BIOS-embedded Windows 8 product keys - reinstall troubles?

Those purchasing Windows 8 PCs are noticing that the small "Certificate of Authenticity" that is normally home to the product key is missing, and instead a "Genuine Microsoft" label has replaced it.

This seems to be a cause of concern, and is prompting a number of questions.

Rather than using a sticker, PC manufacturers are instead embedding the product key -- associated with a fingerprint of the hardware -- into the BIOS/UEFI firmware on the motherboard. This is part of Microsoft new OEM Activation 3.0 (OA 3.0) mechanism and has been designed to combat piracy and, according to my OEM contacts, makes it easier for OEMs to order new keys from Microsoft, and even return unused keys back to Microsoft.

But what does it mean to the end user?
Click to expand...

Read more at source:
Will BIOS-embedded Windows 8 product keys cause reinstall troubles? | ZDNet
 
Click to expand...
well with some advice from alphanumeric and some others i solved an issue regarding this as the bios got broken by an update of some kind.

you can just run a windows 8 disc through of the same version.

it picks up the licence key and uses it then activates online.

in the bios you can export the licence key but only in it's encrypted format you need all parts should be a list, key encryption (kek) and so forth.(not actually tried this yet) but similar to other encryption methods i've used.

pop down to a local repair shop and ask for a copy of a windows 8 disc, i mean a copy of the retail version, most will have one...i certainly do. without the key the disc is useless anyway.

without trying to annoy anyone and not condoning piracy but there are sources you can go to for a iso image and burn that to disc/usb for clean install.

lots of options here but if the bios gets screwed up like it did with the one i had, it should when online activate and fix that in the bios as well, how it does that i'm not sure but it has a way of checking with microsoft servers.
 

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gazz9496 said:
without trying to annoy anyone and not condoning piracy but there are sources you can go to for a iso image and burn that to disc/usb for clean install.
Click to expand...

Digital River is recognized as an official legitimate source. But I don't know if the links to Windows 8 are up yet.
 

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FuturDreamz said:
gazz9496 said:
without trying to annoy anyone and not condoning piracy but there are sources you can go to for a iso image and burn that to disc/usb for clean install.
Click to expand...

Digital River is recognized as an official legitimate source. But I don't know if the links to Windows 8 are up yet.
Click to expand...

not checked myself the page is there but the last i checked the links weren't going anywhere yet.
 

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Bios updates could be interesting? Right now for a Windows 7 PC it's a one BIOS fits all deal. My Turbo 5 Model 3 has the same BIOS as any Turbo 5 Model 3. They all have the same OEM SLIC table and matching product Code. With OA3.0 Each Turbo 5 Model 3 has a unique BIOS all its own. The flash routine is going to have to pull the hash from the current BIOS and add it to the new one. Or the manufacturer is going to have to issue a unique (updated) BIOS for each PC on a one on one basis. Anyway, to make a long story short. If this process fails, flashing your BIOS could break your OEM activation. I can see a good chance of another round of "this PC is not genuine" complaints in the future.
 

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alphanumeric said:
Bios updates could be interesting? Right now for a Windows 7 PC it's a one BIOS fits all deal. My Turbo 5 Model 3 has the same BIOS as any Turbo 5 Model 3. They all have the same OEM SLIC table and matching product Code. With OA3.0 Each Turbo 5 Model 3 has a unique BIOS all its own. The flash routine is going to have to pull the hash from the current BIOS and add it to the new one. Or the manufacturer is going to have to issue a unique (updated) BIOS for each PC on a one on one basis. Anyway, to make a long story short. If this process fails, flashing your BIOS could break your OEM activation. I can see a good chance of another round of "this PC is not genuine" complaints in the future.
Click to expand...

OA3tool generates this at build as well as all needed hardware hashes etc.

The OA3 is stored in a section of the BIOS that is marked as locked to prevent changes (unlike the slic tables for older windows). And so is not included in the flashable bioses from the manufacturer.
 

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aramil said:
alphanumeric said:
Bios updates could be interesting? Right now for a Windows 7 PC it's a one BIOS fits all deal. My Turbo 5 Model 3 has the same BIOS as any Turbo 5 Model 3. They all have the same OEM SLIC table and matching product Code. With OA3.0 Each Turbo 5 Model 3 has a unique BIOS all its own. The flash routine is going to have to pull the hash from the current BIOS and add it to the new one. Or the manufacturer is going to have to issue a unique (updated) BIOS for each PC on a one on one basis. Anyway, to make a long story short. If this process fails, flashing your BIOS could break your OEM activation. I can see a good chance of another round of "this PC is not genuine" complaints in the future.
Click to expand...

OA3tool generates this at build as well as all needed hardware hashes etc.

The OA3 is stored in a section of the BIOS that is marked as locked to prevent changes (unlike the slic tables for older windows). And so is not included in the flashable bioses from the manufacturer.
Click to expand...


That was my point, and my fear.

Will a BIOS-flash remove the MS crap or not?

That's ALL I want to know.

If the answer is no, then I will NOT be installing Win 8 retail.

Under ANY circumstances.
 

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Kat said:
aramil said:
alphanumeric said:
Bios updates could be interesting? Right now for a Windows 7 PC it's a one BIOS fits all deal. My Turbo 5 Model 3 has the same BIOS as any Turbo 5 Model 3. They all have the same OEM SLIC table and matching product Code. With OA3.0 Each Turbo 5 Model 3 has a unique BIOS all its own. The flash routine is going to have to pull the hash from the current BIOS and add it to the new one. Or the manufacturer is going to have to issue a unique (updated) BIOS for each PC on a one on one basis. Anyway, to make a long story short. If this process fails, flashing your BIOS could break your OEM activation. I can see a good chance of another round of "this PC is not genuine" complaints in the future.
Click to expand...

OA3tool generates this at build as well as all needed hardware hashes etc.

The OA3 is stored in a section of the BIOS that is marked as locked to prevent changes (unlike the slic tables for older windows). And so is not included in the flashable bioses from the manufacturer.
Click to expand...


That was my point, and my fear.

Will a BIOS-flash remove the MS crap or not?

That's ALL I want to know.

If the answer is no, then I will NOT be installing Win 8 retail.

Under ANY circumstances.
Click to expand...

No this only applies to OEM windows. where it can not be removed from bios.

Retail versions do not add OA3 to the bios. They generate a hardware hash with the supplied key.
 

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Fine.

The WIN 8 RTM is being removed from the 8951 as I speak.

The CP will be removed from this tomorrow.

To Hell with W8. Try to push ME where I won't go....see what happens.
 

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Kat, BIOS SLIC tables have been around since XP, maybe even before that. This embedded code will actually make it easier to do OEM installs. The way it is now with Windows 7 and below, you have to have the matching branded OEM media to reinstall and retain your OEM-SLP activation. Now all you need is a regular Retail Windows 8 or Windows 8 Pro DVD. Clean installs to ditch the bloat ware are going to be easier to do. And as mentioned, your off the shelf bought motherboards won't have it. This embedded code is your Windows 8 license. ASUS, Gigabyte, etc, aren't going to give you a free version of Windows 8 so the code won't be there.
 

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The following comes to mind, spite, face, nose .....
 

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aramil said:
alphanumeric said:
Bios updates could be interesting? Right now for a Windows 7 PC it's a one BIOS fits all deal. My Turbo 5 Model 3 has the same BIOS as any Turbo 5 Model 3. They all have the same OEM SLIC table and matching product Code. With OA3.0 Each Turbo 5 Model 3 has a unique BIOS all its own. The flash routine is going to have to pull the hash from the current BIOS and add it to the new one. Or the manufacturer is going to have to issue a unique (updated) BIOS for each PC on a one on one basis. Anyway, to make a long story short. If this process fails, flashing your BIOS could break your OEM activation. I can see a good chance of another round of "this PC is not genuine" complaints in the future.
Click to expand...

OA3tool generates this at build as well as all needed hardware hashes etc.

The OA3 is stored in a section of the BIOS that is marked as locked to prevent changes (unlike the slic tables for older windows). And so is not included in the flashable bioses from the manufacturer.
Click to expand...

Ah. I wonder if it's possible to move the slic to a separate chip, possibly a removable (and therefore optional) one?
 

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No but you might be able to replace the bios chip with a none windows enabled one.

But why? As it is only a key/table for the software and windows has had this in OEM bioses since xp. It's just encrypted for windows 8. It's not like this is new.
 

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aramil said:
No but you might be able to replace the bios chip with a none windows enabled one.

But why? As it is only a key/table for the software and windows has had this in OEM bioses since xp. It's just encrypted for windows 8. It's not like this is new.
Click to expand...

Exactly what I was trying to say.
 

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It is an issue for me. I have new Dell laptop bought from Best Buy. Best Buy refused to give me my Windows 8.1 key unless I pay $99- which I refused. Yesterday, I tried to create a new partition, since then, my Windows cannot boot up. Though I have created an USB Recovery, but it doesn't work. The Recovery stopped at 53% forever. I phoned up Dell, Dell also refused to support and turned me back to Best Buy. If there a way the I can find my Windows 8.1 key will solve all problem, but how?
 

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    ASUS M4N68T-M V2 µATX Motherboard
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    8GB 4GBx2 Kingston PC10600 DDR3 1333 Memory
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    NVIDIA Geforce GT640 2 Gig DDR3 PCIe
    Sound Card
    VIA VT1708s High Definition Audio 8-channel Onboard
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    22" LG E2242 1080p and 2 19" I-INC AG191D
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024 - 1920x1080 - 1280x1024
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    Crucial MX100 256 GB SSD and 500 GB WD Blue SATA
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    Thermaltake TR 620
    Case
    Power Up Black ATX Mid-Tower Case
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    Stock heatsink fan
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    Logitech Wireless K350 Wave
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    Logitech M570 Trackball and T650 TouchPad
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    80 Mbps Down 30 Mbps Up
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    Internet Explorer 11
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    Windows Defender
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    HP DVD1040e Lightscribe - External USB2
My Dell laptop is only 4 months new. Since I created a new partition yesterday, my Windows 8.1 no longer boot up. My USB Recovery cannot recover it. No way I can use 3rd party software to find out my Windows 8.1 Key. If I have the key, I think I can get a ISO image file from Dell. So I can re-install my Windows 8.1 back to my Dell laptop. That's what I thought.
 

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ccpyue said:
My Dell laptop is only 4 months new. Since I created a new partition yesterday, my Windows 8.1 no longer boot up. My USB Recovery cannot recover it. No way I can use 3rd party software to find out my Windows 8.1 Key. If I have the key, I think I can get a ISO image file from Dell. So I can re-install my Windows 8.1 back to my Dell laptop. That's what I thought.
Click to expand...

Knowing what your key is likely won't help you with Dell. They probably could care less what it is. Proof of ownership and date of purchase should be all they need. You may have to order a set of recovery disks from them and hope they work.
 

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    ASUS M4N68T-M V2 µATX Motherboard
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    8GB 4GBx2 Kingston PC10600 DDR3 1333 Memory
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    NVIDIA Geforce GT640 2 Gig DDR3 PCIe
    Sound Card
    VIA VT1708s High Definition Audio 8-channel Onboard
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    22" LG E2242 1080p and 2 19" I-INC AG191D
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    Crucial MX100 256 GB SSD and 500 GB WD Blue SATA
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    Thermaltake TR 620
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    Logitech Wireless K350 Wave
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    Logitech M570 Trackball and T650 TouchPad
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    80 Mbps Down 30 Mbps Up
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    Internet Explorer 11
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    Windows Defender
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    HP DVD1040e Lightscribe - External USB2
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