How do I find the product key for Windows 8.1

The only entity that "owns" the software is Microsoft and it will never relinquish that, this is a fairly normal situation for software development, that still applies to this day for the very 1st version of DOS. HP or any other manufacturer do not own the software.

What they sell is a license to use the software and that is only to the end user. What the manufacturer buys is the right to install the software and sell it on to the end user, they never own the software or the license. It is covered by the End User License Agreement and the manufacturer is never the end user. A small manufacturer may buy the installation media itself along with the key and the right to provide it to you the end user, they cannot legally buy the license under those terms and use it themselves. Large manufacturers work slightly differently in that they notify Microsoft how many they have sold and pay the fees afterwards. Both do this on the basis that they provide support not Microsoft.

Windows 8.1 was a departure from the previous system in that it was an upgrade not an update for 8.0 users and free only to them. Any other upgrade requires a new key, 8.0 to 8.1 does not, the free upgrade was only available via the Store and was the 1st time this mechanism was used. This was not that smooth a process and we will have to wait and see how the free Windows 10 is released.

When I talked to rep from MS they said that windows 7 was supplied by the MFG and that it was licensed to the MFG  of the computer and if they made the repairs it would cost me. I contacted HP and they said they were responsible for the repairs and did so at no charge. HP resolved several issues with windows 7 and 8, I have never had to supply a key. A spoke person from MS support stated an upgrade is also not covered with out a charge. I have never had to supply a key as HP and MS said it is in the Bios and would be seen by any upgrade or updates. So I take it that if MS charges for repair of the software and the MFG does not and the MFG says it is there problem then it is the MFG who has ownership.

Micky

Read the terms of the EULA but these are the salient points

If you live in the United States, these affect your rights to resolve a dispute with Microsoft

The license is between you and Microsoft, not the PC Manufacturer

We do not sell our software or your copy of it – we only license it. Under our license, we grant you the right to install and run that one copy on one computer (the licensed computer),

Although technically you do not install the O/S in the 1st place you complete the install by entering your personal details and one screen asks you to agree to these terms. You have the right to reinstall at any time.

update replaces the original software that you are updating**. You do not retain any rights to the original software after you have updated**

Update + update +... original installation is still only one license

Are there things I’m not allowed to do with the software? Yes. Because the software is licensed, not sold, Microsoft reserves all rights

Rights are never relinquished. There are additional terms for OEM restricting transfer but the key point is HP do not OWN Windows licenses. Under the terms enforced on them the best you can say is they own any problems you may have. They have obtained the license on your behalf at a discounted rate because they agree to provide all support. This is the agreement you made when you 1st set up the computer

Yeah they own the support, only.  I bought my ASUS motherboard, Intel processor, Corsair RAM and Samsung SSD etc.. all separately on New egg and put it all together then bought Win 8Pro from microsoft.com.  For people reading this who did not buy a system built by a larger MFG, you won't have a Product Key embedded in your motherboard.  This is when you will install the system ISO yourself from an OEM version of Windows right onto your hard drive and you'll have to enter the Product Key yourself.  So that is why those key finders won't find a product key on a motherboard you bought independently and built up yourself.  A computer packaged by Dell, HP, ACer, Asus, Alienware, iBuyPower etc... i can't speak to with certainty, but i imagine the Product Keys may have come embedded as you say.

It would make since that if a person purchased the software from MS and installed it there would be no reason for them to have to look for it. This is telling me they don’t have a key so they did not install it. I have built many computers over the years and installed the OS from scratch. I have found this day and age that I can build my computer and let HP assemble it and if there is a problem they can fix it. I have 3 computers and have better things to do than build them anymore. I am 74 and have had a computer for many years (MS 3.0). I pretty well know my way around a computer.

Micky