Forced to wipe Windows 8 SSD. No recovery. Help!

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veoozo

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A long time ago (4-5 months ago), I was installing yet another Ubuntu installation. I have done this many times before on several different computers. I accidently clicked "Continue" next to "Wipe Windows 8 installation". Long story short, I was left with a $1000 Ultrabook with no OS. The recovery software was in a partition which was also deleted. Yay. I managed to find a Windows 8 ISO and used Korean pirate activation software to activate that. Best I could do. I understand that Windows 8 product keys are kept on the BIOS, but the only keys I was able to pull were the ones from the activation software. I had contacted Lenovo at the time, and wham, $180 for recovery software. So I called back and said my computer crashed, I own a flower business, and I need help. Wham. Next day I receive reinstallation software for free (they used like $50 shipping, too :D). The software didn't work, and so for the last 4-5 months I have been using this installation of Windows 8. I would like to update to Windows 8.1, but since the activation was with KMS keys, that's not possible. Is there anything I can do? How can I get a legitimate Windows installation on this device? Thanks.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo
The Lenovo installation disc should work. Did you recontact them to find out what on earth they sent you. That is your best option unless you have a friend who has an installation disc that you could use.

And next time you want to experiment with Linux, try this approach. This is without risks.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Vista and Win7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    2xHP, 2xGateway, 1xDell, 1xSony
    Hard Drives
    5 SSDs and 12 HDs
Lenovo sent me 6 discs for the recovery package. Is that what you got also? This is for a new IdeaCenter K450.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro X64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo IdeaCenter K450
    CPU
    Intel Quad Core i7-4770 @ 3.4Ghz
    Motherboard
    Lenovo
    Memory
    16.0GB PC3-12800 DDR3 SDRAM 1600 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Integrated HD Graphics
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP h2207
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050@59Hz
    Hard Drives
    250GB Samsung EVO SATA-3 SSD;
    2TB Seagate ST2000DM001 SATA-2;
    1.5TB Seagate ST3150041AS SATA
    PSU
    500W
    Keyboard
    Wired USB
    Mouse
    Wired USB
    Internet Speed
    3GB Up, 30GB Down
    Browser
    SeaMonkey
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender; MBAM Pro
    Other Info
    UEFI/GPT
    PLDS DVD-RW DH16AERSH
The first disc should be the install disk for windows eight and the other disks probably have some kind of backup to restore the operating system to the way it was when you got it.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro with Media Center/Windows 7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus § DualCore AMD Athlon 64 X2, 2300 MHz (11.5 x 200) 4400+ § Corsair Value Select
    CPU
    AMD 4400+/4200+
    Motherboard
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus/Asus A8M2N-LA (NodusM)
    Memory
    2 GB/3GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce 8400 GS/GeForce 210
    Sound Card
    nVIDIA GT218 - High Definition Audio Controller
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Hitachi 40" LCD HDTV
    Screen Resolution
    "1842 x 1036"
    Hard Drives
    WDC WD50 00AAKS-007AA SCSI Disk Device
    ST1000DL 002-9TT153 SCSI Disk Device
    WDC WD3200AAJB-00J3A0 ATA Device
    WDC WD32 WD-WCAPZ2942630 USB Device
    WD My Book 1140 USB Device
    PSU
    Works 550w
    Case
    MSI "M-Box"
    Cooling
    Water Cooled
    Keyboard
    Dell Keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Intellimouse
    Internet Speed
    Cable Medium Speed
    Browser
    Chrome/IE 10
    Antivirus
    Eset NOD32 6.x/Win Defend
    Other Info
    Recently lost my Windows 8 on my main PC, had to go back to Windows 7.
whs said:
The Lenovo installation disc should work. Did you recontact them to find out what on earth they sent you. That is your best option unless you have a friend who has an installation disc that you could use.

And next time you want to experiment with Linux, try this approach. This is without risks.
Click to expand...

Hey, thanks, whs! Much appreciated.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion 500-056
    CPU
    AMD Elite Quad-Core A8-6500
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon HD 8570D
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer 23"
    Screen Resolution
    1920 X 1080
    Hard Drives
    1 TB
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wave K350
    Mouse
    Logitech M510
    Internet Speed
    Fast
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
XweAponX said:
The first disc should be the install disk for windows eight and the other disks probably have some kind of backup to restore the operating system to the way it was when you got it.
Click to expand...

Have not had a reason to try it yet but the disc content is very different from a normal installation DVD. I wonder if I could egt them all on a single bootable flash drive? That would be real nice.

First one is labeled Start Recovery Disc 1. The other five are labeled Operating System Recovery Disc 2 thru 6.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro X64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo IdeaCenter K450
    CPU
    Intel Quad Core i7-4770 @ 3.4Ghz
    Motherboard
    Lenovo
    Memory
    16.0GB PC3-12800 DDR3 SDRAM 1600 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Integrated HD Graphics
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP h2207
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050@59Hz
    Hard Drives
    250GB Samsung EVO SATA-3 SSD;
    2TB Seagate ST2000DM001 SATA-2;
    1.5TB Seagate ST3150041AS SATA
    PSU
    500W
    Keyboard
    Wired USB
    Mouse
    Wired USB
    Internet Speed
    3GB Up, 30GB Down
    Browser
    SeaMonkey
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender; MBAM Pro
    Other Info
    UEFI/GPT
    PLDS DVD-RW DH16AERSH
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