How do I find the product key for Windows 8.1

Thank you !!

No, just the opposite.

Windows 7 major manufacturer OEMs disk have the key on the disk but each manufacturer has a single key for a particular version of Windows so for HP 7 Pro ends -6P6GT. It does not matter that we know the key because when HP sell a computer with Windows 7 preinstalled they put a tag on the BIOS to say the computer has a valid license but not the key itself. Each manufacturer has its own tag so the HP disk will not run on a Dell or a home build.

This has the handicap that ONLY the disks provided by the manufacturer can be used, even if you know the key it still won't work with a standard disk because the activation servers will not accept it.

Windows 8 Computers have the key itself in the BIOS and can run any valid disk for the version of Windows. The Activation engine within Windows will check to see if the key is present and not ask for a key when found. This is why you don't have a key label or any other documented version, it shouldn't be needed. If you extract the key it cannot be used to activate another computer because the Activation Engine does not allow it to be keyed in on the wrong PC. 

One common but incorrect scenario was the installation of Feature pack such as the Pro Upgrade because the dialogue asks for a key. People assumed it wanted the system key but FP's had to be bought and had their own key issued on purchase. I see the question asked frequently but personally I have never needed to use the key.

HairyFool, appreciate your response but wanted to clarify... in the case I described, I purchased "HP 350 G1 Notebook Intel ... Windows 7 Professional 64-Bit with Windows 8.1 Pro License". The Win7 notebook shipped to me with that Win 8.1 Pro DVD.

Are you saying that my Win 8.1 Pro key is on the DVD itself? So I can plug that DVD into any computer and use a key finder to read it off of DVD without installing Win 8.1 on that system? Which key finder would work for this?

I think you are also saying that 8.1 Pro key cannot be used on any other computer and can ONLY be used on the Win 7 notebook that DVD was shipped with. Is that right? In other words, it's a special license key that will ONLY work on one notebook in the world?

Thank you!

P.S. I don't recall exactly all the situations where such key would be useful but I remember reading online one should always extract and write down the key they purchased for various useful scenarios. I was able to find my Win 7 key using built in tool (wmic i think), but for completeness also wanted to extract and write down 8.1 key too.

With Windows 7 OEM  the key is on the DVD with a tag in the BIOS to identify that the computer can use that particular key. With Windows 8 the key is in the BIOS. Key finders can read the key.

However the reason why you don't find the key printed on the system is there was not envisaged any reason for the end user to know it so I am curious as to why you want it.

Hi folks, I bought an HP notebook in 2014 with Windows 7 Pro installed along with Windows 8.1 Pro upgrade DVD. I already found Window 7 Pro license key in my PC, but what I want is Windows 8.1 Pro key WITHOUT installing it.

Can I find it on the provided DVD itself somehow?

Would my PC have both Windows 7 Pro and Windows 8.1 Pro keys already somewhere?

Would 8.1 Pro key be different from Windows 7 Pro key?

Thank you!