the embedded key automatically. Article here - bios-embedded-windows-8-product-keys/ (www.ghacks.net) OEM licences are bound to the original PC, this has ALWAYS been the case, if you buy a OEM edition it is for that ONE PC, and no other, so if the PC dies, the licence dies with it. If the PC is within its warranty and the motherboard fails, then of course the warranty will cover a new COA as well, or the repairer will have to supply one via MS. If the motherboard dies outside of warranty - its tough luck to the owner I guess. In the past, the big manufactures have a licence that will allow it to be used on hundreds of PC's, similar type of thing to a volume Licence. I assume its the same thing now. If you went to a shop and brought OEM, you will get a COA still. While I haven't tested it yet, I do know if you try to activate a licence thats been used previously it pops up with a Message along the lines of " This licence has already been activated on other hardware" And I cant remember is it gives the option to call MS or Not ( like previous versions did) I found out by mistake when installing a upgrade on a workshop PC, and forgot which key I had used previously on another Workshop PC -- oops. |
wainuitech (129) | ||
| 1319639 | 2012-12-22 01:51:00 | I assume you could still read the key from registry if you wanted to know it, though I guess it wouldn't be much help if the board died. Unless Microsoft let you transfer it in that situation. | Agent_24 (57) | ||
| 1319640 | 2012-12-22 03:12:00 | You may be able to read it from the Board with something like keyfinder, But if its the type of key that OEM manufacturers ( HP, Dell etc) use now it wont be of any use. These keys are called OEM SLP System_Locked_Pre-installation (en.wikipedia.org) While you can install the OS it wont activate, comes back as invalid, if you call MS, they say use the COA on the side of the case - Which may be a bit awkward if there isn't one :) Its a bit like the product keys that are in the original Windows 7 DVD, they can be used to install but wont activate. windows-server-2008-windows-7-product-keys.htm (www.petri.co.il) |
wainuitech (129) | ||
| 1319641 | 2012-12-22 12:47:00 | You can read the key in the bios with a program called rweverything. A quick search in google will get it. I think you go to the acpi tab them msp or something and you'll see it at the bottom. |
CYaBro (73) | ||
| 1319642 | 2012-12-23 00:21:00 | Now, I recalled that when I re-installed (made a typo in user name) Win 8 on this machine (I'm using now), I still need the key to complete the installation. :confused: Maybe it only applies to those branded machines with pre-installed Win8. Or, only applies to OEM version? |
bk T (215) | ||
| 1319643 | 2012-12-23 02:53:00 | It only applied to the name brand OEM computers, places like Dell, HP etc. If you buy software you still get the COA. |
wainuitech (129) | ||
| 1319644 | 2012-12-23 11:10:00 | Just tried to use Magic Jelly bean to detect my Win 8 Product key but apparently, it got a different key from my actual key from MS. It's the latest version, 2.095, just downloaded; probably it's not Win8 compatible. |
bk T (215) | ||
| 1319645 | 2012-12-23 22:38:00 | Try the utility CYaBro mentioned and read from BIOS instead? | Agent_24 (57) | ||
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