How do I find the product key for Windows 8.1

That is not strictly correct. Windows will allow you to create a system image of your C: drive complete as it is at that time. The option can be found in the lower left corner of the File History setup page and this does not require 3rd party tools to create or use.

The Windows Recovery USB key can then boot your computer in the case of a complete O/S failure and this can detect the image if on an attached drive. It again requires no 3rd party tools.

Upgrading from Windows 8 to 8.1 does not generate a new key, you have a key. What that key will not let you do is install 8.1 direct. Microsoft have relented to some degree and allow you to download refresh media with that key but will still not allow a bare metal install.

In order for that to happen it would require a special setup image that would accept the 8.0 Product ID held within the key even though installing 8.1. Not impossible but a difficult precedent to start. Product ID filtering is a key component of the anti piracy measures being used.

As those specifically with the issue you describe are relatively few it is unlikely to change.

None of these Product key finders find the Key.  i did the free upgrade and now i need to buy a product key tech support is saying if i ever need to re-install 8.1Pro direct.

You can find a Install media tool on Windows 8.1 which will create an ISO file or a USB install-able media:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/create-reset-refresh-media

That is great(ish) ONLY if you already have a PRODUCT KEY which is not provided through the FREE UPGRADE PROCESS that Microsoft recommends.  This is also only a clean install not a back up of your system with settings updates installed exactly as you had it etc..  So ..

You know that that means if you crash?  you can't perform a recovery or even a reset this way (Read Hairy Fools posts for a solution within Win 8.1) because when it comes time to enter the Product code which is an early step in the install process.  YOU DON'T HAVE ONE!  

My problem wasn't even that bad as i had a Win8 prod code and an install disk so i could use that to re-install the Win 8 system (wiping it completely of course because recovery tools for win 8 don't work on my crashed Win8.1 system) then do updates AGAIN before it allows you to upgrade AGAIN at the Windows Store to 8.1.  An extremely time consuming process.  I'm fairly catatonic right now having watched it go through all these upgrades and updates for a half a day and the research it took to see why i couldn't do what i wanted to do... days. 

It has become clear to me now that due to MS policies that they do NOT issue a new Win8.1 product code after your upgrade NOR activate your Win 8 code to work while installing a 8.1 ISO (that you can get with the link above) because that is not an upgrade, its a bare metal install...so get that out of your head.  They only allow the upgrades from your previous versions of Win 7 and 8 with appropriate updates.  I hope this changes somehow when we get to Win10 later this fall.?

SO BE WARY OF THE FREE UPGRADE TO 8.1 (& Pro) since you won't ever get a PRODUCT KEY from MS through this process.  WHAT I CAN SUGGEST STRONGLY IS THAT AFTER YOUR SYSTEM 8.1 IS RUNNING, YOU GO THROUGH THESE STEPS TO BACKUP YOUR C:// DRIVE SO THAT YOU DON'T LOOSE SYSTEM THAT TOOK FOREVER TO GET TO WHERE IT IS WITH UPDATES AND UPGRADES (A HUGE WASTE OF TIME when you have to jump through all those hoops i outlined above).  

I have been informed (by HairyFool thanks) and even carried out myself Windows' solution for a Win 8.1 recovery tool which allows you to get back to where you were even without a Win 8.1 product key but its two step process and you need a couple things: 1., a spare hard drive with enough space to fit your C drive onto, and 2., a dedicated USB  flash drive with enough room for the  "Create a Recovery Drive"(search for Recovery).  When that is complete, you'll be able to Boot from this USB flash drive in a USB 2.0 (not 3.0) port if you prioritize the hard drives in your BIOS as such and then point it to the system image you've saved on your spare hard drive.

Not exactly the most user friendly especially since the only reason you are reading this right now is because you've already lost your Win 8.1 once already.  If you haven't lost your system yet then you're lucky and so i recommend you DO THIS NOW.

You could also use a Cloning tool (like TodoUS) to "copy" the whole C: drive exactly as it is saved onto a spare hard drive and is another way to save yourself some time in resetting and recovering your computer from a point in time you knew your computer worked the way you wanted it to.  There are many old hard drives floating around out there that you can use for that.

step by step -- look at the top of this page at additional support /

                     on that page look for / Product and Subscriptions / click on that

                    then  scan your device / once it scans look on that same page  for actions should be blue -                   hit product details and wahla it should show your key code .

Well , I also  was having the same problem / question - I just found it easily by going to Microsoft support and on the page you can scan your device , It Showed a newer  key code than the one I originally installed with Windows 8 - I got the free upgrade from Microsoft - I hope this helps everyone.

Go to http://www8.hp.com/us/en/ad/windows-8/upgrade.html this is the HP site for an upgrade to 8.1. If you bought the computer from HP with windows 8 or have installed it I suggest that you give it a try. If your HP was preinstalled your version is not a direct copy from Microsoft but comes from HP, HP is responsible. Yes it is MS windows but HP has the rights to their version. It is a little upside-down but that is the way it works. Give it a try.

Micky

****@msn.com

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