Hi,

Dell copy of does not require the users to key in the product key.

If the computer is booting into Windows, Try doing a factory restore after backing up the data if you have any.

Or a reset would do as well. Regardless of Refresh, Reset, or Restore, Neither of these process require a product key to proceed.

Thank you

Windows 8.1 is not a bad update it is the best update for a Windows 8 system however Microsoft's deployment of it via the Windows Store leads to significantly reduced performance in most cases. Clean install Windows 8.1 with Update 1. See the notes about determining the edition, finding your product key and installing in a UEFI BIOS with SecureBoot:

http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/download-microsoft-windows-and-office/download-microsoft-windows/download-windows-8-1-retail-and-oem-iso/

Hi,

I managed to do a refresh and although all the installed apps had to be re-installed I got my regular behaviour back.

I was still asked to enter in my WIndows activation key.

I found a utility that purportedly finds what the Windows ID & Key are

for the installed version of Windows.ProduKey

Windows Activation then said 'no go', key was not working.

I waited a while and several days later my laptop updated automatically to Windows 8.1

I then tried running ProduKey again and entered in the new/updated windows ID & key:

Product Name      : Windows 8.1
Product ID        : 00179-60240-38949-AAOEM
Product Key       :
Installation Folder : C:\WINDOWS

I still get an err msg about key is not working.

How do I fix this ? I really don't want to reset everything; as far as I'm concerned nothing I did should have reset this beyond repair.. I already have sepnt time/effort to get my Dell laptop at least working like it used to.

Product key removed per forum policy.

Follow the instructions I posted earlier and directly clean install Windows 8.1.