Solved How to install Windows 8.1 with 8.1 OEM key?

[alphanumeric]

You can upgrade from Windows 7 or 8/8.1 to Windows 10 for free. There is no free upgrade from 7 to 8/8.1 though.
For Windows 7 install media try here, Software Download You will need the key off of the COA sticker.
No, Windows 8/8.1 install media will not use Windows 7 keys. The Windows 8.1 install media will use 8.0 and 8.1 keys though.

 

[hbm619]

This software download will accept the Oem key of windows 7?

 

[alphanumeric]

I don't know? I could never get the Windows 7 download on that site to work for me, even with a Retail key. Others have said it works for them though? All you can do is give it a try. I don't know of another official download other than MSDN. You need a subscription to download from MSDN though. Best I can do at the moment. All the Windows 7 Digital River downloads have been taken off of the internet.

 

[hbm619]

I have a Windows 7 Dvd with all versions (home premium, ultimate etc) .will it work for me with Oem key .
What is your opinion?

 

[alphanumeric]

Yes it should work, just install the version listed on the COA sticker.

 

[Mark Phelps]

I have a Windows 7 Dvd with all versions (home premium, ultimate etc) .will it work for me with Oem key .
What is your opinion?

NO -- those will NOT work. I know because I tried one of them when my HP laptop got corrupted from a failed Win10 upgrade, and even though I select the correct version (Home Premium 64-bit), it would not install.

I then tried an old Retail 64-bit disk I had kept, and while it DID work, it demanded a Retail key to activate it -- so basically, it did not work either. ( I didn't think it would, but I was hoping it would work anyway).

What DID work is restoring from HP Recovery Media -- which I had to purchase and have them mail me a set of disks.

 

[Mark Phelps]

This software download will accept the Oem key of windows 7?

I recently had to restore an HP laptop running Win7 Home Premium 64-bit, and I have several Win7 machines -- but like other folks, even though I individually used the produce key from each of the machines (some of which are Retail installs), NONE of the keys were accepted.

I had to restore to ordering Recovery Media from HP.

 

[alphanumeric]

I have a Windows 7 Dvd with all versions (home premium, ultimate etc) .will it work for me with Oem key .
What is your opinion?

NO -- those will NOT work. I know because I tried one of them when my HP laptop got corrupted from a failed Win10 upgrade, and even though I select the correct version (Home Premium 64-bit), it would not install.

I then tried an old Retail 64-bit disk I had kept, and while it DID work, it demanded a Retail key to activate it -- so basically, it did not work either. ( I didn't think it would, but I was hoping it would work anyway).

What DID work is restoring from HP Recovery Media -- which I had to purchase and have them mail me a set of disks.

Why wouldn't it install? One gotcha with Windows 7 OEM installs is if you retrieve the key with a key finder, its useless. It's a generic OEM key special to that OEM and is blocked from online activation. With normal install media you have to use the key on the COA sticker.

 

[Mark Phelps]

Why wouldn't it install?

Because the OP is talking about one of the Infamous All-in-Ones that you get from places on the Internet. And, as I already said, I tried those and they would not install -- even though you choose the version you want.

 

[alphanumeric]

Why wouldn't it install?

Because the OP is talking about one of the Infamous All-in-Ones that you get from places on the Internet. And, as I already said, I tried those and they would not install -- even though you choose the version you want.

Any version can be made into an all in one, you just remove the ei.cfg file. Windows 7 Universal Installation Disc - Create - Windows 7 Help Forums

 

[Mark Phelps]

Any version can be made into an all in one, you just remove the ei.cfg file. Windows 7 Universal Installation Disc - Create - Windows 7 Help Forums

Yeah -- I know that. The OP asked if those DVDs would install, and from my experience, they do not -- even though they should. I tried several different ones, and they all failed the same way.

 

[alphanumeric]

Any version can be made into an all in one, you just remove the ei.cfg file. Windows 7 Universal Installation Disc - Create - Windows 7 Help Forums

Yeah -- I know that. The OP asked if those DVDs would install, and from my experience, they do not -- even though they should. I tried several different ones, and they all failed the same way.

They work for me, mine are MSDN ISO's with that one little mod. I used to just use the Windows 7 DVD download tool to create a bootable thumb drive from the stock ISO. Then just go in a delete the ei.cfg file to get the full menu with the list.

 

[bilal546]

when I open the show key plus to find the windows 7 key it says the "Windows 7 oem marker present in firmware"
what does it means ?

 

[alphanumeric]

when I open the show key plus to find the windows 7 key it says the "Windows 7 oem marker present in firmware"
what does it means ?

It means it has a factory OEM BIOS SLIC table. Windows 7 factory OEM installs don't use embedded keys in the BIOS. There is just an OEM marker in there. If Windows 7 isn't currently installed, and you didn't do an upgrade install from it, there won't be any key to retrieve. If its there it listed as Original Key by show key. What is listed for Original Edition, if it say Windows 7 then what is listed as Original Key is your Windows 7 key. If that's the factory OEM-SLP key its useless without the matching factory install media.

 

[bilal546]

I am running windows 7 pro pirated but system was installed with home premium and now I have no recovery also . what should I do now ?

 

[alphanumeric]

I am running windows 7 pro pirated but system was installed with home premium and now I have no recovery also . what should I do now ?

I'll assume your wanting to go legal. Can you read the key on the COA sticker? You'll need that and install media to reinstall the original Windows 7. There is this site, but I don't know if you can download with an OEM key? Software Download

 

[bilal546]

I dont have COA sticker on the laptop

 

[alphanumeric]

I dont have COA sticker on the laptop

Remove the battery and have a look in there. If you don't have a COA sticker you need to buy the original recovery media or buy a new legal version of Windows.

 

[bilal546]

ok thanks dear

 

[Boldoran]

Thank you

I just registered to say thank you. This guide helped me out when reinstalling Windows 8 on an Acer Aspire v5 that refused to boot. It was stuck in a 'repairing' loop.

To try to correct the problem I created a bootable pen drive on another windows 8.1N laptop. This worked to reinstall Windows 8.1N but the activation key was not picked up by Windows.
I tried manually entering the key after extracting it from the bios but that did not work either.

Next I tried to use the factory-reset partition that came pre-installed from Acer. It should be activated by pressing ALT+F10 during boot but that did not work. My guess is that the reinstallation of Windows8.1N had destroyed the original bootloader from Acer that knows how to boot that partition.

Using a Linux bootmedia I checked the data on the recovery partition and noticed that there was a install.wim image.
So next I tried to use the guide from this post http://www.eightforums.com/installa...tall-wim-file-only-post516298.html#post516298
to create a bootable usb drive to reset to the push-button-factory-image. While the stick booted the installation aborted since the stick was reported as being invalid.

What finaly worked
I was about to cough up the 80 bucks Acer extorts from customers for a recovery DVD when I stumbled on this thread. I followed the instructions and was able to create a bootable-usb drive that could install Windows 8.1 using the media creation tool. Once I had the correct image (Windows 8.1 NOT Windows 8.1N) it picked up the OEM key during the installation and now everything works. I was even able to start the upgrade to Windows10

Why windows is so damn picky with what image can be used with which key is beyond me. What is the difference between Windows8.1 and Windows 8.1N anyway...




Quick follow up question: Since now I have switched to Windows10 and I do not trust the built in recovery functionality I am looking for a decent (free for home use) imaging tool. Any recommendations?