Windows 8 OEM Key Not Working

tcabin01

New Member
Messages
3
I have a lenovo laptop that came with Windows 8 x64.

I used ProduKey to extract the license key of my Windows 8 x64.

I downloaded a Windows 8.1 x64 ISO and tried to do a clean install of Windows 8.1 using a USB. It asked me for a key, so I put in the key that was extracted. It said the key was in valid :(

I also went to this website, Upgrade Windows with only a product key - Microsoft Windows Help, and tried to use the key for both Windows 8 and 8.1, but both of them didn't work.

I booted the USB in legacy mode (NOT UEFI mode)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    win8

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro x64 (6.3.9600)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion Ultrabook 14-b083eg
    CPU
    Intel® Core™ i3-3217U
    Memory
    8 GB DDR3 (2 x 4 GB modules)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel® HD Graphics 4000
    Sound Card
    IDT High-Definition (HD) Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    35.5 cm (14") HD BrightView LED-backlit (1366 x 768)
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
    Hard Drives
    Kingston SSDNow V300 120 - SV300S37A120G (Firmware 505ABBF1)
    Mouse
    Microsoft Wireless Mobile Mouse 1000
    Internet Speed
    Broadband
    Browser
    Microsoft Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    avast! Free Antivirus 2014
    Other Info
    System BIOS Version F.1B (Aug 23, 2013)
Ain't gonna work. OEM keys can't activate retail ISO.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro 64-bit
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer V3 771G-6443
    CPU
    i5-3230m
    Motherboard
    Acer VA70_HC (U3E1)
    Memory
    8GB DDR3 PC3-12800 (800 MHz)
    Graphics Card(s)
    HD4000 + GeForce GT 730M
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17" Generic PnP Display on Intel HD Graphics 4000
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900 pixels
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 850 EVO 250 GB
    ADATA SSD SP900 128GB
    PSU
    90 watt brick
    Mouse
    Bluetooth
    Antivirus
    Comodo
    Other Info
    Asus RT-AC56R dual-band WRT router (Merlin firmware). Intel 7260.HMWWB.R dual-band ac wireless adapter.

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo G580
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-3230M
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD Graphics 4000
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, standard user account
    Other Info
    UEFI firmware (BIOS) embedded Windows 8 product key.

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro 64-bit
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer V3 771G-6443
    CPU
    i5-3230m
    Motherboard
    Acer VA70_HC (U3E1)
    Memory
    8GB DDR3 PC3-12800 (800 MHz)
    Graphics Card(s)
    HD4000 + GeForce GT 730M
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17" Generic PnP Display on Intel HD Graphics 4000
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900 pixels
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 850 EVO 250 GB
    ADATA SSD SP900 128GB
    PSU
    90 watt brick
    Mouse
    Bluetooth
    Antivirus
    Comodo
    Other Info
    Asus RT-AC56R dual-band WRT router (Merlin firmware). Intel 7260.HMWWB.R dual-band ac wireless adapter.
Ain't gonna work. OEM keys can't activate retail ISO.

After Windows 8.1 retail version installation (you have to enter the Windows 8.1 generic product key), you can activate Windows 8.1 retail version with your Windows 8 OEM product key (except when you have Windows 8 Single Language version, then you need to download Windows 8.1 Single Language ISO image).
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo G580
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-3230M
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD Graphics 4000
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, standard user account
    Other Info
    UEFI firmware (BIOS) embedded Windows 8 product key.
Yeah.. Same problem here. I gave up.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8.1 64 bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy H8-1536
    CPU
    AMD FX-8350
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Angelica 2
    Memory
    10
    Graphics Card(s)
    GTX 770 OC
    Browser
    IE, Firefox
    Antivirus
    Norton
I finally got it to work on my OEM computer using the Upgrade Windows with only a product key link. After the download that MS link generated a product key and that's the one I used. I also deleted all partitions during installation. FWIW that process also changed my product key in the UEFI to the one I downloaded...strange I must say.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8 home prem
I finally got it to work on my OEM computer using the Upgrade Windows with only a product key link. After the download that MS link generated a product key and that's the one I used. I also deleted all partitions during installation. FWIW that process also changed my product key in the UEFI to the one I downloaded...strange I must say.

Say what? What key did you use to download? I can't either my OEM or generic keys to work. I feel pitiful.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro 64-bit
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer V3 771G-6443
    CPU
    i5-3230m
    Motherboard
    Acer VA70_HC (U3E1)
    Memory
    8GB DDR3 PC3-12800 (800 MHz)
    Graphics Card(s)
    HD4000 + GeForce GT 730M
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17" Generic PnP Display on Intel HD Graphics 4000
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900 pixels
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 850 EVO 250 GB
    ADATA SSD SP900 128GB
    PSU
    90 watt brick
    Mouse
    Bluetooth
    Antivirus
    Comodo
    Other Info
    Asus RT-AC56R dual-band WRT router (Merlin firmware). Intel 7260.HMWWB.R dual-band ac wireless adapter.
No product key was needed to download. I just click Upgrade Windows with only a product key - Microsoft Windows Help and downloaded the 8.1 then chose the save option and burned it to a dvd. Remember after the download is complete the link generated a product key. That somewhat surprised me when a new product key was generated. I recommend you cut and paste that product key and that's the one I used to install 8.1 .
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8 home prem

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo G580
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-3230M
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD Graphics 4000
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, standard user account
    Other Info
    UEFI firmware (BIOS) embedded Windows 8 product key.
Link didn't ask for a product key. Already had a 8 OEM HP machine with 8.1 upgrade(I did the upgrade). I Just wanted an ISO so I could perform a clean install which I did.

Windows 8.1 (x64) (build 9600)
Install Language: English (United States)
System Locale: English (United States)
Installed: 2/4/2014 10:11:43 AM
Boot Mode: UEFI with successful Secure Boot
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8 home prem
I finally got it to work on my OEM computer using the Upgrade Windows with only a product key link. After the download that MS link generated a product key and that's the one I used. I also deleted all partitions during installation. FWIW that process also changed my product key in the UEFI to the one I downloaded...strange I must say.

What utility did you use to confirm that your UEFI Product key was changed? Most of those utilities read the key out of the Windows Registry not the BIOS. What's stored in the registry can be different from what's in the BIOS. For instance, if you upgrade from Core to Pro, the key stored in the Windows registry will be the Pro key but the BIOS key will still be the OEM Core key. Same thing happens if you add Media Center, the key in the registry will be the MC key. I highly doubt your OEM BIOS key has been modified.
 

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
Used a few recommended by this site to include wpkey_v1.4.7d.rar and belarc.

Those likely read it out from the Windows registry, not the BIOS. RWEverything will read the BIOS key. Under ACPI tables, you will find MSDM table (on Windows 8/8.1 OEM PC). The OEM product code is listed there. RWEverything | Read & Write Everything
 

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
No product key was needed to download. I just click Upgrade Windows with only a product key - Microsoft Windows Help and downloaded the 8.1 then chose the save option and burned it to a dvd.

You can't download without a legitimate product key (OEM key not work).



Amen to that! It rejects my key every time, and yes, the one I extracted from the chip. Forget about the one that shows up in System also. Mine starts with zeros which it rejects right off. I tried several of the generic keys listed here and they reject also.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro 64-bit
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer V3 771G-6443
    CPU
    i5-3230m
    Motherboard
    Acer VA70_HC (U3E1)
    Memory
    8GB DDR3 PC3-12800 (800 MHz)
    Graphics Card(s)
    HD4000 + GeForce GT 730M
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17" Generic PnP Display on Intel HD Graphics 4000
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900 pixels
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 850 EVO 250 GB
    ADATA SSD SP900 128GB
    PSU
    90 watt brick
    Mouse
    Bluetooth
    Antivirus
    Comodo
    Other Info
    Asus RT-AC56R dual-band WRT router (Merlin firmware). Intel 7260.HMWWB.R dual-band ac wireless adapter.
You can not use the key extracted from the UEFI/BIOS firmware to download the Windows 8.1 ISO, you can only use the key to ACTIVATE.

The generic keys can only be used to install Windows 8.1 & not ACTIVATE or to download the Windows 8.1 ISO .
 

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
No product key was needed to download. I just click Upgrade Windows with only a product key - Microsoft Windows Help and downloaded the 8.1 then chose the save option and burned it to a dvd.

You can't download without a legitimate product key (OEM key not work).



Amen to that! It rejects my key every time, and yes, the one I extracted from the chip. Forget about the one that shows up in System also. Mine starts with zeros which it rejects right off. I tried several of the generic keys listed here and they reject also.

The "Product ID:" as shown on the system page is not the Product Code, two different things entirely. ;) I do believe if you hit that link a second time from the same PC, it won't ask for the product code the second time. Like when you start the 8.0 download and quit, then go back for 8.1. When I went back for 8.1 I'm pretty sure it it didn't ask me for a product code as I already entered it the first time. The OP also talks about it generating a code at the end. It does but for me its always been the original code I entered to do the download in the first place. That also makes me think 8 or 8.1 was already downloaded on that PC.
 

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
You can't download without a legitimate product key (OEM key not work).



Amen to that! It rejects my key every time, and yes, the one I extracted from the chip. Forget about the one that shows up in System also. Mine starts with zeros which it rejects right off. I tried several of the generic keys listed here and they reject also.

The "Product ID:" as shown on the system page is not the Product Code, two different things entirely. ;) I do believe if you hit that link a second time from the same PC, it won't ask for the product code the second time. Like when you start the 8.0 download and quit, then go back for 8.1. When I went back for 8.1 I'm pretty sure it it didn't ask me for a product code as I already entered it the first time. The OP also talks about it generating a code at the end. It does but for me its always been the original code I entered to do the download in the first place. That also makes me think 8 or 8.1 was already downloaded on that PC.

Agreed! For me, I had to use my original Windows 8 key in accordance with Paul Thurrott's instructions to get the iso, which in turn generates a code equal to the one you entered, then I had to use the generic key to install, then use my original to activate.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 7 Home Premium
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavillion
  • PC2
    Tablet - Windows 10 Home
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