How can I reinstall Windows 8 on an OEM laptop when I don't have the product key?

I bought an Asus x401a laptop for my daughter as a Christmas gift. It comes preinstalled with Windows 8. Yesterday, the unit closed at key and we had to make a hard stop. On reboot, Windows will not start and instead came up with a screen that informed it was an automatic repair. This obviously didn't want to; the unit restarted and launched the auto repair, which once again. The third box... I had a few options: I could update the installation or reset it. There were several recorded files (we only had a few weeks), so I chose Reset, which if I understand correctly, it would clear everything and start over. After a while, another screen informed me that Windows could not reset the computer, who took over the entire process to the wire.

I ran across this process several times, each time with the same result. I do not think that anything is actually wrong with the material (such as menus and other seem to work correctly; I think it's maybe just a corrupted file system) and I'd like to do a reinstall of the operating system, as it came from the factory. This is where I ran into my problem:

  • I can't download the Microsoft operating system legitimately, without providing the product key in the download tool
  • The product key is apparently built into the BIOS and not print anywhere, so I can't find my existing key without some sort of tool
  • Various tools are available to 'sniff' the product key from the BIOS, but because Windows is not running, I can't use them

So my question is: exactly what should be my next step? ASUS would have a copy of the key related to my serial number, etc.. ? Should I install an old copy of Windows 7 just so that I can run a utility to get the key from the BIOS, or who will replace the number by something else? Or is there perhaps some way I can get the key of product directly from you?

I like to keep Windows 8, as my daughter has already learned the interface, but at this point, it looks like this may be impossible by design.

Hello

Thanks for posting your question in the Microsoft Community forums.

I understand that you reinstall Windows 8 in the OEM specifications.

As it is the OEM of Windows 8 version, the system manufacturer will have more details in this regard. I suggest you contact the manufacturer of the system.

http://support.ASUS.com/contactus.aspx?SLanguage=en

Hope the helps of information. If you have questions about Windows, feel free to post. We are here to help.

Tags: Windows

Similar Questions

  • How can I install my Epson Stylus Cx7400 printer copier when I don't have the cd 4 it?

    I have the Epson Stylus Cx7400 printer copier scanner and I don't have the cd 4 it I do not had a 2 when I moved and I got another computer, I was wondering if I can install some knowledge how to get the cd out?

    http://www.Epson.com/cgi-bin/store/support/supDetail.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&OID=89902&prodoid=63069503&infoType=downloads&platform=Windows

    Above is the link to Epson for your printer model.

    Choose your operating system it > download/save the drivers on your desktop > follow the Epson printer Installation Instructions.

    See you soon. Mick Murphy - Microsoft partner

  • I can not actitvate windows because I don't have the product key I bought a used pc

    I bought a used computer and now I can not actitvate windows because I don't have the product key

    http://social.answers.Microsoft.com/forums/en-us/XPInstall/thread/bc4d12bb-d592-4325-80aa-3b26759ad989

    Responded to your other Thread; link above.

    See you soon. Mick Murphy - Microsoft partner

  • I need to know how to re - install photoshop on my new computer. I don't have the product key

    Please help me to re - install photoshop on my new computer. I don't have the product key and can not remember the version I had.

    If all goes well, you registered your product with adobe or, at the least, bought your adobe product.

    If so, you can contact support Adobe and hope for the best: http://helpx.adobe.com/contact.html

  • How can I reinstall Windows XP on my old laptop?

    I had Windows XP Home Premium SP2, and I decided to wipe the HARD drive and install Linux Ubuntu 11.10...

    He was fine, but the laptop seems to be "dissatisfied" Ubuntu on this subject (c. - d-.-it won't let me use the internal fidelity (Wi - Fi) wireless adapter to connect to our home network wireless, canning, freezing, etc.).  I know what the problem is, but the laptop does not accept the proprietary drivers that it so need...
    My question to everyone who reads this post is:
    How can I do to put Windows XP BACK ON w/o a floppy or a product key?  (Product key has been destroyed during the 5 years of intensive use)
    Specifications of the laptop are:
    COMPAQ PRESARIO V6000:
    CPU: AMD Turion 64 X 2 Mobile Technology TL-52 (Dual-Core) @ 1.60 GHz
    RAM: 2 GB
    OS: Ubuntu 11.10 (I want to go back to Windows XP)
    Adapter Wi - Fi internal: Broadcom BCM4311 802. 11 b/g
    320 HARD drive (Seagate, I think)
    Please, if there is anything I can do to get back Windows XP Home Premium on my laptop without a boot disk or the product key, then I would be very happy!  Thanks in advance, everyone!

    If the laptop has a recovery partition, you may be able to restore the computer as long as the plant, otherwise you're pretty much up the proverbial Creek without a paddle...

    John

  • I want to re - install windows xp on my laptop but I don't have the resource cd. I don't have the product key. What can I do?

    Please

    I want to re - install windows xp on my laptop but I don't have the resource cd. only I have the key to product label I can do?

    also my frist question is that if I install this version (xp sp3) with my product key, it will be legal?

    The downloaded file CANNOT BE USED TO INSTALL WINDOWS.

    It is not a question of legal or non-legal.  The file you download is not complete.  The downloaded file will update an existing installation of Windows XP Service Pack 1 or Windows XP Service Pack 2 for Windows XP Service Pack 3.

    Right click on my computer, then select Properties.  The screen say for your version of Windows, including Service Pack?

    Re-installation of Windows may or may not be the right solution for your problems.  If you want to re - install Windows, read this article on the Toshiba site--> http://www.csd.toshiba.com/cgi-bin/tais/support/jsp/outFrm.jsp?ofId=AskIris&searchString=restore+windows+xp&x=7&y=9 in particular the section titled "using the recovery partition Toshiba HDD recovery utility '

  • lost my Windows 7 Home Basic OA CD... but I have the product key

    Hello... I'm Sanou of Bangladesh.

    I recently purchased Lenovo ideapad Y450 with Windows 7 Home Basic OA.

    But I lost the CD.

    I still have the product key in a sticker on my laptop.

    Where can I get the CD and use my existing product key.

    Microsoft will provide the cd if I give them my product key?


    Call Lenovo tech support http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/homeLenovo.do and ask for media replacement.

    JS
    http://www.PAGESTART.com

    Never be afraid to ask. This forum has some of the best people in the world to help.

  • My hard drive failed and I want to re - install Windows Vista. I don't have the disks, but I don't have the product key. How can I reinstall Windows Vista?

    I have a HD that has failed, the fries, I have a license key, but not the disks of Vista.  I want to reinstall Vista, is there a way I can get new drives if I have the license key and how do I get them?  The rest of the machine is original, just a new HD.

    original title: Vista-new disc

    Contact Microsoft support:
    http://support.Microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support

    How to replace hardware or lost, broken, or missing Microsoft software:
    http://support.Microsoft.com/kb/326246/en-GB
    # Replacements for Microsoft software or hardware
    # Trade media (CD to DVD or DVD to CD)
    # Replace product manuals

    J W Stuart: http://www.pagestart.com

  • I am unable to get the computer manufacturer to send the disc to reinstall Vista. I tried to do this task almost 3 weeks. I need to reinstall Vista so that I can upgrade to Windows 7 64 bit. Please help me. I have the product code.

    I mistakenly installed the 32-bit version of Windows 7, and I try to install the 64-bit version.  Info on other forums says there is no way to do it without a disk... I do not have with the computer.

    To go from 32 bit to 64 bit, you have to do with a FULL 64-bit version, by performing a clean install. so I don't see what the problem on Vista reinstall is.

    Unless you have Vista 64 bit, it will not help you upgrade to Windows 7 64 bit.

    How to get Vista recovery Media and/or to use the Vista recovery Partition on your computer.

    There is no Vista free download legal available.

    Contact your computer manufacturer and ask them to send a recovery disk/s Vista set.

    Normally, they do this for a cost of $ small.

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    In addition, ask them if you have a recovery Partition on your computer/laptop to restore it to factory settings.

    See if a manual provided with the computer or go to the manufacturer's website, email or you can call for information on how to make a recovery.

    Normally, you have to press F10 or F11 at startup to start the recovery process...

    Another way I've seen on some models is press F8 and go to a list of startup options, and launch a recovery of standards of plant with it, by selecting the repair option.

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    Ask them if you can also make recovery disk/s for the recovery Partition in case of a system Crash or hard drive failure.

    They will tell you how to do this.

    Every computer manufacturer has their way of doing recovery disk/s.

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    Or borrow a good Microsoft Vista DVD (not Dell, HP, etc).
    A good Vista DVD contains all versions of Vista.
    The product key determines which version of Vista is installed.

    There are 2 disks of Vista: one for 32-bit operating system, and one for 64-bit operating system.

    If install a cleaning is required with a good DVD of Vista (not HP, Dell recovery disks):

    Go to your Bios/Setup, or the Boot Menu at startup and change the Boot order to make the DVD/CD drive 1st in the boot order, then reboot with the disk in the drive.

    At the startup/power on you should see at the bottom of the screen either F2 or DELETE, go to Setup/Bios or F12 for the Boot Menu

    http://support.Microsoft.com/default.aspx/KB/918884

    MS advice on the conduct of clean install.

    http://www.theeldergeekvista.com/vista_clean_installation.htm

    A tutorial on the use of a clean install

    http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/winvista_install_03.asp

    Super Guide Windows Vista Installation

    After installation > go to the website of the manufacturer of your computer/notebook > drivers and downloads Section > key in your model number > get latest Vista drivers for it > download/install them.

    Save all data, because it will be lost during a clean installation.

    See you soon.

    Mick Murphy - Microsoft partner

  • I am trying to reinstall Windows 98 on an old computer, but I don't have the disk.

    I have a windows 98 computer. I wanted to use for my son for small game. I used a boot disk in windows and format the computer and now realize I don't have a windows 98 cd to reinstall the computer. can anyone help me about product keys use and how to do it PLEASE thank you.

    original title: Please HELP!

    I have a windows 98 computer. I wanted to use for my son for small game. I used a boot disk in windows and format the computer and now realize I don't have a windows 98 cd to reinstall the computer. can anyone help me about product keys use and how to do it PLEASE thank you.

    If you want to install Windows 98 and you don't have it, you can buy a copy. You can only buy used copies these days, but if you can find one, it must be very cheap.

  • I bought Acrobt Pro 10 in 2011, but I have a new computer, now I can't figure out how to download it.  I don't have the product key either but I have recorded with Adobe since 2011.  How can I download on my new laptop?

    How can I download Acrobat Pro 10 to a new computer.  I had installed it on an old computer that just died so now with the new laptop, I need to download, but I did not touch more long (cannot find it)...

    Download Acrobat products | Standard, Pro | DC, XI, X

    Install and enter your serial number.

    Quickly find your serial number

    Once you find your serial number, stored safely in case of reinstall futures. The money you paid for the software was really for the serial number.

  • I don't have the product key for Spy Hunter so, how can I get rid of him?

    We installed Spy hunter to get rid of a virus but now Spy Hunter keeps popping up connstantly.  I tried to delete, but I can't not have product key for uninstalling microsoft kit does not any ideas what will be?

    Thank you

    Try http://www.enigmasoftware.com/support/ which is the site of support of Spy Hunter.

  • I want to reinstall my Win 7 home base, it was pre-installed so I don't have the product key, no cd installation?

    I tried Win 8 (trial version) and now I want to re - install my Win 7 Basic Home Edition. It was preinstalled on my lap top so I only have the genuine product key, but no installation cd. How to re - install?

    New computers coming often pre-installed with Windows 7 have what is called a recovery partition. This is used to reinstall an operating system in the case of a system failure. To access it, you need to start when you start your computer by pressing a function key. This can be either F1, F2, F9, F10, F11, F12 key DEL or tab. See the manual that came with your PC for instructions on how to reinstall Windows.

    This is how the recovery partition is available for the most popular brands

    For Dell, press CTRL + F11 directly after switching on the device

    For HP, press F11 directly after switching on the device

    For Toshiba, press and hold "0" BEFORE and during the power upward

    For Acer, press and hold ALT + F10, as soon as you see the logo

    For Asus, press F9, as soon as you see the Asus logo.

    Advent, restart your computer. Then, press F10 repeatedly until the message "Starting system recovery"

    or

    Reinstall Home Basic

    You will need a whole in a single installer disk that you can use to select Windows 7 Home Basic Edition during installation. See the following for instructions:

    For a DVD that contains all the flavors of 32-bit and a DVD that contains all the flavors of 64-bit Windows 7: Starter,Home Basic , Home Premium, Professional and Ultimate see here.

  • How can I reinstall Windows 7 after that my hard drive has been cleaned?

    When I bought my computer, it had Vista on it. I bought and installed Windows 7 later. I just got my hard drive rubbed, and now I'm back to Vista. How to make Windows 7 again? I don't have the product key.

    Hello

    contact where / who you bought Windows 7 from and have your receipt available for purchase when you contact them

    read the information on how to replace the software, etc.

    How to replace Microsoft software or hardware, order service packs and replace product manuals

    http://support.Microsoft.com/kb/326246

  • Updates Windows needed me check that Windows is genuine, but I don't have my product key.

    Vista Premium check

    A few years ago, I bought a second hand PC... It has been a real installation CD of Vista Home basic. However, the computer is running on a Vista Ultimate. Recently I installed the updates, but I needed to verify the copy of vista installed in the PC. It's sad to say, I don't have the product key for the ultimate, but I still have one for the Basic Home Edition. Please help me what to do. I don't know the difference between the basic and premium. Will I get off just my OS to Vista Home Basic?

    In this case, even if the COA sticker is authentic, that's all that you have a license for

    The sticker looks like one of those who here?

    http://www.Microsoft.com/en-us/howtotell/hardware.aspx

    If Yes, then you can reformat and reinstall (after backup your data on external media) using the disc and key - and will end by (hopefully) with a legal basis Home installation.

    You can verify the key before you try - in which case I suggest ringing your local activation center from the list below and ask them about it. They should be able to tell you the story of the activation of the key, and whether or not it is currently ranked as authentic.

    https://www.Microsoft.com/licensing/existing-customers/activation-centers.aspx

    (Tip - If you get an automatic response, leave blank unless there is an option to speak to an operator. It should oblige the operator to pick up)

Maybe you are looking for