How do I find out what version of Win 8 to install?

S

snortastic

New Member
Messages
16
Location
Irvine, CA
Hi everybody!

I have a laptop with a bad hard drive. So I'm putting a new SSD in it. But as we all know, they don't put a Windows sticker with OS version and product key anymore.

How can I find out what version of Windows 8 or 8.1 to install?

How can I find the Windows 8/8.1 product key without having Windows currently installed or having the sticker?

Is there a way to extract the encrypted key from the UEFI without having the OS currently installed?

Thanks for your help!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro 64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    cyberdime.net
    CPU
    i7-4770K 3.5GHz
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte H87-D3H-CF
    Memory
    8GB DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    GTS450
    Sound Card
    HDAUDIO
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ASUS 24"
    Screen Resolution
    1920X1080
    Hard Drives
    250GB SSD
    1TB WD Black HDD (x3)
    PSU
    Antec 1000
    Case
    NZXT White
    Browser
    Chrome
Last edited:

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.
Excellent advice! Thank you.


Where do I find a Windows 8.1 (core) generic product key? ...What is that?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro 64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    cyberdime.net
    CPU
    i7-4770K 3.5GHz
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte H87-D3H-CF
    Memory
    8GB DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    GTS450
    Sound Card
    HDAUDIO
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ASUS 24"
    Screen Resolution
    1920X1080
    Hard Drives
    250GB SSD
    1TB WD Black HDD (x3)
    PSU
    Antec 1000
    Case
    NZXT White
    Browser
    Chrome
Find Product key

Download & run this vbs script if your computer still works to find your keys---

View attachment ShowKey v1.3.vbs

picture---

screenshot_141.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

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.
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