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Reinstalling Windows 8 on an OEM-licensed, OEM-downgraded HP EliteBook?

Tags:
  • Windows 8
  • Hewlett Packard
  • OEM
Last response: in Windows 8
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October 14, 2014 8:42:45 PM

I have an HP EliteBook 8570p that shipped with Windows 7 Professional, installed as a downgrade from an OEM license for Windows 8 Professional. I'm looking to reinstall Windows 8 but I don't have any physical media or recovery utilities with which to burn physical media.

I've tried installing from a downloaded ISO but was prompted for a serial key which, as I understand the UEFI activation mechanism in WIndows 8, should have been automatically extracted from an encrypted store in firmware. I'm guessing the image I used was a retail image and not one for OEM installs, but I'm not positive.

Does HP provide a downloadable installer for a recovery tool that can be used for burning reinstall media that will activate properly? Is there a particular ISO image I should be looking for in order to accomplish this? Can someone point me to a (legal) source for this image/

Also, are there any particular UEFI/BIOS settings I need to verify (e.g. Secure Boot) in order to enable OEM activation?

I am 100% certain this laptop is licensed for Windows 8 - it has a Windows 8 COA but in Win8 fashion, the COA has no product key.

Thanks for any help you can provide.

More about : reinstalling windows oem licensed oem downgraded elitebook

a b * Windows 8
October 15, 2014 4:15:23 PM

OEM activation is tricky, the OEM gets charged for each activation that gets completed. They do the install, tell microsoft the keys they used, then the customer activates the key and the OEM gets charged and the cycle is done.

Down grading from windows 8 to a older version was allowed, but I would ask HP now that you downgraded and want to upgrade back to the original version.
I would expect they will just sell you a set of recovery disks for your machine for windows 8.x. I talked to another person that had the same issue but with lenovo, and lenovo would sell them the recovery disks for $69. I would expect that HP would do the same.
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