way to recover the cd key from the UEFI?

Grantt

New Member
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1
Hello

I stumbled across this thread while looking for a solution to a similar problem, but the solutions above don't quite work for me.

I have an ASUS Zenbook UX32V, which came with win 8 preinstalled.

I was having endless problems with Windows 8, such as software compatibility, and formatted the laptop (removing all partitions), and installing Windows 7 over it.

This has worked fine to date, but I now need to switch to Win 8 again.

I know my laptop supports UEFI, and that the Windows 8 installations are no longer probably on the computer. Is there a way to recover the cd key from the UEFI and use this to download the Win 8 installation files again? The CD key was not supplied in the laptop documentation...

Thank you!
 
Last edited by a moderator:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 7

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy DV6 7250
    CPU
    Intel i7-3630QM
    Motherboard
    HP, Intel HM77 Express Chipset
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD4000 + Nvidia Geforce 630M
    Sound Card
    IDT HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6' built-in + Samsung S22D300 + 17.3' LG Phillips
    Screen Resolution
    multiple resolutions
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 250GB + Hitachi HDD 750GB
    PSU
    120W adapter
    Case
    small
    Cooling
    laptop cooling pad
    Keyboard
    Backlit built-in + big one in USB
    Mouse
    SteelSeries Sensei
    Internet Speed
    slow and steady
    Browser
    Chromium, Pale Moon, Firefox Developer Edition
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    That's basically it.
When reinstalling Windows 8 on a PC which came Pre-installed, you do not need to type in a Product key.

You can order the Microsoft official OEM Recovery disks from the ASUS OEM manufacturer's website.
Essentio Recovery Software
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4
Hi Grantt

Welcome to Eightforums :)

Just a heads-up... you can't download retail installation files with your OEM key :cry:

Besides those that Hopachi has given a link to above, you could also try Windows 8 Product Key Viewer (it will grab the OEM key as well)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    PC-DOS v1.0
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    IBM
    CPU
    Intel 8088, 4.77MHz
    Memory
    16K, 640K max
    Graphics Card(s)
    What's that?
    Sound Card
    Not quite
    Screen Resolution
    80 X 24 text
    Hard Drives
    dual 160KB 5.25-inch disk drives
When reinstalling Windows 8 on a PC which came Pre-installed, you do not need to type in a Product key.
True. It will already be inserted when you install. :thumb:

[DEL]You may try to recover from the recovery partition ASUS provided.[/DEL]
Grantt said:
I was having endless problems with Windows 8, such as software compatibility, and formatted the laptop (removing all partitions), and installing Windows 7 over it.
Not so good removing recovery. You may need to use theog's advice on the install media because:
Superfly said:
you can't download retail installation files with your OEM key

Keep in mind that OEM recovery disks, just like OEM recovery partition, use per default the full-install method that install tons of extra software (avoid these extras to avoid the issues you already encountered). Some manufacturers allow clean-install methods: it's just like when you have a Win8 Core DVD/ISO and you install without extra software, OEM key and UEFI settings will be used.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy DV6 7250
    CPU
    Intel i7-3630QM
    Motherboard
    HP, Intel HM77 Express Chipset
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD4000 + Nvidia Geforce 630M
    Sound Card
    IDT HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6' built-in + Samsung S22D300 + 17.3' LG Phillips
    Screen Resolution
    multiple resolutions
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 250GB + Hitachi HDD 750GB
    PSU
    120W adapter
    Case
    small
    Cooling
    laptop cooling pad
    Keyboard
    Backlit built-in + big one in USB
    Mouse
    SteelSeries Sensei
    Internet Speed
    slow and steady
    Browser
    Chromium, Pale Moon, Firefox Developer Edition
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    That's basically it.
Is there a way to recover the cd key from the UEFI and use this to download the Win 8 installation files again?
i think OP is looking for key so they can use it to upgrade to win8 using win7's anytime upgrade
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    win8.1.1 enterprise
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Hinze57
    CPU
    AMD FX 6100 6core 3.30gHz
    Motherboard
    gigibyte ga-78lmy-s2p
    Memory
    4gig ddr3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Radon hd5000 Series
    Sound Card
    onboard realtek hd
    Monitor(s) Displays
    19" viewsonic/ 22"Samsung
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    128gig ssd Kingston
    80gig WD 10000 rpm spinner
    Case
    micro
    Keyboard
    microsoft curve 200
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless M215
    Internet Speed
    high speed 20
    Browser
    ie 11
    Antivirus
    windows defender
    Other Info
    updated enterprise apr 2/14
This whole windows 8 OEM preinstalled activation is very confusing. I also am trying to reinstall windows 8 on my Asus Zenbook UX32VD.

I obtained an Windows 8 OEM iso. Managed to get it to boot off a USB drive in UEFI mode. However it fails to activate automatically and asks me for a product key (which I do not have as the sticker on the bottom of the laptop only says "Windows 8".

What is a guy to do? Asus doesn't have any installation media available for purchase or download and no way to recover the product key.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel Core i7 2600k @ 5.0GHz
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Z68X-UD5-B3
    Memory
    4 x 4gb G.Skill 1600MHz 8-8-8-24
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon HD 7950
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung SA650
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Crucial M4 256gb
    2 x 2TB Seagate LP
    3TB Buffalo External
    2TB WD External
    PSU
    Seasonic M12-700
    Case
    Modded Lian-Li
    Cooling
    Liquid
    Keyboard
    Ducky DK9008S
    Mouse
    Razer Mamba
    Internet Speed
    100/3
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    None

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center (64 bit)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel Core i7 3770K
    Motherboard
    Asus Maximus V Gene
    Memory
    Corsair 4 x 4 GB 1,600 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gigabyte GTX 670
    Sound Card
    RME HDSPe AIO
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell U2713HM
    Screen Resolution
    2,560 x 1,440
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 830 SSD 128 GB
    Hitachi 7K3000 2 TB
    PSU
    Seasonic X-760
    Case
    Silverstone TJ08-E
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-D14 Special Edition
    Keyboard
    Logitech K800
    Mouse
    Logitech M570
    Internet Speed
    60 Mbps/3 Mbps cable
    Browser
    Opera 12.16
Thanks for the link. I will give that a try later.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel Core i7 2600k @ 5.0GHz
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Z68X-UD5-B3
    Memory
    4 x 4gb G.Skill 1600MHz 8-8-8-24
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon HD 7950
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung SA650
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Crucial M4 256gb
    2 x 2TB Seagate LP
    3TB Buffalo External
    2TB WD External
    PSU
    Seasonic M12-700
    Case
    Modded Lian-Li
    Cooling
    Liquid
    Keyboard
    Ducky DK9008S
    Mouse
    Razer Mamba
    Internet Speed
    100/3
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    None
This whole windows 8 OEM preinstalled activation is very confusing. I also am trying to reinstall windows 8 on my Asus Zenbook UX32VD.

I obtained an Windows 8 OEM iso. Managed to get it to boot off a USB drive in UEFI mode. However it fails to activate automatically and asks me for a product key (which I do not have as the sticker on the bottom of the laptop only says "Windows 8".

What is a guy to do? Asus doesn't have any installation media available for purchase or download and no way to recover the product key.

That's likely to do with your install media, I suspect it has been modified. I did a clean install on my ASUS laptop that came with Windows 8 core preinstalled. My TechNet ISO read the embedded key and installed 8 core automatically. Activated fine online too. If your install media has been modified to be an All-In-One or had an ei.cfg or pid.txt file added that will break the autodetection of the embedded key. If you are getting a menu asking you to select what version to install, its modified media.
 

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
This whole windows 8 OEM preinstalled activation is very confusing. I also am trying to reinstall windows 8 on my Asus Zenbook UX32VD.

I obtained an Windows 8 OEM iso. Managed to get it to boot off a USB drive in UEFI mode. However it fails to activate automatically and asks me for a product key (which I do not have as the sticker on the bottom of the laptop only says "Windows 8".

What is a guy to do? Asus doesn't have any installation media available for purchase or download and no way to recover the product key.

You can order the Microsoft official OEM Recovery disks from the ASUS OEM manufacturer's website.
Essentio Recovery Software
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4
This whole windows 8 OEM preinstalled activation is very confusing. I also am trying to reinstall windows 8 on my Asus Zenbook UX32VD.

I obtained an Windows 8 OEM iso. Managed to get it to boot off a USB drive in UEFI mode. However it fails to activate automatically and asks me for a product key (which I do not have as the sticker on the bottom of the laptop only says "Windows 8".

What is a guy to do? Asus doesn't have any installation media available for purchase or download and no way to recover the product key.

You can order the Microsoft official OEM Recovery disks from the ASUS OEM manufacturer's website.
Essentio Recovery Software

That is for their desktop computers. It would install stuff specific to that desktop not the Zenbook. One that webpage for my laptop model they only have Windows 7 recovery software.

Not to mention I have purchased Windows 8 upgrades for cheaper then that recovery media.


Using RWeverything as described in that link worked. I was able to recover the product key.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel Core i7 2600k @ 5.0GHz
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Z68X-UD5-B3
    Memory
    4 x 4gb G.Skill 1600MHz 8-8-8-24
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon HD 7950
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung SA650
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Crucial M4 256gb
    2 x 2TB Seagate LP
    3TB Buffalo External
    2TB WD External
    PSU
    Seasonic M12-700
    Case
    Modded Lian-Li
    Cooling
    Liquid
    Keyboard
    Ducky DK9008S
    Mouse
    Razer Mamba
    Internet Speed
    100/3
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    None
You will need to fill in the order.

order.PNG
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4
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