How do I get my original Windows 8 back?

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cruz gomez

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Dec 30, 2014
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I got a computer from a friend which came with no RAM or Hard drive so I bought my self some. I got a temporary windows 8.1 in the mean time while I found a way to get the old windows 8 the computer originally came from. Is there any way to find that old product key it came with or do I have to buy a new version of windows?
 
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RealBeast
Unlike Windows 7, that is not true for Windows 8 OEM -- it can be transferred to another machine if uninstalled from the original.

A lot of good that change in the license makes though, as you cannot use a retail Windows 8 disk to install the OEM, you need the OEM disk, en_windows_8.1_with_update_x64_dvd_4065090, which is only legitimately obtained from MSDN.

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RealBeast

RealBeast

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Sep 13, 2010
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If it is an OEM machine that has the activation key in the bios, you can get it by opening an elevated command prompt (right click run as admin) and type this string exactly then hit return:

powershell "(Get-WmiObject -query ‘select * from SoftwareLicensingService’).OA3xOriginalProductKey"

If it is an OEM, you need an OEM image to reinstall, as the OEM keys do not work with retail disks.
 
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RealBeast

RealBeast

Titan
Moderator
Sep 13, 2010
17,109
474
104,790
Unlike Windows 7, that is not true for Windows 8 OEM -- it can be transferred to another machine if uninstalled from the original.

A lot of good that change in the license makes though, as you cannot use a retail Windows 8 disk to install the OEM, you need the OEM disk, en_windows_8.1_with_update_x64_dvd_4065090, which is only legitimately obtained from MSDN.

 
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