So I got my hands on an HP laptop that used to belong to a family member of mine. Unfortunately they dropped the laptop, shattered the screen and broke the chassis and chose to just get a new one and gave it to me. Fortunately the thing still turns on so I figured I'd pull the Windows key off it and salvage the thing.
I was able to do this and got the key off it. I downloaded a Windows 8.1 ISO using the media creation tool and installed on my main PC. Created an ei.cfg file and set that parameters to core/OEM/0. Problem is the activation isn't accepting the key. I get an error saying "this key cannot be used to activate this edition of windows".
I'm a little stumped. I know the OS wasn't Windows 8 pro or 8.1 Pro. It's got 8.1 core on it. Unless the laptop came with 8 installed, which I doubt because they don't have an internet connection (they used it to watch DVDs and play basic games on... o_0) so i know they didn't update to 8.1, it came preloaded. My guess is that the 8.1 OEM key issued to the machine is tied to the laptop via preactivation and UEFI bios. But if that's the case wouldn't I get a message saying the key is already in use?
Things I've tried:
creating ei.cfg file with both OEM and retail set as parameters.
Going to the Upgrade Windows with only a product key - Windows Help site. Got error saying "This key cannot be used to install a retail version of Windows 8.1"
What I'm trying now:
Finding a Windows 8.1 OEM ISO.
Anyone got any input?
I was able to do this and got the key off it. I downloaded a Windows 8.1 ISO using the media creation tool and installed on my main PC. Created an ei.cfg file and set that parameters to core/OEM/0. Problem is the activation isn't accepting the key. I get an error saying "this key cannot be used to activate this edition of windows".
I'm a little stumped. I know the OS wasn't Windows 8 pro or 8.1 Pro. It's got 8.1 core on it. Unless the laptop came with 8 installed, which I doubt because they don't have an internet connection (they used it to watch DVDs and play basic games on... o_0) so i know they didn't update to 8.1, it came preloaded. My guess is that the 8.1 OEM key issued to the machine is tied to the laptop via preactivation and UEFI bios. But if that's the case wouldn't I get a message saying the key is already in use?
Things I've tried:
creating ei.cfg file with both OEM and retail set as parameters.
Going to the Upgrade Windows with only a product key - Windows Help site. Got error saying "This key cannot be used to install a retail version of Windows 8.1"
What I'm trying now:
Finding a Windows 8.1 OEM ISO.
Anyone got any input?
My Computer
System One
-
- OS
- Windows 8.1