excellent tool!
How do I find the product key for Windows 8.1
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Anonymous
Original title: Product Key
I downloaded Windows 8.1 (free) from the Microsoft web site. My understanding was that in doing so, a new product key would be generated. I do not know where/how to find the new product key. Can someone help me out with this? Was I mistaken and do I use the product key I have for Windows 8?
Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Licensing and activation
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191 answers
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Anonymous
2015-05-24T15:53:00+00:00 -
Anonymous
2015-06-11T06:35:28+00:00 I bought a Dell with 8.0 and the freebie to 8.1. Realizing I had no good recovery method in case of crash [oddly enough, dell does not supply one] I found the USB recovery method and file on MS.
Excellent product and installed to USB. At the end of the install, the MS msg said: "You must have valid product key when using this recovery."
Okay, called Dell, dead end. They had the nerve to ask why I would want a recovery disk and product key.
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Anonymous
2015-06-11T06:52:25+00:00 I bought a Dell with 8.0 and the freebie to 8.1. Realizing I had no good recovery method in case of crash [oddly enough, dell does not supply one] I found the USB recovery method and file on MS.
Excellent product and installed to USB. At the end of the install, the MS msg said: "You must have valid product key when using this recovery."
Okay, called Dell, dead end. They had the nerve to ask why I would want a recovery disk and product key.
Likely you have used the wrong Edition for example you have used Windows 8.1 opposed to Windows 8.1 Single Language to install, see here where I give detailed notes:
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Anonymous
2015-06-11T07:13:42+00:00 Thanks but I don't understand. How could I use the wrong edition of Windows? The laptop came with 8.0, and the MS nag screen said I could upgrade to 8.1. I clicked the MS link and it installed 8.1. Works perfectly, and now I have the little MS flag alerting me to Win 10.
How could I do anything wrong?
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Anonymous
2015-06-11T08:21:39+00:00 Thanks but I don't understand. How could I use the wrong edition of Windows? The laptop came with 8.0, and the MS nag screen said I could upgrade to 8.1. I clicked the MS link and it installed 8.1. Works perfectly, and now I have the little MS flag alerting me to Win 10.
How could I do anything wrong?
If its installed and activated without prompting for a product key its the correct edition. If you got the enter product key screen during installation it is the wrong edition.