How to wipe and reinstall from usb flash window 8

schulzey3486

New Member
Messages
8
Alright, So I purchased a Dell xps 18 tablet all in one hybrid. I purchased it used and out of warranty. It won't let me update because it keeps saying windows 8 can't activate. Even if I manually use a program called produkey to find the correct serial number it says the key works and then it fails at activation. It gives an error code and says it doesn't have proper rights or access to what is needed. I can't upgrade to 8.1 or get any security patches because of this.

I talked to dell support and they said they think a virus had corrupted the files of the previous owner. I have restored the computer to factory settings 3 times now so that is not going to do it. It keeps saying the same thing.

Dell said they were sending me a usb flash (I have no cd/dvd drive on this computer) with windows 8 on it. They said that is all the assistance they could give because it is out of warranty. How do I boot windows 8 from the flash drive and completely delete the windows 8 on the computer and install only the fresh copy from the flash drive?

I want it completely new to get rid of any possible corrupted files.



PLEASE HELP!!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8
I'm also open to anyone who knows why it might be saying can't activate in the first place. I've read a few posts but it seemed like a very complicated fix and could put computer at risk for the workarounds.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1.1 Pro with Media Center
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Gateway
    CPU
    AMD K140 Cores 2 Threads 2 Name AMD K140 Package Socket FT1 BGA Technology 40nm
    Motherboard
    Manufacturer Gateway Model SX2110G (P0)
    Memory
    Type DDR3 Size 8192 MBytes DRAM Frequency 532.3 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI AMD Radeon HD 7310 Graphics
    Sound Card
    AMD High Definition Audio Device Realtek High Definition Audio USB Audio Device
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Name 1950W on AMD Radeon HD 7310 Graphics Current Resolution 1366x768 pixels Work Resolution 1366x76
    Screen Resolution
    Current Resolution 1366x768 pixels Work Resolution 1366x768 pixels
    Hard Drives
    AMD K140
    Cores 2
    Threads 2
    Name AMD K140
    Package Socket FT1 BGA
    Technology 40nm
    Specification AMD E1-1200 APU with Radeon HD Graphics
    Family F
    Extended Family 14
    Model 2
    Extended Model 2
    Stepping 0
    Revision ON-C0
    Instruction
    Browser
    Opera 24.0
    Antivirus
    Avast Internet Security
I might also add that for some reason it says windows build 9200 watermark on the desktop lower right hand corner. This computer comes brand new installed with windows 8 I don't understand why I can't just do a factory reinstall and activate. The person I purchased from said they never had a problem and had purchased new from dell.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8
If I use produkey it shows the activation key and says it works until I click activate. Then I get the error.

Again, I'm assuming there is no way to fix my current problem. So what I really need to know is how to completely wipe the original windows 8 on this machine and start over with a fresh copy of windows 8 from dell on a usb flash drive.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8
I might also add that for some reason it says windows build 9200 watermark on the desktop lower right hand corner. This computer comes brand new installed with windows 8 I don't understand why I can't just do a factory reinstall and activate. The person I purchased from said they never had a problem and had purchased new from dell.

OK.
I don't know why the vbs won't work.
Maybe it only wrks on 8.1.

Here is another one---

View attachment ShowKey.vbs

This is the original vbs.
It might work.
If you save it to a file you'll have a copy of your Product Key if it works.

Here is mine from both scripts---

screenshot_137.jpg

screenshot_138.jpg
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1.1 Pro with Media Center
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Gateway
    CPU
    AMD K140 Cores 2 Threads 2 Name AMD K140 Package Socket FT1 BGA Technology 40nm
    Motherboard
    Manufacturer Gateway Model SX2110G (P0)
    Memory
    Type DDR3 Size 8192 MBytes DRAM Frequency 532.3 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI AMD Radeon HD 7310 Graphics
    Sound Card
    AMD High Definition Audio Device Realtek High Definition Audio USB Audio Device
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Name 1950W on AMD Radeon HD 7310 Graphics Current Resolution 1366x768 pixels Work Resolution 1366x76
    Screen Resolution
    Current Resolution 1366x768 pixels Work Resolution 1366x768 pixels
    Hard Drives
    AMD K140
    Cores 2
    Threads 2
    Name AMD K140
    Package Socket FT1 BGA
    Technology 40nm
    Specification AMD E1-1200 APU with Radeon HD Graphics
    Family F
    Extended Family 14
    Model 2
    Extended Model 2
    Stepping 0
    Revision ON-C0
    Instruction
    Browser
    Opera 24.0
    Antivirus
    Avast Internet Security
If I use produkey it shows the activation key and says it works until I click activate. Then I get the error.

Again, I'm assuming there is no way to fix my current problem. So what I really need to know is how to completely wipe the original windows 8 on this machine and start over with a fresh copy of windows 8 from dell on a usb flash drive.

When you use the usb from dell it should totally replace your present OS.
You shouldn't have to format anything.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1.1 Pro with Media Center
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Gateway
    CPU
    AMD K140 Cores 2 Threads 2 Name AMD K140 Package Socket FT1 BGA Technology 40nm
    Motherboard
    Manufacturer Gateway Model SX2110G (P0)
    Memory
    Type DDR3 Size 8192 MBytes DRAM Frequency 532.3 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI AMD Radeon HD 7310 Graphics
    Sound Card
    AMD High Definition Audio Device Realtek High Definition Audio USB Audio Device
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Name 1950W on AMD Radeon HD 7310 Graphics Current Resolution 1366x768 pixels Work Resolution 1366x76
    Screen Resolution
    Current Resolution 1366x768 pixels Work Resolution 1366x768 pixels
    Hard Drives
    AMD K140
    Cores 2
    Threads 2
    Name AMD K140
    Package Socket FT1 BGA
    Technology 40nm
    Specification AMD E1-1200 APU with Radeon HD Graphics
    Family F
    Extended Family 14
    Model 2
    Extended Model 2
    Stepping 0
    Revision ON-C0
    Instruction
    Browser
    Opera 24.0
    Antivirus
    Avast Internet Security
Yup, it's strange that it doesn't activate the factory restore automatically...

Try running the diagnostic tool and see what's preventing activation.
 

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

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
Okay, thanks everyone. I did the diagnostics with Dell last night and everything checked out perfectly.

I'm still curious why the operating has a watermark on the desktop bottom right hand corner that says "windows build 9200".

I was hoping that booting from the flash drive would reinstall and delete the entire old operating system on the computer. So this should take care of it.

Also, I'm wondering if I should write down the old activation key or if the dell flash drive will come with its own?

Great forum!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8
Will I have to install drivers separately or does that do it all on its own? I'm normally a mac user so a lot of this stuff is foreign to me.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8
On OEM PC's with factory installed Windows 8.x, the product code is embedded in the BIOS. The Dell recovery thumb drive should read and use it automatically.

On my ASUS Laptop that came with Windows 8.0 Core, if I do a clean install with my MSDN 8.0 ISO, it reads and use the embedded OEM key automatically. 8.0 Core is installed and it activates online automatically.

With the Dell Recovery thumb drive you shouldn't have to install any drivers. If it's what I think it is, it will restore your PC to the factory state. You'll be back to the OOBE, Out Of the Box Experience. All your files will be erased so backup what you want to save now.

If you were to do the clean install with normal (non factory OEM) install media, you may have to install some drivers.
 

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
Okay, thanks everyone. I did the diagnostics with Dell last night and everything checked out perfectly.

I'm still curious why the operating has a watermark on the desktop bottom right hand corner that says "windows build 9200".

I was hoping that booting from the flash drive would reinstall and delete the entire old operating system on the computer. So this should take care of it.

Also, I'm wondering if I should write down the old activation key or if the dell flash drive will come with its own?

Great forum!

The watermark in the lower corner indicates that you are not activated. If you can PM me the diagnostic report, I'll check that everything checks out as Dell reported.

Meanwhile, have you tried the 8.1 upgrade?
 

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
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