New HP Laptop = No COA Sticker. How to do a fresh install?

Forums › Microsoft Windows › New HP Laptop = No COA Sticker. How to do a fresh install?

tchart

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#136857 11-Dec-2013 10:18

So, got a new HP laptop this morning. COmes with Windows 7 pre-installed and a seperate Windows 8 install disk (with the usual bloatware).

Im wanting to do a clean install of Windows 8 but there is no COA sticker and I read online that the key is baked into the BIOS andthey no longer supply COA stickers.

I tried a fresh Windows 8 install from a retail version but it didnt pick up the BIOS key.

Is there any way to do a fresh install of Windows 8 and activate it?

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#949199 11-Dec-2013 10:26

If you are using a Retail version of Win 8 you would have a new Key with it ?

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Gilco2

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#949204 11-Dec-2013 10:30

I have a HP laptop and the key is under the battery. Remove battery and you should see the sticker there

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tchart

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#949208 11-Dec-2013 10:36

Gilco2: I have a HP laptop and the key is under the battery. Remove battery and you should see the sticker there

I did see that online but there is no sticker under the battery :(

tchart

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#949209 11-Dec-2013 10:37

KiwiNZ: If you are using a Retail version of Win 8 you would have a new Key with it ?

Correct, I have a key that came with the retail version but I'd prefer not to activate it on this laptop if I can use the HP one.

tchart

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#949210 11-Dec-2013 10:37

KiwiNZ: If you are using a Retail version of Win 8 you would have a new Key with it ?

Correct, I have a key that came with the retail version but I'd prefer not to activate it on this laptop if I can use the HP one.

garvani

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#949211 11-Dec-2013 10:38

It wont activate with a retail disc, thats a different version to what the bios key is. You will need an OEM windows 8 disc.

MikeB4

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#949212 11-Dec-2013 10:41

tchart:
Gilco2: I have a HP laptop and the key is under the battery. Remove battery and you should see the sticker there

I did see that online but there is no sticker under the battery :(

Newer devices have the Key encoded in the UEFI

The Win 8 you have with the device is an upgrade version from Win 7 installed, this will use the UEFI coded key when you upgrade.

andrewNZ

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#949213 11-Dec-2013 10:41

As for how to find the key. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/153626-product-key-number-windows-7-find-see.html

Gilco2

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#949217 11-Dec-2013 10:52

KiwiNZ:
tchart:
Gilco2: I have a HP laptop and the key is under the battery. Remove battery and you should see the sticker there

I did see that online but there is no sticker under the battery :(

Newer devices have the Key encoded in the UEFI

The Win 8 you have with the device is an upgrade version from Win 7 installed, this will use the UEFI coded key when you upgrade.

I know Windows 8 machines but didnt know Windows 7 ones like ops also were hard coded in bios and thought all Windows 7 had coa stickers. Oh well learn something new everyday

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tchart

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#949233 11-Dec-2013 11:33

garvani: It wont activate with a retail disc, thats a different version to what the bios key is. You will need an OEM windows 8 disc.

You're referring to the bloatware restore disc right?

MikeB4

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#949237 11-Dec-2013 11:36

tchart:
garvani: It wont activate with a retail disc, thats a different version to what the bios key is. You will need an OEM windows 8 disc.

You're referring to the bloatware restore disc right?

After installing from the HP supplied discs it does not take that long to dispose of the unwanted software

garvani

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#949239 11-Dec-2013 11:40

tchart:
garvani: It wont activate with a retail disc, thats a different version to what the bios key is. You will need an OEM windows 8 disc.

You're referring to the bloatware restore disc right?

No im referring to an oem (system builders) disc

Batman

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#949260 11-Dec-2013 12:12

I have the same issue

Am told I didn't boot in uefi mode

What the ... isn't my system currently running in uefi mode?!

I also downloaded a Windows 8.1 pro iso from microsoft which didn't take my retrieved key

What the ... You need a different oem 8.1 pro iso? Kidding me!