I uninstalled Windows 8 and threw away the retail DVD; any way I can get the key back?

Spacebit · Dec 22, 2015

I bought Windows 8 back in 2012 during their promotional period. I immediately installed it but found that my laptop (HP 2011 model) was overheating. So I uninstalled it and went back to Windows 7.
A year later I tried Windows 8 again, upgraded to Windows 8.1 Pro and the overheating problem persisted. So, quiet angry, I threw away the Windows 8 box, DVD and key and everything. This time I installed a pirated Windows 7 Ultimate because, well, I could. So, I don't have the original Windows 7 Home Basic my laptop came with, I threw away the Windows 8 I bought, and now have a illegal copy of Windows 7 Ultimate.
Present day - I have build a new PC and I read that old Windows 8 keys can activate Windows 10 as long as it is running on only one system. Is there any way I can get the retail key from somewhere inside my computer?

JackNaylorPE · Dec 22, 2015

If 8 is still installed you can recover all your software license keys with Belarc Advisor

captaincharisma · Dec 22, 2015

are you still using a pirated version of windows on your new PC?

unksol · Dec 22, 2015

if you don't have a key Nope buy a copy.

Spacebit · Dec 22, 2015

captaincharisma :

I have not installed anything on my new PC. I was thinking that if I can get my 8 key, I can use it to activate Win10 on my new PC.

captaincharisma · Dec 22, 2015

if you still don't have windows 8 installed with that key then there is no way to get it back

Spacebit · Dec 22, 2015

unksol :

If I download Windows 8 from Microsoft and then install it on my laptop, will it detect that Windows 8 was once installed long ago?

JackNaylorPE · Dec 22, 2015

No... the only way you can download anymore is to provide the key.

unreal9400 · Dec 22, 2015

Not possible since you removed windows 8 completely.
Why not use windows 7 home basic that comes with your laptop?

captaincharisma · Dec 22, 2015

one thing you can check but i don't know how long they been doing this but laptops for the past year or so they have embedded the keys in the BIOS so you can go into the BIOS and check to see if it mentions anything about windows. it would be on the first page displaying all the computer info

its worth a shot but you did mention you threw away the box and the key

Spacebit · Dec 22, 2015

captaincharisma :

Okay thanks.
But I have read that people who have problems like HDD failure just need to replace the hard disk and install Windows 8. It will get automatically activated as the key gets encrypted in the BIOS.
If I download Windows 8 from Microsoft (https://www.microsoft.com/en-in/software-download/windows8) will this apply to me?

Spacebit · Dec 22, 2015

JackNaylorPE :

Sad, but thanks, mate.

captaincharisma · Dec 22, 2015

dude its an old computer so if it was embedded they wouldn't have given you a copy of the key. the best way to check as i previously mentioned is to go into the bios and see if anything about windows is mentioned in the system summary ( the first thing you see when entering the BIOS)

Spacebit · Dec 22, 2015

unreal9400 :

I bought the laptop in 2011. There was a partition for System Restore but I deleted it years ago. And I have installed Windows 8 twice. The Windows 7 Home Basic just got lost in these years.

JackNaylorPE · Dec 22, 2015

It also needs to be mentioned that your original OS that came on the lappie, is tied to the original hardware and will not activate on a desktop system.

These will get you Win 10 home ....

Windows 7 Starter
Windows 7 Home Basic
Windows 7 Home Premium
Windows 8/8.1
Windows 8.1 with Bing
Windows 10 Home

these will get you Win 10 pro

Windows 7 Professional
Windows 7 Ultimate
Windows 8 Pro
Windows 8.1 Pro
Windows 8/8.1 Professional with Media Center
Windows 10 Pro

Personally, I find the cost of Win 10 to be far too high. Only 1 in 9 eligible users have upgraded so far, so MS is now switching to guerrilla install techniques to push the upgrade. You can d/l this utility to stop it

http://blog.ultimateoutsider.com/2015/08/using-gwx-stopper-to-permanently-remove.html

Spacebit · Dec 22, 2015

captaincharisma :

I couldn't find last time I went to BIOS. I will check again but I doubt I will find anything. Thanks anyway!

Spacebit · Dec 22, 2015

JackNaylorPE :

Yep, I am also tired of the GWX thing. But I was just thinking of installing legit OS on my brand new gaming rig.

JackNaylorPE · Dec 22, 2015

Dunno if ya saw this part

It also needs to be mentioned that your original OS that came on the lappie, is tied to the original hardware and will not activate on a desktop system.

Spacebit · Dec 22, 2015

@JackNaylorPE
Ya I saw that.
My initial logic was - if Windows 8 was installed, its key must be encrypted with the BIOS. If that key can be know, I could use it to activate Windows 10 on new PC, because I read with 8.1, MS changed the terms and the keys are not system bound anymore.
I will still try to download and install Win 8 and see if it gets auto-activated.

basroil · Dec 22, 2015

Spacebit :

Windows retail box keys are NEVER ON THE BIOS. Your copy will not be activated at all as you don't have the retail key for it. You must purchase a new key.

JackNaylorPE · Dec 22, 2015

Spacebit :

You'll need to input the key to d/l it for Win 7

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows7

Win 8 is a bit different....
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows8

Spacebit · Dec 22, 2015

basroil :

Spacebit :

Windows retail box keys are NEVER ON THE BIOS. Your copy will not be activated at all as you don't have the retail key for it. You must purchase a new key.

Thank you for the info. So I guess that's it then

Spacebit · Dec 22, 2015

JackNaylorPE :

Spacebit :

You'll need to input the key to d/l it for Win 7

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows7

Win 8 is a bit different....
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows8

Ya I saw the difference, which made me optimistic.

JackNaylorPE · Dec 22, 2015

Don't be

I uninstalled Windows 8 and threw away the retail DVD; any way I can get the key back?

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