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Solved Will I need a Product key if I have to replace HDD
I am trying to do some work on a laptop (Win 8). HDD is completely dead so I can't read the product key from it. I am going to replace the HDD and reinstall Win 8 on it. How ever I know from experience I can't install 8 unless I have a product key.
I have read that Win 8 stores the key on the motherboard, and that when installing Win 8 it will pull the key from the motherboard.
Is this true? and will it work?
Thanks
WAX
OS
Windows 8.1 Pro/LinuxMint/Mac OS X
CPU
Intel i5
Motherboard
MSI Z87
Memory
8GB Kingston
Monitor(s) Displays
LG
Hard Drives
SSD-30GB
SSD-240GB (Root Drive C:\)
HDD-1Tb
Keyboard
Logitec
Mouse
Logitec
Administrator
Administrator
mvp
Hello WAX,
If your laptop originally came with Windows 8/8.1 installed by the OEM, then it'll have its product key embedded in the UEFI firmware chip of the motherboard.
When you install Windows 8.1, it'll automatically detect the product key if it's the same edition the key is for.
OS
64-bit Windows 10
Computer type
PC/Desktop
System Manufacturer/Model
Custom self built
CPU
Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
Motherboard
ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
Memory
64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
Graphics Card(s)
ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
Sound Card
Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
Monitor(s) Displays
2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
Screen Resolution
2560x1440
Hard Drives
1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
PSU
OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
Case
Thermaltake Core P3
Cooling
Corsair Hydro H115i
Keyboard
Logitech wireless K800
Mouse
Logitech MX Master 3
Internet Speed
1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
Browser
Internet Explorer 11
Antivirus
Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
Other Info
Logitech Z625 speaker system,
Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Thanks I got this resolved. I tried a few different Win 8.1 iso media's. Finally found one that worked and detected the key.
Thanks
WAX
OS
Windows 8.1 Pro/LinuxMint/Mac OS X
CPU
Intel i5
Motherboard
MSI Z87
Memory
8GB Kingston
Monitor(s) Displays
LG
Hard Drives
SSD-30GB
SSD-240GB (Root Drive C:\)
HDD-1Tb
Keyboard
Logitec
Mouse
Logitec
Administrator
Administrator
mvp
Great news.
OS
64-bit Windows 10
Computer type
PC/Desktop
System Manufacturer/Model
Custom self built
CPU
Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
Motherboard
ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
Memory
64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
Graphics Card(s)
ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
Sound Card
Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
Monitor(s) Displays
2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
Screen Resolution
2560x1440
Hard Drives
1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
PSU
OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
Case
Thermaltake Core P3
Cooling
Corsair Hydro H115i
Keyboard
Logitech wireless K800
Mouse
Logitech MX Master 3
Internet Speed
1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
Browser
Internet Explorer 11
Antivirus
Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
Other Info
Logitech Z625 speaker system,
Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
Galaxy S23 Plus phone