I have no idea where the code above was extracted from but Dell has no Ebay values in any kind of original templates saved in their machines. If that machine was sold by Dell last fall, it either must have had the key in the bios or it was kind of manually edited using an 8 DVD or similar source to install 8 including the genuine key (?) To me it looks like a crossover, perhaps an old model which had to go. Sorry guys but this issue is strange. Guess an insider on the Dell line has the right answer for it
Like I said, that "code" is the original system configuration information from the Dell website for the service tag of the machine. If you read past the word ebay "SERVICE CHARGE..., SOFTWARE..., EBAY-ICON, FAVORITE, W8" it says ebay-icon, favorite. Which means theres a link to ebay either in the favorites or on the desktop of the computer. There's also a line on there for Skype, 1VRFT0INFORMATION..., ROYALTY..., W8, SKYPT, SKYPE, and another ebay line that says "EBAY-WEBSLICE, ROYALTY..., W8" Webslice usually shows up as part of internet explorer's preloaded bookmarks, more branding/advertising. Which is QUITE common among OEMs these days and for decades past because ebay and others pay them a bit to put it there. The processor in the machine: Processor, I7-3630QM, 2.4, 4C, IVY, E1, P Isn't an old processor and was the current generation at the time of production (The CPU was only released by intel in 3rd Quarter 2012 and the 4th gen i7's didn't release until mid 2013. It was "shipped" 10/19/12 to Best Buy where it was sold. This is not an old or broken down or modified computer. It's not a windows 7 machine and never has been. It's not an attempt to pirate windows 8. Can we please stop trying to force this away under those headings?
Dell CD contains MicrosoftWindows_CoreEdition_6.2.9200.16384 and LanguagePack en-US of the same version.
my answer never intended to be any kind of insulting you. If this came out like this, take my apology please. To me and others, the situation is strange and so far we have ???? on our foreheads So the Dell DVD has W8 as OS but where did you get the key from?
Wow great post Tito, that was really helpful. I just have a few questions I was hoping you could help me out with. I do computer repair fairly often for family, friends, and acquaintances, and I'm starting to get more and more windows 8 machines. I would really like to streamline the process of reloading them and needed to ask you a few things first. Anyone else who is knowledgeable feel free to chime in as well. 1. Which out of the 3 types of core 8/8.1 is the most common in the US? It seems to me that likely only 1 out of the 3 are prevalent (I could be wrong of course ). I'm mainly talking about store bought computers as that's what I mainly deal with. I'd like to know if I could get away with having just one of these versions in my arsenal of flash drives. 2. Can I install and activate 8.1 on a machine that came preinstalled with 8? Vice-versa? Once again I'd like to cut down on flash drives if at all possible. 3. Another possibly more important reason I ask if I can cut down on flash drives is because of the fact that I'm going to have situations where I'm going to have to guess what version of 8 a computer is running. I get computers sometimes with bad hard drives that are hard to read and even worse computers with dead hard drives or without hard drives at all. What it amounts to is wondering what do I do when extracting the sku and oemm key off of the hard drive isn't an option? Or are they accessible somewhere else? The UEFI? It would really hurt my face to have to download HP or Dell recovery discs :O 4. One more thing. You mention phone activation. Does that mean that I can just install windows 8 (assumming I have the correct version), activate by phone, then skip the rest? Or are there more pre/post-install steps involved? I'm a little fuzzy on the lack of a product key thing with 8. Anyway, any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
@ildani Thanks for the feedback. You can activate 8.1 using 8 OEM: DM keys as it is meant to be a free update for OEM & retail customers. @dannon.37 1. Not possible to say from my place . But I think Core/CoreSL is dominant for mid-range PCs. I recommend you to make a AIO of Core, CoreCSL & Pro. 2. Exactly. Reverse shouldn't be possible as 8.1 key ranges can't be parsed by 8. Btw, why should anyone opt for an old OS?? 3. As I said before, create a AIO, install using the generic keys, after install grab the serial from the MSDM table using any of the mentioned app, chanhe the key & activate. 4. Activation is the last part of the guide, whether by net or phone. I'm not sure what do you mean by 'skip the rest'. @All Happy New Year!!
I don't understand why this "free update" concept is not implemented in Windows 8.1 installation process that would automatically recognize the OEM: DM key and use it.
Because MS has designed the free update to be downloaded only from store (store update automatically recognize these keys). Those users who will use ISO or DVD will be given serial from key ranges.
View attachment 26495 Finally, after one month since announcing, it's maked by WD. Windows 8.0 Single Language (x86 and x64) - DVD (English-United States) 9200.16384.120725-1247_SingleLanguage_HRM_CSLA_X86FREO_EN-US_DVD.ISO Size: 2418 MB (2.36 GB) Language: English (United States) MD5: 24FEAD6E31FA46225E1F75401DB505D6 SHA-1: FD0F8F6C5F1BA252112FF799DE2334AEA993F610 CRC-32: CB5D0F88 9200.16384.120725-1247_SingleLanguage_HRM_CSLA_X64FREO_EN-US_DVD.ISO Size: 3349 MB (3.27 GB) Language: English (United States) MD5: 53E4904515E3A5E7E4637CD3BC8378B7 SHA-1: 4131059525DBAEFCD4D414A411BC0F676CBB026B CRC-32: 381517C5 Now it's time to test these two ISOs in VMWare. I will post some screenshots while installing and configuring. EDIT: Changed filenames.
Now, only SKU of Windows 8.0 which I missing in my collection is Windows 8.0 Country Specific x86. Any chance to find somewhere? EDIT: About Windows 8.0 Single Language ISOs, all files in ISOs are setted on date: 26.07.2012. 08:14 (32-bit) and 26.07.2012. 09:23 (64-bit). EDIT2: I have some problems while copying ISOs from laptop to computer, because I maked ISOs with Windows 8.1 ADK on laptop, and I cannot connect two computers in HomeGroup, I will solve the problems as soon as possible. Sorry for inconvenience. EDIT3: Problems solved. I will test ISOs tomorrow.
Thanks for the reply Tito. I appreciate the responses they helped a lot. I'm still fuzzy on one thing though and I'm pretty sure you'll know what to do so I have to ask . In regards to my third question, what happens if I install the wrong version of windows? Will installing the key convert the version to the correct one? I'm wondering in case an installation of win 8 is unusable and I can't pull the key off of it before reloading it. Thanks.