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Does windows key in BIOS exists even after replacing hard drive?
Hello everyone,
I have Dell Inspiron 15 3000 Series. Recently i had problems with my internal HDD, so I'll have to replace the internal drive and install Windows 8.1 ( as I got the same when I bought the laptop), and i was not provided with the product key at the time of purchase. So i just wanted to know if the Windows key still does exist in the BIOS even after replacing the HDD?
Thank-you
Anonymous
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February 16th, 2016 02:00
Hi,
Thank you for writing to us!
The BIOS doesnt is per configured and will not contain the product key .
If you use the media that was given to you by Dell at the time of purchase then if will not ask for the product key .
Thanks
Robin
Tejas Reddy
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February 16th, 2016 04:00
Well, I hadn't upgraded the laptop to Windows 10. It was running on Windows 8.1 when the HDD crashed. Now i will have to reinstall the OS, but I wasn't provided any product key, so is there anyway to get/recover the key?
ejn63
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February 16th, 2016 04:00
Yes, the Windows 8.1 key is embedded onto the system board. Further, once Windows 10 is installed and activated on the system, you can reinstall Windows 10 without a product key later on -- provided you do not change the mainboard.
Anonymous
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February 22nd, 2016 03:00
Hi,
Thank you for your reply.
Kindly Private message the service tag to the system.
Thanks
Robin
ejn63
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February 22nd, 2016 04:00
You do not need the product key but you will need a Dell OEM recovery media set. Only the OEM media set will read the embedded product key for Windows 8 from the system board. Any non-OEM Windows 8 media will require the purchase of a new license key.