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Windows 8 product key?
I bought Dell inspiron 15r turbo laptop and it came with pre-installed OEM version of Windows 8. I want to know my windows 8 product key because in the CONTROL PANEL ,there is option of improve your windows 8 and for that it asks for windows 8 product key. Moreover, if i wanted to format my windows 8 and re-install it then also i need windows 8 product key.
DELL-NIKHIL M
240 Posts
0
November 16th, 2012 04:00
Hi manishchand,
Windows 8 operating system does not go with product key as it is embedded in the BIOS.
In case you are installing the operating system using the DVDs sent by Dell with the system, you will not be prompted to enter the product key.
Please do get back to us on any further assistance.
DELL-NIKHIL M
240 Posts
0
November 16th, 2012 07:00
Hi manishchand,
When you go to the screen to improve windows you will be having 2 options:
1: Enter the product key [this is the product key for the feature package ex: media center that you might have purchased from Microsoft and not the windows product key]
2: purchase product key.
You need to select purchase product key and purchase the featured package you need and Microsoft will send you the product key for that.
Please do get back to us on any further assistance.
Mary G
4 Operator
4 Operator
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20.1K Posts
0
November 16th, 2012 09:00
Don't bother with that 'upgrade for a better version' prompt. You would have to spend $70 for Pro and it is not worth the expense. Media Center is on its way out since most tv, video music is available online. Media Center can only be applied to pro. Read more here: windows.microsoft.com/.../feature-packs
About the key-- it is tied to the computer and stored and validated in the "Cloud." Very little info available about how activation has changed--interesting to research.
DellUsertje
4 Posts
0
November 21st, 2012 02:00
Hi,
Is it possible to reinstall windows 8 in a different language with the same product key? I have a dutch installation and I like to have an English installation.
If it's possible, can you describe how to achieve this? I have a msdn iso of Windows 8 pro.
Thanx!
DELL-NIKHIL M
240 Posts
0
November 21st, 2012 03:00
Hi DellUsertje,
MSDN ISO image that you have is a retail version of Windows 8 pro and will work only with a retail product key.
The product key that is installed in your motherboard is an OEM version and will work only with a dell OEM image.
I would recommend you to do a pc restore and the first option that you will get is choose a language.
Choose the necessary language and see if it works. If this does not work I would recommend you contact local dell tech support and request for an OEM DVD or USB drive.
Please do get back to us on further information or assistance.
DellUsertje
4 Posts
0
November 21st, 2012 03:00
Thanx DELL-NIKHIL M,
I will try your solution.
DELL-NIKHIL M
240 Posts
0
November 21st, 2012 04:00
Hi DellUsertje,
You can definitely try and hope it works.
Please do get back to us on any further information or assistance.
DellUsertje
4 Posts
0
November 21st, 2012 07:00
How do I perform a PC restore? There was no Windows DVD shipped with the XPS 15.
DELL-NIKHIL M
240 Posts
0
November 21st, 2012 08:00
Hi DellUsertje,
Dell will not ship recovery DVD along with the system. There is a Recovery partion on the system which has an image of the operating system so that we can do PC restore.
You can also create your own recovery DVD\USB by using the ‘Dell backup and recovery ‘software which is preinstalled in the system.
Below steps will guide you on how to perform PC restore in Windows 8.
1: Plug in the AC adapter.
2: Point to the right hand corner of the screen to bring up the charms bar.
3: Click Settings.
4: Select ‘PC settings, In the PC settings window, select ‘General’.
5: Once “general is selected, on the right side scroll down to click on ‘Restart Now’ under advanced settings ‘the system will reboot to the advanced start up screen.
6: In the next screen click on ‘Trouble shoot’.
7: Click the Dell Backup and Recovery icon.
8: The system restarts and comes back up, Click ‘Next’ on the Dell Backup and Recovery Screen.
9: The system would be checked to see if the smart repair option can fix the issue, click ‘Next’ once this is done.
10: You will be prompted to select the backup to be used, click the factory image option. Click Next.
11: You will be prompted to back up your files, if needed do so by selecting the option ‘Yes, backup my personal files’ (Make sure to have an external backup hard drive handy.) or select No, Erase my files.
12: The system goes ahead and completes the restore of the operating system. Click Restart when prompted.
13: Follow the on-screen instructions to setup the system with windows.
Please do get back to us on further information or assistance.
DellUsertje
4 Posts
0
November 23rd, 2012 07:00
Hi,
I perfomed all the steps described above and I ended up with a mix of dutch en english, not what I want.
Then I contacted local technical support as suggested by you and they answered with the following email:
===========
Dear Sir,
If windows was ordered originally by you with dutch win8 pre-installed you cant change the language to enlish other then orderign a new windows 8 oem cd and clean installign windows 8 with the eng-us version.
Regards,
Kwame Tackey
Technical Support Specialist
Dell Client Pro Amsterdam
===========
Is there anything you can do about this?
DELL-NIKHIL M
240 Posts
0
November 26th, 2012 05:00
Hi DellUsertje,
Would request you to try the below steps to see if it works.
1: Press windows key, type language and hit enter.
2: You will get a list of language, highlight English and select ‘move up ‘option which is on the top
If it does not work then you need to order a new Windows 8 cd with English version.
Please get back to us on further assistance or information.
Mele20
140 Posts
0
November 26th, 2012 21:00
What if you do a legacy install of Windows 8 Pro? Is the product key embedded in the BIOS in that case?
DELL-NIKHIL M
240 Posts
0
November 27th, 2012 02:00
Hi Mele20,
Operating system reinstall will work by purchasing a Windows 8 OEM CD [ English version ] and yes the product key is embedded in Bios.
Please do get back to us on further assistance or information.
Mele20
140 Posts
3
November 28th, 2012 00:00
Purchasing? For all past OSes Dell has sent a Reinstallation disk free of charge. Why would that change with Windows 8 Pro? I was surprised that there was no Reinstallation disk with the computer. Knowledgeable users reformat immediately and reinstall a clean version of Windows when they get a new system so the disk should be in the box with the new computer.
Dell seems very confused about the Win 8 Pro reinstallation disk and also confused about helping me with my Microsoft downgrade rights to Win 7 Pro. I tried to buy a Win 7 machine before Win 8 was released. I bought the Win 7 Pro machine only to have Dell cancel it a week later because the video card I had chosen (that had been available since May on the XPS 8500 with Win 7), Dell suddenly said was no longer available EVER except on Win 8 machines. So, Dell sort of forced me to buy a Win 8 machine.
If I can get used to Win 8 Pro at this time, I will want to do a clean install and I will want to dual boot Linux or XP Pro and that requires more than simply turning off secure boot in the bios. It appears I will need to install Win 8 in legacy mode so I need the Reinstallation disk.
If I find that I cannot, at this time, get used to Windows 8 Pro then I will want to exercise my Microsoft downgrade rights to Win 7 Pro so I also need that disk. I specifically bought Win 8 Pro rather than plain Win 8 so that I would have downgrade rights to Win 7 Pro.
DELL-NIKHIL M
240 Posts
0
November 28th, 2012 02:00
Hi Mele20,
The reason why Dell is not shipping out CD along with Windows 8 system is because the product key is embedded in the Bios.
I do request you to provide the service tag on a private chat and I will get back to you on the status.
Below details will help you on how to send me a private chat.
I have added you as a friend.
Please accept my friend request by clicking on my name ‘NIKHIL M ’highlighted in blue and then click on “Friends” tab at the top and then click on “Request to Review” and finally click on “Accept” button.
I am sending you a private message as well.
Click on “Inbox” to respond to the message and provide the monitor PPID and contact details so I may access your system records and check for further course of action.
You could also click on Start Conversation to send a private message. Please let me know if this helps.
Please do get back to us on further assistance or information.