Reinstall issues after hard drive failure

BlackHawk1

Banned
Messages
6
Hi. I don't know much about Windows 8 so I am looking for some help in this matter. Here's the situation...

A friend of mine has a Acer laptop running Windows 8. When it boots up there's a message that says "No Bootable Device Found." I tested his hard drive and it's a complete failure. I even took it out and hooked it up to a dock to try and view and recover files and it's not readable at all. Below are my questions about it which I hope you can help me with...

1. I know he needs to purchase a new hard drive. 2. He never made recovery media so I guess he must order recovery media from Acer or is there another way around this? Is there a Windows 8 iso for download that I can use to reinstall his OS? What about a OS product code? How do I know what his registration code is? Is it in the BIOS? How can I find it? Any and all help with this is greatly appreciated as I am a novice with Windows 8. Thank you!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Built
    CPU
    i7 6700K
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus VIII Hero
    Memory
    16 Gb G Skill TridentZ DDR4 3400
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel (i7 CPU)
    Sound Card
    RealTek Integrated
    Monitor(s) Displays
    27" Dell SE2717HR
    Screen Resolution
    1920X1080
    Hard Drives
    500GB Samsung 850 SSD, 3TB for backups
    PSU
    EVGA Supernova 750 G2
    Case
    BeQuiet Silent Base 600
    Cooling
    Deepcool Captain 120EX
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Wireless
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    Cable - 100MB Downlink
    Browser
    Edge/Firefox
    Antivirus
    Microsoft
    Other Info
    Sonar Platinum 64 bit recording studio software with MOTU 896Mk3 Hybrid recording interface unit.
I thought that tutorial was only for retail versions of Win8. I stopped at the very beginning where it says...

"If you purchased Windows 8/8.1 and have a "retail" Windows 8/8.1 product key, then this tutorial will show you how to create or download an upgrade Windows 8 ISO or full Windows 8.1 Update ISO file directly from Microsoft."

And...

"You will need to have your Windows 8 or 8.1 product key number from your retail box package OR online order information in the confirmation email for your purchase."

Maybe that tutorial can be edited to note that it also has a section to address OEM versions? Speaking of which... how do I know what version of Windows 8 he had if the hard drive is a total loss?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
Follow Option One: (recommended) Download Windows 8.1 Update ISO File with "Windows Installation Media Creation Tool"

It will allow you to download and create a Windows 8.1 (not 8) bootable flash drive or ISO that can then be used to clean install Windows 8.1 using the embedded Windows 8 key. No need to install Windows 8.

Easiest is to create a bootable flash drive (4GB or larger) then boot from it to start the install.

Good instructions here for that: Clean Install - Windows 8
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro X64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo IdeaCenter K450
    CPU
    Intel Quad Core i7-4770 @ 3.4Ghz
    Motherboard
    Lenovo
    Memory
    16.0GB PC3-12800 DDR3 SDRAM 1600 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Integrated HD Graphics
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP h2207
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050@59Hz
    Hard Drives
    250GB Samsung EVO SATA-3 SSD;
    2TB Seagate ST2000DM001 SATA-2;
    1.5TB Seagate ST3150041AS SATA
    PSU
    500W
    Keyboard
    Wired USB
    Mouse
    Wired USB
    Internet Speed
    3GB Up, 30GB Down
    Browser
    SeaMonkey
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender; MBAM Pro
    Other Info
    UEFI/GPT
    PLDS DVD-RW DH16AERSH
Right, I got that. What I would like to know is how can I tell what version he has... the "regular" basic edition or Pro version? Don't I need to know that so I pick the proper version for download? Thanks!!!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
Open a Command prompt and enter winver. It should say in there what it is.

Also right click on Computer and select Properties. It should also tell you.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro X64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo IdeaCenter K450
    CPU
    Intel Quad Core i7-4770 @ 3.4Ghz
    Motherboard
    Lenovo
    Memory
    16.0GB PC3-12800 DDR3 SDRAM 1600 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Integrated HD Graphics
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP h2207
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050@59Hz
    Hard Drives
    250GB Samsung EVO SATA-3 SSD;
    2TB Seagate ST2000DM001 SATA-2;
    1.5TB Seagate ST3150041AS SATA
    PSU
    500W
    Keyboard
    Wired USB
    Mouse
    Wired USB
    Internet Speed
    3GB Up, 30GB Down
    Browser
    SeaMonkey
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender; MBAM Pro
    Other Info
    UEFI/GPT
    PLDS DVD-RW DH16AERSH
Open a Command prompt and enter winver. It should say in there what it is.

Also right click on Computer and select Properties. It should also tell you.


That can't be done in this case. As noted in my OP...

"When it boots up there's a message that says "No Bootable Device Found." I tested his hard drive and it's a complete failure. I even took it out and hooked it up to a dock to try and view and recover files and it's not readable at all."
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
Right, sorry about that. I read it then promptly forgot it.

The key is embedded in BIOS so as long as you get the right ISO it will read the key and activate. Since you don't know which version, I would try Windows 8.1. If it won't activate then try Windows 8.1 Pro but most likely the first one will work. If not there is still Windows 8.1 Single Language to try.

One of them should work. Time consuming if you have to try multiple ISOs but I can't think of any other way to do it.

I wonder if ShowKeyPlus will run from a WinPE disc/flash drive? If so then that would be a way to determine what version the embedded key shows. I'll see if I can find any info on this and if I do I'll update here.

Edit: So far no luck with ShowKey or ShowKeyPlus from WinPE. KYHI is supposed to have a custom WinPE that it will run from. Waiting for a response to my post asking for a link to it to try.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro X64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo IdeaCenter K450
    CPU
    Intel Quad Core i7-4770 @ 3.4Ghz
    Motherboard
    Lenovo
    Memory
    16.0GB PC3-12800 DDR3 SDRAM 1600 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Integrated HD Graphics
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP h2207
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050@59Hz
    Hard Drives
    250GB Samsung EVO SATA-3 SSD;
    2TB Seagate ST2000DM001 SATA-2;
    1.5TB Seagate ST3150041AS SATA
    PSU
    500W
    Keyboard
    Wired USB
    Mouse
    Wired USB
    Internet Speed
    3GB Up, 30GB Down
    Browser
    SeaMonkey
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender; MBAM Pro
    Other Info
    UEFI/GPT
    PLDS DVD-RW DH16AERSH
The instructions, if you get into the meat of it, says its also applicable to OEM versions. The only difference between a Retail and an OEM is the product key (and the OEM can only be installed on the original PC).
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Built
    CPU
    i7 6700K
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus VIII Hero
    Memory
    16 Gb G Skill TridentZ DDR4 3400
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel (i7 CPU)
    Sound Card
    RealTek Integrated
    Monitor(s) Displays
    27" Dell SE2717HR
    Screen Resolution
    1920X1080
    Hard Drives
    500GB Samsung 850 SSD, 3TB for backups
    PSU
    EVGA Supernova 750 G2
    Case
    BeQuiet Silent Base 600
    Cooling
    Deepcool Captain 120EX
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Wireless
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    Cable - 100MB Downlink
    Browser
    Edge/Firefox
    Antivirus
    Microsoft
    Other Info
    Sonar Platinum 64 bit recording studio software with MOTU 896Mk3 Hybrid recording interface unit.
Custom Win10PE in my sig below - feel free to share as needed - that is the whole purpose - just another tool in the toolbox..
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 3.1 > Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700
    CPU
    I7
    Memory
    24 GB
Use the WIN10PESE x64 ISO (from KYHI's sig) to create a bootable flash drive, boot it then run ShowkeyPlus to get the info on what OS is installed.


Thank you KYHI!!!!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro X64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo IdeaCenter K450
    CPU
    Intel Quad Core i7-4770 @ 3.4Ghz
    Motherboard
    Lenovo
    Memory
    16.0GB PC3-12800 DDR3 SDRAM 1600 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Integrated HD Graphics
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP h2207
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050@59Hz
    Hard Drives
    250GB Samsung EVO SATA-3 SSD;
    2TB Seagate ST2000DM001 SATA-2;
    1.5TB Seagate ST3150041AS SATA
    PSU
    500W
    Keyboard
    Wired USB
    Mouse
    Wired USB
    Internet Speed
    3GB Up, 30GB Down
    Browser
    SeaMonkey
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender; MBAM Pro
    Other Info
    UEFI/GPT
    PLDS DVD-RW DH16AERSH
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