XPS 8700, can't activate Windows 8.1 after restore

Find the Windows-7 CoA sticker on the machine and use that key.

Windows 10 1809 will take a 7 key.

Windows 8.0 or 8.1 will not.

An XPS 8700 with windows 8.1 would have windows genuine Sticker with the 8.X key in BIOS not on a COA.

Thank you for your reply !!! My XPS 8700 come with preinstalled windows 8.1 without any windows sticker on the computer.

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@George2015 wrote:

Thank you for your reply !!! My XPS 8700 come with pre-installed windows 8.1 without any windows sticker on the computer.

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Some Windows-8 machines had CoA stickers (no burned-in key), and some had key burned into BIOS. If neither, then there is more to this story.

Like you bought it refurbished or motherboard was swapped with one that was missing the burned-in key.... something like that.

this is a PrintScreen image from my activate page:

which was showed it already got a key from the BIOS, but it is not correct or expired.

I have never replaced any hardware in this computer.

Thank you so much! I forgot to mention that I bought the brand new XPS 8700 from Dell in 2014，It came with Windows 8.1 without any sticker on the computer, I didn't know the key burned into BIOS if I knew it I won't upgrade Bios, Was the key lost after Bios was upgraded? 

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@George2015 wrote:

1. I didn't know the key burned into BIOS 

2. if I knew it I won't upgrade Bios, Was the key lost after Bios was upgraded? 

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1. Yes, it is ... but not the first ones (with Dell anyway). Sometimes, there are 2 different motherboards (each way). Also, some "spare parts" motherboards for machines that only come "burned-in" ...still have no burned-in key because you are expected to use the one from the old motherboard (I know, unreasonable/lame request) or buy a new license.

2. I've never heard of that. I've also never heard of a way to change the burned-in key (even if it is experimental hardware or fake/dummy key).

Is there some chance that this was a "beta or evaluation" machine ?

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@George2015 wrote:

1. this is a PrintScreen image from my activate page:

2. which was showed it already got a key from the BIOS, 

 

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1. Are you sure you were connected to the Internet when you did this?

2. Not sure I would interpret it that way.

Can you clarify? 1. You have no Windows 8.1 sticker (like the ones below and if so, what one) and 2. RWeverything shows no MSDM tab? Does it also show no SLIC tab? 3. Have you ever had Windows 10 installed and activated on this machine? 4. Are you using the Windows 8.1 with Update 2 ISO from Microsoft's Media Creation Tool?

The Product Key should not disappear after a UEFI BIOS update although one or two users have reported it going missing after one before.

Thank you so much for your reply. 1. Yes, My XPS 8700 bought from dell brand new, no windows 8.1 sticker. 2. RWeverything shows the key same with the one in the activate failed page.3. I have never upgraded it to windows 10 on this machine.4. I restored the system using refreshing pc option because I can't back up the full 2 TB files to an external drive. 

This is my email invoice I don't know what edition windows 8.1 it just says: Windows 8.1 (64Bit) English

210-AACE XPS 8700 1 999.99 999.99
318-2249 Integrated 7.1 with WAVE MAXXAudio 4 1
321-BBBH XPS 8700, Black Chassis 1
340-AGUD Safety/Environment and Regulatory Guide (English/French) 1
370-AACT 16GB Dual Channel DDR3L 1600MHz (4GBx4) 1
400-AADU 2TB 7200 rpm Hard Drive + 32GB mSATA Solid State Drive 1
429-AAAG Tray load DVD Drive (Reads and Writes to DVD/CD) 1
450-AAGO US Power Cord 1
480-AACF Monitor not included 1
490-BBVZ NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750Ti 2GB DDR5 1
520-AAAO No Speaker Requested 1
555-BBPT Dell SRV Software 7260AC 1
555-BCFW Intel(R) 7260AC + BT4.0 [802.11ac + Bluetooth 4.0, Dual Band 2.4&5 GHz,2x2] 1
570-AAAG Dell USB 6-Button Laser Mouse 1
580-AAFY Dell KB213 Wired Multimedia Keyboard, US-English 1
619-ADTB Windows 8.1 (64Bit) English 1
960-8700 Warranty Support, Initial Year 1
992-7983 Dell Limited Hardware Warranty, Initial Year 1
992-8003 Dell Limited Hardware Warranty Plus In-Home Service After Remote Diagnosis, Initial Year 1
332-0550 Dell.com Order 1
332-1530 Dell.com Order 1
338-BEWQ 4th Generation Intel Core i7-4790 processor (8M Cache, up to 4.0 GHz) 1
340-ACQQ No Option Included 1
340-AGUB XPS 8700 Placemat 1
340-AJVI SHIP,XPS,L10,FXCN,8700,NCE,DAO 1
387-BBCE No Energy Star 1
410-0565 Document Reader Included 1
461-AAAN McAfee LiveSafe 12 Month Subscription 1
469-2486 CFI Not Included 1
630-AAAV Software: Microsoft Office 2013 Trial, MUI 1
658-BBTV Cyberlink Media Suite Essentials for Windows 8.1 without Media 1
658-BCCU Additional Software 1
800-BBEV Thank you for Choosing Dell

Okay so the sticker may have just peeled off. RWEverything shows a MSDM tab and key meaning you have one and if it is shown on the activation page, it is input correctly during installation meaning the correct edition of Windows 8.1 is installed.

At this stage, I would advise clean installing Windows 10 Version 1809 using the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool (Version 1903 should be out in a week or two). Windows 10 installation media will automatically input this Windows 8.1 product key during installation and should activate when online. Windows 8.1 reached End of Mainstream Support in January 2018 and many of the activation issues from Windows 8 and Windows 10 Version 1507 were fixed in Windows 10 Version 1511 and these fixes remain in place with later Windows 10 Versions.

Otherwise press [Windows] and [ r ] and type in "slui 4" without the quotation marks. This should take you to Microsoft's phone activation.

A third Option that works with Windows 10 1809 is an OEM System Builder DVD and an external USB 2.0 Blueray Drive.

You buy a Disk hopefully a current one and then Boot From it Via F12 and install.

When you install if it asks for a KEY you tell it "I DONT HAVE A KEY" and install either Home or PRO.

Then you use your Windows 7 Home or PRO key from the COA sticker to activate.

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/lg-8x-external-usb-2-0-blu-ray-disc-double-layer-dvdrw-cd-rw-disc-rewri...

This drive and the OEM System Builder Media (WINDOWS 10 OEI DVD) is all you will ever need.

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16832416892

Works on my 2006 Optiplex GX620 as well as my Brand New G7 15  7588 laptop to clean install onto brand new drive.

There is absolutely no difference between Home or Pro Media so you only have to buy a copy of WIN10 Home and you can install on ANY machine whether its Home or Pro.

Works Fine with Windows 7 or 8 or 10 machines from 2006 all the way thru 2019.