Windows 8.1 Install won't accept Product Key

[Blue Banana]

Business customer brings in non-booting laptop. Seems like some malware got in there and really messed things up. I tried to get it back into Windows but in the end opted for a N&P.

I pulled the Windows 8.1 SL product key with Hirens. I then used

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/upgrade-product-key-only

and inserted the key into the Windows 8.1 install, but it comes back as 'the product key didn't work, check it and try again'. I checked it over and over and I know it's the correct key. Any help here? I'm stumped.

 

[seedubya]

Do a clean install with a universal key then change the key afterwards and activate?
Universal key
RW Everything

 

[Markverhyden]

Do a clean install with a universal key then change the key afterwards and activate?
Universal key
RW Everything

Since this is a laptop is this an OEM installation? If so the product key is in BIOS and you retrieve it with Using RW Everything as @seedubya mentioned. As far as I know Hiren's does not access the BIOS for key retrieval. So you load W8 then run RW Everything to retrieve the key and then load it.

 

[freedomit]

I thought Microsoft changed the rules and you can just download the 8.1 ISO and it will just activate, no need for a key. Just make sure you get the correct version is Home or Pro

 

[Porthos]

I thought Microsoft changed the rules and you can just download the 8.1 ISO and it will just activate, no need for a key. Just make sure you get the correct version is Home or Pro

They Did

 

[pcpete]

They Did

We have been using wim installs based on our fully updated original 8.1 media. I had no idea we could have downloaded a new version and got around having to enter the product key. Next time we update the images we will fix this

 

[nlinecomputers]

Probably not the correct version. The OP is not in the USA. May need N version or other special version.

 

[Porthos]

The OP is not in the USA.

Did not pay attention. Too many users don't put locations( should be mandatory here)

 

[Blue Banana]

First time I've heard about RWEverything, looks very useful. The Windows was an OEM install. I'll see if I can get the key from the BIOS. Note sure what the key I got from Hirens is then exactly.

 

[nlinecomputers]

Produkey also gets the key from BIOS and it will tell you what version as well.

 

[tf76]

Windows 7 was so much easier to get the product key. Oh well gotta move with the times I suppose. MS have to know what's going on don't they

 

[nlinecomputers]

I've never yet had to get a product key for Windows 8. It has always worked for me.

 

[pcpete]

I've never yet had to get a product key for Windows 8. It has always worked for me.

I actually got a new Lenovo laptop from amazon that came unactivated and had no product key in uefi. I am assuming it was a screw up during the manufacturing process. That was a once in a lifetime event.

 

[Ktex]

Get the latest version of RW, I have used it for about two years now and sometimes it stops responding almost right away, eats up all the memory. If you click on the ACPI (spelling?) tab and it says on the bottom something like building FXXX tables, and it stays there, it failed. Always open task manager and look at how it is responding, if it locks up, end it before it runs out of memory. So far the laptops I had trouble were original win 8.0 installations and I was using win 8.1 disk.