Solved Are Windows 8 serials LOCKED on a laptop?

orlando1974

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Hi I am in the process of reinstalling an unbloated version of Windows on my Asus laptop. It originally came pre-installed with Windows 8. I managed to retrieve the OEM key using Belarc Advisor. I have a copy of Windows 8.1 PRO lying around...I was wondering two things:

1. Will my laptop ONLY accept the OEM key it was originally shipped with?
2. Assuming I have to use the original key that was built-in the laptop, does this mean I cannot change the Windows edition from regular to Pro? That I have to stick with the regular edition that was pre-installed?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8 64-bit
Hi I am in the process of reinstalling an unbloated version of Windows on my Asus laptop. It originally came pre-installed with Windows 8. I managed to retrieve the OEM key using Belarc Advisor. I have a copy of Windows 8.1 PRO lying around...I was wondering two things:

1. Will my laptop ONLY accept the OEM key it was originally shipped with?
2. Assuming I have to use the original key that was built-in the laptop, does this mean I cannot change the Windows edition from regular to Pro? That I have to stick with the regular edition that was pre-installed?


I think your laptop will accept any key depending on the edition of Windows you put. I have a Windows tablet that originally came with 8.1 and was able to upgrade clean install to the media center edition using the upgrade key.

Just clean install with the Pro version and put the retail key. Windows will automatically activate and validate the key once you go online.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro x64 with Media Center
    Computer type
    Tablet
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Surface Pro 3
    CPU
    Core i5 4300U @ 1.9 GHz
    Motherboard
    Surface Pro 3
    Memory
    8092 MB DDR3-L 1.35 V SDRAM @ 1600 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD 4400 @ 200 MHz
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Built-in 3:2 display
    Screen Resolution
    2160 x 1440
    Hard Drives
    256 GB SSD + 128 GB micro SD
    PSU
    36 Watt power brick
    Cooling
    Active
    Keyboard
    On Screen Keyboard
    Mouse
    Surface pen
    Internet Speed
    300 / 20 TWC
    Browser
    IE 11 Metro, IE 11 Desktop
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
The Pro copy I have lying around comes from a torrent. Just wondering if I can use that with my OEM key I got bundled with the laptop. Id rather stay legit and use the legal license key.....which is why i was asking.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8 64-bit
Maybe whats going on is that Im trying to install from a USB key after having mounted it using Windows USB/DVD Tool... it skips the fresh install setup screen where i can erase partitions etc. So by the time I get into Windows, it already has "Current product key: *****-9D6T9
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8 64-bit
If the only key you have is for Core ( not Pro ). Then you can only activate Core. You might have Core Single Language, which is different again.

You need an iso with the correct Edition.

Hit the Super key ( sometimes aclled the "windows" key ) and pause\break key together and the system window will open. It will tell which edition you currently have.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7/8/ubuntu/Linux Deepin
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
Its 8.1 Pro 9600 Build. But it wont accept my preinstalled key.

OMG this is driving me CRAZY. I just did a completely fresh install on a newly formatted hard drive...and whenever Im finished installing windows and going into Activate, it already has a prodcut key entered. Its one of the generic ones... I put in my legal one and it wont let me.

It can only be two things:

1. Cannot install a PRO version on a laptop that has an embedded License key for the Regular version.
2. Somehow it's tied my previous "generic" key to my microsoft user account that I am using to setup/login Windows 8.1
 
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My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8 64-bit
If the only key you have is for Core ( not Pro ). Then you can only activate Core. You might have Core Single Language, which is different again.

You need an iso with the correct Edition.

The only odd thing is that I was on the Pro version for months... its just that today I decided to do a major cleanup on my pc and couldnt find my previously saved image so engaged upon a full reinstall...
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8 64-bit
you need your retail pro key to install pro - otherwise you can use the embedded core key..

and it you click the download link in my sig below you can download official MS setup media
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 3.1 > Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700
    CPU
    I7
    Memory
    24 GB
you need your retail pro key to install pro - otherwise you can use the embedded core key..

and it you click the download link in my sig below you can download official MS setup media

So will I be able to use the embedded core key with the media creation from the link you provided?
It appears that I would have to already be logged into the unactivated Windows to use your tool... correct?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8 64-bit
the media created by that tool will read the embedded key.. you can download the media on any win7 win8 pc
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 3.1 > Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700
    CPU
    I7
    Memory
    24 GB
the media created by that tool will read the embedded key.. you can download the media on any win7 win8 pc

I'll give it a shot but I was hopeful that I would have been able to install and use PRO with my key. I watched a YouTube video showing how you can use a generic key to install Windows and then your purchased key to activate...
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8 64-bit
Yes, you can, if you have purchased a pro license.

That wasn't clear from your earlier post I responded to.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7/8/ubuntu/Linux Deepin
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
The generic key is useless...
If you have a purchased Pro retail key - download pro software - enter your retail key
or
download regular 8 and it will read your embedded key
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 3.1 > Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700
    CPU
    I7
    Memory
    24 GB
You cannot activate Pro with a Core key. My laptop came with Windows 8.0 Core. If I install 8.1 Core from here, Create installation media for Windows 8.1 - Windows Help, that install media will use my embedded 8.0 Core key automatically. I will not be prompted to enter a key during the install and It will activate online automatically. If I install 8.1 Pro it will ignore the 8.0 embedded Core key and prompt for me to enter one. I can enter a Pro key and install 8.1 Pro it I want. I'm doing that now using my TechNet Pro key.
IMHO, you should start over and download 8.1 Core from the link I posted. Then do a clean install with that. It should use your OEM embedded key and you will be totally legal. Your Pro torrent key is likely a generic key that won't activate or a blacklisted key, or soon to be blacklisted key.
Latter on if you feel you need to have Pro, you can buy a Pro Pack key and upgrade to Pro though Add features. I went from 8.0 Core to 8.0 Pro on my laptop by just entering one of my TechNet Pro keys in Add Features. No install media needed, the features are just unlocked. http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/6673-add-features-windows-8-a.html
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Education 64 Bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition Deneb 3.7GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS M4N68T-M V2 µATX Motherboard
    Memory
    8GB 4GBx2 Kingston PC10600 DDR3 1333 Memory
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Geforce GT640 2 Gig DDR3 PCIe
    Sound Card
    VIA VT1708s High Definition Audio 8-channel Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    22" LG E2242 1080p and 2 19" I-INC AG191D
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024 - 1920x1080 - 1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    Crucial MX100 256 GB SSD and 500 GB WD Blue SATA
    PSU
    Thermaltake TR 620
    Case
    Power Up Black ATX Mid-Tower Case
    Cooling
    Stock heatsink fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless K350 Wave
    Mouse
    Logitech M570 Trackball and T650 TouchPad
    Internet Speed
    80 Mbps Down 30 Mbps Up
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    HP DVD1040e Lightscribe - External USB2
Yep.
You need to get the Pro Pack or some such version & install it---About $100.---Used to be $40.

edit--- Now I have 2 keys--- OEM & Pro Pack installed key.

screenshot_242.jpg

edit #2--- I keep forgetting my 3rd key---

screenshot_242.jpg
 

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
    Cores 2
    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
    Model 2
    Extended Model 2
    Stepping 0
    Revision ON-C0
    Instruction
    Browser
    Opera 24.0
    Antivirus
    Avast Internet Security
Thanks everyone!
Thanks for the link KYHI

So just to confirm then, I guess the official MS link provided by KYHI to create a USB installer directly from the MS website deprecates the old method of using Windows 7 USB/DVD Tool, or the open source WinToBoot.

Also, this is great because now I dont need to go on a torrent site to get an ISO!
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8 64-bit
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