Ideas to ressurect HP Stream Mini Desktop original OS?

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gbwelly

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#237715 14-Jun-2018 18:38

Years ago I deleted all the partitions on my HP Stream Mini Desktop to install retail 8.1 Pro (and subsequently Media Center). I want to move that license to a new computer, but I would like to get the Stream back to the original OEM OS, Windows 8.1 with Bing if I recall correctly.

Anyone have any ideas? I was wondering if I could find the installation media for that version of 8.1 that the hardware ID of the system should let it activate? I have no OEM key stickers on the unit or anything to work with. Anyone got any inspiration?

1101

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#2038058 15-Jun-2018 09:43

it should just use the install key in the bios & automatically activate with that.

Otherwise
There are software tools that can extract the Win8 install key from the bios
wpkey_v1.4.7d (google for it)

then download Win8.1 from MS . Or upgrade to 10 (ie a clean Win10 install)

gbwelly

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#2038063 15-Jun-2018 09:52

I think I am going to have to get a bit shady to source the install media for 8.1 w/ Bing (it was OEM only but apparently it has leaked in the past)

I am hoping to get it activated on 8.1 w/ Bing, then upgrade it to 10 home edition.

Does @nathan have any tips?

Thank you 1101 I'll try out that tool.

askelon

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#2038109 15-Jun-2018 11:11

This page has a list of OEM ones for HP (taken from recovery partitions)

gbwelly

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#2038484 16-Jun-2018 07:53

I am pleased to report that I acquired an IMG file containing Windows 8.1 with Bing. Burned it to DVD and installed it on the HP. It didn't prompt for a key and automatically activated based on the bios. Then I ran the Windows 10 upgrade assistant and this morning I have a machine running activated Windows 10 Home x64 v1709. Now waiting for 1803 update and I can shut it down and find a new home for it.

sparkz25

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#2038493 16-Jun-2018 08:49

you could have just installed windows 10 from usb/cd and avoided the painful upgrade process all together, because the key is in the bios you would have been all good to install it

gbwelly

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#2038517 16-Jun-2018 10:00

I should have put that in the first post. That was the first thing I tried, it wouldn't activate. Presumably that hardware ID was associated with the pro version which had been used on the system.