Where is the Win 8 serial and how to get a Win8 DVD?

I bought a notebook with pre-installed Windows 8.
Unfortunately there is no Windows 8 DVD supplied with the notebook.

Assume the hard disc or system crashes:

From where do I get a windows 8 DVD for new installation?

When I go to system info in Windows 8 I can see a
Product ID .....-......-.....

Is this the serial number for Windows 8?

Can I use this Product ID to re-activate Windows 8 again?

What about the Windows 8 installation source? As far as I found out I have to use some "Backup/Recovery" tool from Windows 8 to store the current installation onto an external drive (and restore it (if necessary) from there).

Where exactly do I found the recovery/backup tool in Windows 8?

Does it store the full partition structure from the hard disc too?

You can use the OEM version of
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/5132-recovery-drive-create-usb-flash-drive-windows-8-a.html

Did you make the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Disks?



You can order OEM Recovery disks from your OEM manufacturer's website.
Most OEM's will ship Recovery DVD's for FREE, (may be a postage fee)

What is this "DVD" you speak of?

You use your Microsoft ID to login and download/install Windows 8.

Create a Recovery Disk to avoid the tragedies you've described.

Get over the albatross of physical media you have tied around your neck now or you'll be hanging with people still loading Wing Commander from 24 3.5" floppy disks.

SpyderBite;239439...... said:

...... loading Wing Commander from 24 3.5" floppy disks.

Click to expand...

Ah, the good old days.

pstein said:

I bought a notebook with pre-installed Windows 8.
Unfortunately there is no Windows 8 DVD supplied with the notebook.

Assume the hard disc or system crashes:

From where do I get a windows 8 DVD for new installation?

When I go to system info in Windows 8 I can see a
Product ID .....-......-.....

Is this the serial number for Windows 8?

Can I use this Product ID to re-activate Windows 8 again?

What about the Windows 8 installation source? As far as I found out I have to use some "Backup/Recovery" tool from Windows 8 to store the current installation onto an external drive (and restore it (if necessary) from there).

Where exactly do I found the recovery/backup tool in Windows 8?

Does it store the full partition structure from the hard disc too?

Click to expand...

Product ID isn't the Product Key.
To get your Product Key run the attached VBS script.



View attachment ShowKey.vbs

NO Product Key is need to reinstall OEM Pre-installed Windows 8.

theog said:

NO Product Key is need to reinstall OEM Pre-installed Windows 8.

Click to expand...

Since the machine in question has Win8 pre-installed, a new clean install from any medium will have the key automatically detected and inserted IF the OS version is the same and it has the same features (usually Core versions of Win8 need a clean install of Core and Pro ones a Pro install and in this case switching from x86 to x64 and vice versa should allow the same key to be working).

The download from MS is not available for those with oem pre installs, as far as I know.

Even for those who can get the MS download, it is rather limited. I haven't figured out how to service it - I don't think anybody else has either.

Isn't a recovery disk physical media?

SpyderBite said:

What is this "DVD" you speak of?

You use your Microsoft ID to login and download/install Windows 8.

Create a Recovery Disk to avoid the tragedies you've described.

Get over the albatross of physical media you have tied around your neck now or you'll be hanging with people still loading Wing Commander from 24 3.5" floppy disks.

Click to expand...

snerd said:

SpyderBite;239439...... said:

...... loading Wing Commander from 24 3.5" floppy disks.

Click to expand...

Ah, the good old days.

Click to expand...

Hi there
I think the record was installing Word for Windows on a Windows 3.11 system -- around 40 (yes 40) floppy discs were needed -- and invariably there'd be an I/O error on Disk 39 or something. !!!

You can make a recovery USB Windows disk quite easily --plenty of examples in the tutorial. You can also download the WAIK and make a .WIM file so you can re-create your windows system. Again examples in Google.

Cheers
jimbo

SIW2 said:

The download from MS is not available for those with oem pre installs, as far as I know.

Click to expand...

Ok, thank you. BUT:

what if I buy a full retail Win 8 version and want to install it on my notebook with Win 8 OEM key in BIOS?

How can I install a new, second Win 8 version when Win 8 always looks first in BIOS for existing OEM key?

Second question:
Can I make a recovery DVD/backup on USB hard disc of existing OEM Win8
then wipe full GPT partitioned hard disc,
the re-partition the hard disc with MBR partitions
and finally restore previous Win 8 OEM installation into MBR partition?

Or are GPT Win 8 installation incompatible with MBR Win 8 installations?

theog said:

NO Product Key is need to reinstall OEM Pre-installed Windows 8.

Click to expand...

I know that.

I just thought to show the difference between the ID & Product Key.

& how to find the Key.

Knowing how to find it might come in handy some day.

pstein said:

Or are GPT Win 8 installation incompatible with MBR Win 8 installations?

Click to expand...

Yes, they are.

Only if you (can) disable secureboot and enable (csm) legacy mode in the BIOS will you be able to boot from MBR media.

If you don't know what your're doing, you will mess out your system (probably brick it as well) pretty badly which will result in another ton of questions.

From what I've seen, disabling secure boot and enable legacy mode will result in a long system check (disk scan for file errors) on the GPT partition when you boot from it. If this happens each time then it's not even worthy to make a dual-boot setup between a UEFI and a MBR OS.

Cheers!

Hi there
For Windows Pro / Enterprise to enter a new key simply type in SLUI 3 from the command prompt.

To find your Windows / Other products like Office keys download the FREE Belarc advisor from here

Belarc Advisor - Free Personal PC Audit, for software, hardware and security configuration information on your computer. Software license management, IT asset management, cyber security audits, and more.

This works -- It's not Sneaker ware that gives like the first 8 digits and then asks for PAYMENT for a pro version. This stuff is totally FREE -- note though it takes a little while so go and drink a Beer/ Tea or whatever while it's running.

Cheers
jimbo