Recovering win8 after Asus crash. No one wants to give out the license?

Forums › Microsoft Windows › Recovering win8 after Asus crash. No one wants to give out the license?

arvis

98 posts

Master Geek

#154171 20-Oct-2014 12:32

I was told, the only way to recover windows 8 laptop is to send it to Asus. There is no recovery media.

Also, I am not allowed to transfer the license to another computer (it would be my preference, as I could not wait and installed ubuntu on asus).

Do you have any experience or expertise with these issues?

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729 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1158427 20-Oct-2014 12:52

No, you cannot transfer an OEM license to another machine.

nitrotech

1285 posts

Uber Geek

#1158439 20-Oct-2014 12:59

If you have a windows 8 disk/usb you can re-install the OS - it should pick up with Licence from the UEFI bios (sometimes it doesn't, it also needs to be the correct version).

Failing that there are a number of tools that can extract the key from the bios.

It can be a bit of a drama so I would suggest you take it into a repair shop nearby.

SirHumphreyAppleby

2844 posts

Uber Geek

#1158446 20-Oct-2014 13:15

nitrotech: If you have a windows 8 disk/usb you can re-install the OS - it should pick up with Licence from the UEFI bios (sometimes it doesn't, it also needs to be the correct version).

Good luck. If you come up with a solution that works for Windows 8.1, please let us know.

I often restore my laptop to a clean state. The main reason for doing this is I mostly use it when travelling, and for each trip I have different requirements.

Asus was less than helpful when it came to trying to get Windows 8.1 media. I was told I could use my MSDN disks (these are retail disks), however these do not work - the key is either incompatible with Windows 8.1 or the installer does not pick it up from UEFI. I have to restore to Windows 8, download an update to Windows 8, then finally upgrade to Windows 8.1. Several gigabytes of downloads later (at least double the size of the Windows 8.1 ISO), I can finally use the laptop.

arvis

98 posts

Master Geek

#1158469 20-Oct-2014 13:49

Thanks guys for pointing to the right direction. After 5 minutes research, it took me a few seconds to extract the key from bios in Ubuntu.

$ ls /sys/firmware/acpi/tables
$ sudo hd /sys/firmware/acpi/tables/MSDM

Next step find the installation media...

arvis

98 posts

Master Geek

#1158471 20-Oct-2014 13:52

SirHumphreyAppleby:

I have to restore to Windows 8, download an update to Windows 8, then finally upgrade to Windows 8.1. Several gigabytes of downloads later (at least double the size of the Windows 8.1 ISO), I can finally use the laptop.

Where do you get the media to restore to windows 8?

nathan

5695 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1158584 20-Oct-2014 16:01

arvis: Thanks guys for pointing to the right direction. After 5 minutes research, it took me a few seconds to extract the key from bios in Ubuntu.
$ ls /sys/firmware/acpi/tables
$ sudo hd /sys/firmware/acpi/tables/MSDM
Next step find the installation media... 

Windows reads this anyway, so there actually no need to extract it from UEFI BIOS

1101

3122 posts

Uber Geek

#1159159 21-Oct-2014 12:07

arvis:

Where do you get the media to restore to windows 8?

Good luck finding that. I gave up & borrowed an install USB from the PC supplier we use
I think you can buy install media , or sometimes you can buy recovery CD's from the manufacturer(not cheap).

Try this, may or might not work
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/upgrade-product-key-only

I dont know why MS make this so hard.
Install CD should be supplied with PC & Laptops . Not much chance of piracy as it wont work without valid install keys & MS know how many times a key has been used when its activated .

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Hammerer

2476 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1159178 21-Oct-2014 12:30

Did you install Ubuntu and leave the Windows install in place or what?
Why exactly did you need to do a full recovery?
Did Asus tell you it had to go back to them?

richms

28168 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1159181 21-Oct-2014 12:31

I have in the past just put the key in on the microsoft site and it has given me download links to an iso, put that onto a USB stick with the tool and boot it up on the other computer.

Richard rich.ms

nathan

5695 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1159193 21-Oct-2014 12:45

1101:
arvis:

Where do you get the media to restore to windows 8?

Good luck finding that. I gave up & borrowed an install USB from the PC supplier we use
I think you can buy install media , or sometimes you can buy recovery CD's from the manufacturer(not cheap).

Try this, may or might not work
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/upgrade-product-key-only

I dont know why MS make this so hard.
Install CD should be supplied with PC & Laptops . Not much chance of piracy as it wont work without valid install keys & MS know how many times a key has been used when its activated .

how many people don't have CD ROMs these days?

Windows has built in media creator to make a bootable USB drive to reinstall Windows

Control panel -> create a recovery drive

or

c:\Windows\System32\RecoveryDrive.exe

Often an OEM image will be setup to prompt you to create this when you login for the first time

arvis

98 posts

Master Geek

#1159462 21-Oct-2014 18:37

Hammerer: Did you install Ubuntu and leave the Windows install in place or what?
Why exactly did you need to do a full recovery?
Did Asus tell you it had to go back to them?

The HDD died. Asus said, the only way to recover to send it back to them and they will recover for a fee.

arvis

98 posts

Master Geek

#1159635 21-Oct-2014 21:30

how many people don't have CD ROMs these days?

Windows has built in media creator to make a bootable USB drive to reinstall Windows

Control panel -> create a recovery drive

or

c:\Windows\System32\RecoveryDrive.exe

Often an OEM image will be setup to prompt you to create this when you login for the first time

Who does that? Especially if your laptop has no DVD drive. Who has an empty usb drive lying around to permanently convert into a recovery disc? I don't.

PhantomNVD

2619 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1159654 21-Oct-2014 22:08

arvis:
how many people don't have CD ROMs these days?

Windows has built in media creator to make a bootable USB drive to reinstall Windows

Control panel -> create a recovery drive

or

c:\Windows\System32\RecoveryDrive.exe

Often an OEM image will be setup to prompt you to create this when you login for the first time

Who does that? Especially if your laptop has no DVD drive. Who has an empty usb drive lying around to permanently convert into a recovery disc? I don't.

Really? (!)

I have at least 5 'spare' in various sizes from 2GB upward, one of which has XP/Win7 (different folders = move whichever prefered to root) ISO permanently, and others which are basically just old 'backups', loan sticks, or readyboost drives....

now that 8Gb is sold for less than $10, and sizes keep getting bigger I pretty much just buy a new one every year or so to keep a likely-to-stay-working and larger-sized/faster USB drive .... they are now literally 'as cheap as chips'! :)

arvis

98 posts

Master Geek

#1160156 22-Oct-2014 17:24

Really? (!)

I have at least 5 'spare' in various sizes from 2GB upward, one of which has XP/Win7 (different folders = move whichever prefered to root) ISO permanently, and others which are basically just old 'backups', loan sticks, or readyboost drives....

now that 8Gb is sold for less than $10, and sizes keep getting bigger I pretty much just buy a new one every year or so to keep a likely-to-stay-working and larger-sized/faster USB drive .... they are now literally 'as cheap as chips'! :)

This is why you're an ultimate geek, and I'm a beginner. To be serious, *most* of the people will go with the default (which is no backup disc). Read why here http://nudges.org/

I agree with 1011 that Microsoft is making it way too difficult. I can download any version of linux in minutes.

PhantomNVD

2619 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1160254 22-Oct-2014 19:33

Thanks for the 'nudges' link!

As a Psych major (about 20 years ago now) this was a very interesting read... Especially the 'mom hates this' = kids love it YouTube vid... Want to check out that game myself now!

Btw, ultimate geek just means I talk on here lots :)

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