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I did a fresh install of Win 8 on my PC, I was told the OEM product key will automatically supplied in the installtion. However, it did not happen in my case... this is the method i used to install Windows 8. Now im stuck with an unregistered Win 8. I'm wondering, now, if there's a way to extract the Product Key from my BIOS?
Edit: my pc came with OEM Windows 8 installed
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Have you tried this tool?
– Synetech – 2012-12-03T04:05:08.373@Synetech yes, this one is great! But the trouble is I've already formatted the OEM win8. The freshly installed Win8 doesn't have a valid product key. That's why I have to go to the BIOS =( – user22105 – 2012-12-03T04:15:44.120
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Hmm, it is strange indeed. It should detect the key in your BIOS. Are you sure your system came with Windows 8? Do you have a sticker or anything? (Also, when you get your system back up and running, you can back up your activation status with this tool so that you don’t end up in this situation again.)
– Synetech – 2012-12-03T04:29:11.893@Synetech I installed with a Win 8 Pro CD and used "the method" (http://superuser.com/questions/512123/installing-windows-8-regular-with-windows-8-pro-cd). If I go to My Computer's Properties, it says I have Win 8 (not Win 8 Pro). Thanks for the activation status backup tool, but right now I can't use it because I'll need the product key from the BIOS to activate it first errrrr...
– user22105 – 2012-12-03T04:35:21.1531Yes, you mentioned that thread in the question. What I am asking is whether your system ever came with Windows 8. If it did not specifically say it comes with an OEM copy of Windows 8 pre-installed, then it might-not/probably-doesn’t have a key in the BIOS and instead uses a key on the DVD. Who told you that it had an OEM key? If you got a DVD, then you probably have to use the key on the disc instead. – Synetech – 2012-12-03T05:02:48.537
@Synetech first, my pc has a squared reflective Windows 8 sticker on it. I also called the manufacture(ASUS) technical support line, they verified that the product key is embedded in the BIOS. However, they were trying their best to persuade me to purchase a CD version of Windows 8 from Microsoft. I'm pretty sure I've paid a Win 8 licensing fee when I purchase the pc. I don't want to pay again for the same software =( – user22105 – 2012-12-03T05:08:56.233
If they say it has a key in the BIOS, then you pretty much are guaranteed to have paid for it.
:-/
Have you tried reinstalling to see if picks up the key the second time? Did you actually get the key-entry dialog? – Synetech – 2012-12-03T05:18:31.667@Synetech i know, just try to get more money out of customers X_X. yes, I got the key-entry dialog at installation – user22105 – 2012-12-03T05:22:52.457
Since you used the ei.cfg method with a copy of Win8 Pro, how about seeing if you can somehow get your hands on a copy of Win8 Core/Std to test how that fares with regards to detecting your OEM key? Your problems may entirely be due to trying to trick the installer, which might be preventing embedded key detection. – Karan – 2012-12-03T08:16:26.193