Solved Can't find product key for Windows 8.1 upgrade from store

Hairy Scot

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I purchased and installed Windows 8 some time ago and then upgraded to 8.1 via the Windows Store.
When I got the upgrade I saved the ISO file in case I needed to reinstall.
At no time did I receive a different product key for the store version of 8.1 and now that I wish to reinstall I find that my original Windows 8 product key doesn't work.
I ran Belarc Advisor which shows that I do indeed have Windows 8.1 PRO X64 installed and the product key is indeed the same key that I used for Windows 8.
Short of going back and reinstalling Windows 8 and reapplying all the updates it seems I am stuck.
Going that route would also entail converting my disks back to MBR from GPT.

How do I get around this?

:confused:

PS
I also cannot create installation media.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro X64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd. GA-B75M-D2V
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-3470 CPU @ 3.20GHz, 3601 Mhz, 4 Core(s)
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd. GA-B75M-D2V
    Memory
    8 GB DDR3 1600MHZ
    Graphics Card(s)
    GE Force GT 610
    Sound Card
    Onboard Realtek High Def
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell U2913WMP
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1080
    Hard Drives
    Western Digital WD10EZEX-00RKKA0 1TB
    Seagate ST2000DL003-9VT166 2TB
    Seagate ST31000528AS 1TB
Ran Windows Toolkit 2.5.1 and it displayed two product keys, one for Windows 8 and one for 8.1.
Wonder why the other products only found one product key.
In any case, problem solved.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro X64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd. GA-B75M-D2V
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-3470 CPU @ 3.20GHz, 3601 Mhz, 4 Core(s)
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd. GA-B75M-D2V
    Memory
    8 GB DDR3 1600MHZ
    Graphics Card(s)
    GE Force GT 610
    Sound Card
    Onboard Realtek High Def
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell U2913WMP
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1080
    Hard Drives
    Western Digital WD10EZEX-00RKKA0 1TB
    Seagate ST2000DL003-9VT166 2TB
    Seagate ST31000528AS 1TB
You should only have one proper key - that of Windows 8 - the other is either a generic key or a volume licence one.

The latter can be used to install 8.1 and the former to activate.

BTW: I don't think it's within the forum rules to discuss that app.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    PC-DOS v1.0
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    IBM
    CPU
    Intel 8088, 4.77MHz
    Memory
    16K, 640K max
    Graphics Card(s)
    What's that?
    Sound Card
    Not quite
    Screen Resolution
    80 X 24 text
    Hard Drives
    dual 160KB 5.25-inch disk drives
You should only have one proper key - that of Windows 8 - the other is either a generic key or a volume licence one.
The latter can be used to install 8.1 and the former to activate. (1)
BTW: I don't think it's within the forum rules to discuss that app. (2)

(1) I am still puzzled as to why the Windows 8 key does not work when I try to create installation media nor when I try to install from the Windows 8.1 ISO, and why I received no notification of a second key when I upgraded to 8.1 from the Windows Store.

(2)
I was not aware of anything untoward regarding that app. Thanks for the info.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro X64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd. GA-B75M-D2V
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-3470 CPU @ 3.20GHz, 3601 Mhz, 4 Core(s)
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd. GA-B75M-D2V
    Memory
    8 GB DDR3 1600MHZ
    Graphics Card(s)
    GE Force GT 610
    Sound Card
    Onboard Realtek High Def
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell U2913WMP
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1080
    Hard Drives
    Western Digital WD10EZEX-00RKKA0 1TB
    Seagate ST2000DL003-9VT166 2TB
    Seagate ST31000528AS 1TB
1. I have seen elsewhere on the forum that the store upgrade breaks the factory restore image somehow - thus always better to have an ISO handy.
Windows 8 key cannot install 8.1 as it's a different edition. Thus the need for the generic 8.1 key.

2) It contains a volume licence emulator exploit.

PS: @All...suggest we stick to the key viewing apps recommended on this forum to avoid confusion/future problems.. eg. ShowKey v1.3 is entirely open source.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    PC-DOS v1.0
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    IBM
    CPU
    Intel 8088, 4.77MHz
    Memory
    16K, 640K max
    Graphics Card(s)
    What's that?
    Sound Card
    Not quite
    Screen Resolution
    80 X 24 text
    Hard Drives
    dual 160KB 5.25-inch disk drives
Ran Windows Toolkit 2.5.1 and it displayed two product keys, one for Windows 8 and one for 8.1.
Wonder why the other products only found one product key.
In any case, problem solved.

Hi there

That app is a PIRATE app (Windows toolkit) and using it to activate windows is highly illegal. It works by manipulating your Windows into a VL one (Volume licence) and then emulates an "enterprise" type of activator. That's why there are "Two sets of keys" - the original and a "generated VL one". Even if you got it to work you are then running an unauthorized version of Windows -- you should re-install the original W8.1 and update correctly.

Windows toolkit should not be discussed any further as it's ILLEGAL software on torrents.


Cheers
jimbo
 

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    Linux Centos 7, W8.1, W7, W2K3 Server W10
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My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1.1 Pro with Media Center
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Gateway
    CPU
    AMD K140 Cores 2 Threads 2 Name AMD K140 Package Socket FT1 BGA Technology 40nm
    Motherboard
    Manufacturer Gateway Model SX2110G (P0)
    Memory
    Type DDR3 Size 8192 MBytes DRAM Frequency 532.3 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI AMD Radeon HD 7310 Graphics
    Sound Card
    AMD High Definition Audio Device Realtek High Definition Audio USB Audio Device
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Name 1950W on AMD Radeon HD 7310 Graphics Current Resolution 1366x768 pixels Work Resolution 1366x76
    Screen Resolution
    Current Resolution 1366x768 pixels Work Resolution 1366x768 pixels
    Hard Drives
    AMD K140
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    Threads 2
    Name AMD K140
    Package Socket FT1 BGA
    Technology 40nm
    Specification AMD E1-1200 APU with Radeon HD Graphics
    Family F
    Extended Family 14
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    Extended Model 2
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    Revision ON-C0
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    Browser
    Opera 24.0
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    Avast Internet Security
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