I installed Win 8.1 Update 1 as a clean install from my bootable USB Thumb Drive. I entered the bogus serial to do the initial install. I then used several programs to retrieve the legal serial from the BIOS as this came with Win 8 as it is a Compaq Laptop with 8 preinstalled. It only shows the serial I installed with and not the real one I want as it is the legal one. Sure I activated it with KMS thing but if I have a legal serial then why not use it. I have done this previously with Win 8 and it gave you the real serial from BIOS. How do I get the legal serial from BIOS now with 8.1? Thanks.
Huh, activated Windows 8.1 Update 1 with Windows 8 OEM: DM keys on 2 notebooks, which have been shipped with Windows 8 (Core). As it was first start both activated automatically on first net contact. Or what you're trying to tell?
Windows 8 Core to Windows 8.1 Core Windows 8 Single Language to Windows 8.1 Single Language etc., etc.! And WHERE the OP was mention WHICH Windows 8 were installed? I didn't see that in his post, did YOU?! And WHERE he also mentioned more than ONE Laptop? Please enlighten me!
Calm down, no offense involved . Only referred to your slighly diffuse post and gave an example of two working installs.
Ok this is 1 laptop. It came with Windows 8 Core. I just now cleaned installed Windows 8.1 Core. To install I used the bogus serial that we know thats out there just to get Windows installed. Then you just change the serial to the one that is in the BIOS. I used many programs that have worked for me before but for this install they only give me the key I used to install and not the BIOS OEM Legal key. I hope I have explained better this time.
Thanks for all your replies. What worked was the pkeyui.exe program. It pulled the key out of the BIOS. You folks are great. Thanks.