My current Product Key isn't Valid?

Deus Gladiorum · Aug 21, 2014

Hey guys, so I got a new Acer Aspire V7-582PG laptop with Win 8.1 on it, and it has wayyyy too much bloatware, so I just want to do a fresh install of Windows 8.1. I used some program to find my current PC's product key, and I put it into the Windows 8.1 Setup dialogue box, but it says "This product key cannot be used to install a retail version of Windows 8.1". Anyone know a workaround?

spamdude1992 · Aug 21, 2014

Did it come with a COA on the bottom of the laptop? I wouldn't trust any program to give me my product key...
Also, make sure that the version of Windows you're trying to install is the exact same version that came with the laptop. Same edition (professional, standard?, 32 or 64-bit).

That's all I know, sorry.

Deus Gladiorum · Aug 21, 2014

spamdude1992 :

Win 8 no longer comes with COAs on the bottom of laptops -- instead it's just built into the UEFI. Also, the message I get is distinct from the standard "invalid product key" or whatever that you'd get if it was just a random key, so I know it's the correct key. Damn it, I really hate Windows 8.1...

Bean007 · Aug 21, 2014

You don't need the key at the bottom with your OEM. When you reinstall your OS from the recovery partition the product key is already built into the recovery. If you haven't done so you need to burn the recovery partition to DVD's and keep them safe as that's your only way to reinstall. Then you need to go into your Acer folders and look for recovery.

Deus Gladiorum · Aug 21, 2014

Bean007 :

How would I access the recovery partition and do a complete reinstall? If you're talking about doing a Windows refresh, that'd destroy the point since it'd reinstall all the bloatware I'm trying to remove (I did am refresh earlier).

drumminandstuff93 · Aug 21, 2014

Yeah, unfortunately you can't use the OEM key that was used to originally activate your computer on a retail version of Windows 8. Not quite sure how you can do a clean install though to be honest...

Darkbreeze · Aug 21, 2014

Also, if you registered your installation via a Microsoft account when you first started the system there will be a record of it. If you reinstall the same version of the OS and login during the end of the installation, it will automatically activate the OS using your previous login and system configuration.

Bean007 · Aug 21, 2014

Deus Gladiorum :

No. Laptop's come with a separate partition that has your recovery. You can go to Acer's website and look it up. You'll need to burn the recovery partition to blank DVD's. When you go to reinstalling it will do it on the main partition. However a fresh install will be the same thing as you got from when you purchased it. If you don't like all the bloatware on it then you'll need to just simply uninstall it. You're OEM Recovery and Key is for your system. You can't just go and download some OS 8.1 and use the key underneath. The other reason why you need to burn these as it's your only way to reinstall your OS, if you lose the disks or delete the partition you'll need to buy a replacement disk from Acer or some other site that sells the OEM for that model.

Deus Gladiorum · Aug 21, 2014

Bean007 :

Deus Gladiorum :

No. Laptop's come with a separate partition that has your recovery. You can go to Acer's website and look it up. You'll need to burn the recovery partition to blank DVD's. When you go to reinstalling it will do it on the main partition. However a fresh install will be the same thing as you got from when you purchased it. If you don't like all the bloatware on it then you'll need to just simply uninstall it. You're OEM Recovery and Key is for your system. You can't just go and download some OS 8.1 and use the key underneath. The other reason why you need to burn these as it's your only way to reinstall your OS, if you lose the disks or delete the partition you'll need to buy a replacement disk from Acer or some other site that sells the OEM for that model.

So there's absolutely no way to do a clean install of Win 8 without getting a brand new product key? That's so damn frustrating I can't even...

Darkbreeze · Aug 21, 2014

That's why I always recommend to people to use the Microsoft account the first time they activate the OS. When I reinstall on my HP Envy all I have to do after a reinstall is log in one time using the Microsoft account and it automatically activates based on my login information. I've never needed to use a key or an OEM version. IF you do the account login the first time you can reinstall later with any equivalent version and your login info. Then I just bypass the login screen using the well known login bypass method for the remainder of the time until I install again. Of course, now that I use acronis for installations I don't even need to do that but that's another story.

Bean007 · Aug 21, 2014

Dude, did you not hear me. Make the recovery disk from the recovery partition. Unless you did a noob move and deleted it you can reinstall. You just need to create the disks.

Deus Gladiorum · Aug 21, 2014

Bean007 :

Didn't you say that all the bloatware will just reinstall with it? By a clean install I mean a standard Win 8 install -- vanilla programs and basic drivers, and that's it. If I can't do that, there's no point. Even more frustrating, 90% of these stupid apps don't even work. They seemingly crash or just send me back to the start screen or "metro" or whatever it's called and the fixes I'm looking at aren't helping. Jesus, I work in IT and this shit is making me feel like I'm an old man using a PC for the first time. This is so mind blowingly frustrating for me.

Bean007 · Aug 21, 2014

Uhmm you got a Free OS from them. Just uninstall shit you don't want. If you want a install without all the Acer stuff then you'll need to buy a OEM version with a new key. This is how it's been since the dawn of laptops, this isn't new. They use to give you actual disks with the OS but they have to pay a higher fee I believe so instead they just made a separate partition on the HDD and put the files on there for you to make you own recovery disks.

All you need to do is uninstall anything you don't want, except stuff that pertains to Acer update programs and such as you might just delete the recovery program.

I uninstalled all the crap I didn't need on my HP that was worthless like the 90 day trial of Norton and all the stupid games they put on it, but I got a free OS with it and didn't have to pay xtra money for it.

Next time you buy a laptop or pre-built desktop tell them you don't want all the bloatware and they'll gladly ship you a PC with no OS. You won't get a discount as the OS is included in the price and you're laptop will be a useless pricey paperweight until you buy a OS. However I doubt they'll do this as it's done right as it comes off the factory line but hey you never know.

Deus Gladiorum · Aug 21, 2014

Bean007 :

That's not how it's always been. Previously, you'd not only get a disk with the OS but you'd get a product key as well, or at the very least you were guaranteed that your current product key could be used to reinstall a fresh copy of windows. That's the difference here: a fresh copy versus one that isn't. Uninstalling can only go so far. Even if you uninstall all your bloatware, you still leave behind lots of remnant files that clutter your PC, and that's what bothers me. They didn't give me a free OS, I paid for the PC with the OS (which is why if you'd like to upgrade to the pro version of an OS as a part of your laptop order, they charge you an extra $40 and still put bloatware on). Unless I could create an installation disk that didn't install any bloatware in the first place, it's not the same.

Bean007 · Aug 21, 2014

Deus Gladiorum :

You've always had the product key and you still do. It's assigned to your OEM which was provided to you free of charge. They don't charge you for bloatware. Your OS was provided as part of the package. So you think you won't pay a difference in price from a Home version to a Pro version for a Retail Key???? I think not. They did give you a free OS, it's on your recovery partition.

I'm not gonna bother with this anymore. You're OS is on the recovery partition unless you or somebody else deleted it. You can find the info on how to do this thru Acer's web site and support on how to make the disks and do a fresh from the factory reinstall. If you just want to get rid of the the xtra's they put on your laptop then either uninstall them or go buy a OEM that's not tied to that Companies Laptop and Model. You will find out that this is how it is for Laptops and Pre-Built PC's and it's not going to change. I would suggest that if you don't like this don't buy Laptops or Pre-Built PC's anymore.

I'm surprised that you've only figured this out now. Go buy a new OEM and you'll have your nothing but Windows on it or uninstall stuff that you don't want and not pay anything at all.

Darkbreeze · Aug 21, 2014

Bean007 :

Good luck with that. I've tried doing that with numerous laptop and desktop purchases for myself and clients and I always get the same answer which is we can't do that. There are a few exceptions but for the most part they won't do it.

And you DO NOT want to buy and install an OEM version. OEM versions only allow the OS to be installed on ONE COMPUTER, EVER. So if you change motherboards or build a new rig, you're ass out.

Retail versions will allow you to re-install or reactivate if you change hardware, like the motherboard, and have to reactivate, or if you get a whole new system. They just make you do a phone activation to get a new confirmation number and to verify that you're only using it on one computer. Regardless of how many computers you've previously had it installed on, as long as you don't have it on more than one at any given time, you're fine.

Bean007 · Aug 21, 2014

Darkbreeze :

You're not gonna change the motherboard as were talking about a laptop. It's a throw away computer as they reach there age you try to either sell it off or just throw it away or give it away and buy another one. Not like a desktop. I already know the odds are that it's next to impossible, that is why I said I doubt they'll ever do it. Most people won't buy retail as the cost. Were taking about a average user. The fact of the matter is that he didn't want to have to even go out and buy another one but one was we guess already on his system unless he deleted the partition. Anyway all he needed to do is uninstall the crap he didn't want on his laptop. Plain and simple if he wanted to get rid of stuff that didn't work. He didn't even have to bother with buying another OS. Anyway time to unsub to this one.

Darkbreeze · Aug 21, 2014

Bean007 :

It doesn't matter in the slightest about that, in fact, it's even MORE reason to buy a retail version. That way, when he buys his next laptop or builds a desktop or whatever, he can then install his purchased copy of windows on that device, which he would NOT be able to do with an OEM version. Plus, he'll then have a registered Microsoft purchase if he wants to upgrade later. And the difference between the OEM and Retail versions is like 20-30 dollars, if that.

You know, for a guy who's been a Tom's member since 2005, it's amazing that you haven't earned any expertise badges. Not even one? I wonder why that is?

Darkbreeze · Aug 21, 2014

Deus Gladiorum, if you check out this thread and go down to the 5th post, it should help you out.

http://www.eightforums.com/installation-setup/44415-how-install-windows-8-1-8-1-oem-key.html

My current Product Key isn't Valid?

Distinguished

Honorable

Distinguished

Distinguished

Distinguished

Distinguished

Retired Mod

Distinguished

Distinguished

Retired Mod

Distinguished

Distinguished

Distinguished

Distinguished

Distinguished

Retired Mod

Distinguished

Retired Mod

Retired Mod

Share this page