Restore windows without recovery partition

Question

Hi, I have Inspiron 7537. It came with Windows 8. I had upgraded that to Windows 8.1. After sometime, I required Linux, so I removed Windows 8 and installed Ubuntu. While installing Ubuntu, I accidently allowed Ubuntu to remove all the partition and create a single partition. Before installing Ubuntu, I did create the backup USB stick of my Windows 8 installation. Now, I want to switch back to Windows 8, but whenever I try to restore windows via boot manager, it says 'The required partition not found'. When I try any other installation disk (a Windows 8 disk from my friend', it says 'The installation does not match with the serial key'. How can I restore my backed up windows copy without the recovery partition?

theflash1932 · Answer

When I try any other installation disk (a Windows 8 disk from my friend", it says "The installation does not match with the serial key".

VL media requires the key in the installation media:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2796988

Also, if your computer came with Windows 8, you CANNOT use a Windows 8.x "PRO" installation disc.

Philip_Yip · Answer

Install with a generic key. Then activate using change key, see here:

Windows General

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