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How to reinstall on new hard drive
The hard drive on my customer's Inspiron One 2330 died. Obviously, there will not be a recovery partition on the new HDD that I've installed. Since the Microsoft Windows 8 activation key is embedded in the BIOS, how will I be able to activate the OS if I install from a DVD if there is no recovery logic to tell the install routine where to find the key?
Thanks!
Philip_Yip
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July 25th, 2016 15:00
The Product Key is embedded in the UEFI BIOS. It'll be automatically input by Windows 10 TH2 installation media. If you are asked for a product key however then you have used the wrong Edition of Windows 10 TH2 so should use Windows 10 TH2 Single Language:
http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/download-windows-10-oem-and-retail-iso/
Note Microsoft have stated the end date for the free upgrade is in ~3 days so you need to clean install Windows 10 TH2 and activate online before this date.
syokosan
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August 4th, 2016 01:00
In that case, you can please try some third party backup software and with those kinds of software, the issue of windows 8 restore to new hard drive will be resolved easily.
Philip_Yip
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August 5th, 2016 14:00
Great thanks for reporting back your results. In my further testing nothing changed on the 29th. Ignore anything Microsoft said about 1 year. Windows 7 and Windows 8.x OEM keys are treated as Windows 10 keys. :)
ShadRocker
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August 5th, 2016 14:00
Thanks Philip! That one worked without a problem. I actually also got one to activate AFTER the 29th that was never activated to begin with (or so it would seem). It stuck at 99% and so on the 31st I restarted the upgrade from the Assistant and when it asked for a key there was an option to mark it as already activated prior to the July 29 cut off. I chose that and viola! The upgrade completed successfully and was activated. I'm surprised that that PC actually took the upgrade as it was pretty ancient! ;-)
Thanks again!