My computer came with Windows 8 (non-pro) preinstalled and I would like to do a clean reinstall of 8.1 on a new hard disk. Since there is no OEM key anymore, what should I do to activate once the OS is installed?
Install same 8.1 version and activate with the key of your 8.0 version for that use a keyfinder on your version do not make clean install before save the original key .
what should I do to activate once the OS is installed? It automatically will detect your OEM data then will validate online and activate your system after the installation.
It will pick up the keys for OEM computers that are designed for 8.1. The setup is restricted to key groups of 26xx+ I believe the Win8.0 keys are 17xx and 18xx for Retail and OEM It's a pain in the ass, but it's still possible to find your key. Use the those system checker things that read your key from the bios that these guys are linking.
Could also start putting the Product key checker or w/e its called by w00t in the iso/usb and call it via CMD when installing. So handy.
Terrific idea. It wouldn't be that useful for boot installs since you can't use the key till after setup is done, but to have it on an ISO would be helpful IMO.
Well that is where I use it, on boot (to usb/dvd) installs that require the key. Sometimes when the key is not pulled, I just open CMD and use the key I see in the program. I know it doesn't always work seeing how 8.1 doesn't use all the 8.0 keys but when I was doing this, 8.1 was still preview.
/ipk installs a new product key. /upk is not needed and is more of a pre-caution for the people who upgraded from a preview. activation simply tries to activate using the installed product key. If you don't put in a new key after installing, it will try and fail to activate the default key.
Because he will be installing with a key used only for installation, we run: slmgr.vbs /upk to install the product key that was used to install the OS with. and slmgr.vbs /ipk your-key-here to install the key we want to activate out system with.
Maybe it was that I was using the Core rather than Core Single Language Key? My PC shipped with Windows 8 Core, but I don't know if it was single language or not. Are most of them shipping with Single Language? I have extracted my actual key using a tool, but I don't know which version of Core to install. Is the Core/Pro image able to detect the correct OEM EUFI key? I installed it once, using the generic Core (not Single Language) key, and could not get it to activate.
If you're in the US then I would first try to download the Windows 8.1 RTM ISO and NOT the Single Language Then use the Windows 8 Core default installation key to install, then use your own actual key that you extracted using Belarc Advisor to activate.
Right, but you still need an active internet connection right? unlike the old method of activating Win 7 slmgr.vbs -ilc X:\cert path followed by slmgr.vbs -ipk XXX (key) which worked offline
Duh. You should know by now 8 doesn't work like 7. The commands still do what they should, we are just using them for another purpose then what use to be for.