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XPS-8500 recovery disk/product key
I bought a xps-8500 pc last week and wanted to put win7 on it. I reformatted the drive and installed win7 ok. Now I want to re-install windows 8 and realized I never made a recovery disk (oops).
I ordered and received a dell recovery disk for win8 (thanks for the quick delivery) and when I run the disk it asks for a windows 8 product key (supposed to be embedded in the BIOS.
I used a program to find the product key embedded in the Bios and it gives me my win7 key.
I need a product key for windows 8, what are my options.
DELL-Sandeep P
1.5K Posts
1
August 16th, 2013 09:00
Hi gw3of9,
Welcome to the community.
Please let us know if Windows 8 was shipped with the system. And which version of Windows 8 was pre installed on the system. If you have Windows 8 Home edition shipped with the system and you are trying to install Windows 8 Pro version then it would not work.
Also, make sure that BIOS of the system is updated. Please check this link below to update the latest BIOS:
downloads.dell.com/.../A10.EXE
Keep us posted with the results so we can advise you further.
gw3of9
5 Posts
0
August 16th, 2013 10:00
It came with windows 8 Home, Haven't tried the bios update, will try it when I get home.
I'll keep you advised on progress/result.
gw3of9
5 Posts
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August 16th, 2013 16:00
Updated BIOS (used A10.exe and A11.exe).
OK, Here's what I have and what I've tried.
1) XPS-8500 came with windows 8 home pre-installed
2) I re-formatted hd and installed windows 7 home (did NOT make a recovery disk)
3) ordered and received dell window 8 recovery media.
4) when trying to use recovery disk, windows 8 asks for a product key.
5) updated BIOS (Used USB bootable flash drive), Reset Bios (on motherboard).
6) used Belarc advisor and product key listed was for windows 7.
I'm at a loss on what to try next.
gw3of9
5 Posts
0
August 18th, 2013 19:00
Repost:
Updated BIOS (used A10.exe and A11.exe).
OK, Here's what I have and what I've tried.
1) XPS-8500 came with windows 8 home pre-installed
2) I re-formatted hd and installed windows 7 home (did NOT make a recovery disk)
3) ordered and received dell window 8 recovery media.
4) when trying to use recovery disk, windows 8 asks for a product key.
5) updated BIOS (Used USB bootable flash drive), Reset Bios (on motherboard).
6) used Belarc advisor and product key listed was for windows 7.
I'm at a loss on what to try next.
DELL-Sandeep P
1.5K Posts
0
August 19th, 2013 06:00
Hi gw3of9,
Please check the recovery key is shipped for Windows Home only and not professional. And when you installed Windows 7 on the system did it asked for the product key for the same or not.
If you have any further queries, please feel free to contact us.
gw3of9
5 Posts
0
August 20th, 2013 06:00
The disk I received from Dell (win 8 home) did not have a key.
When I installed windows 7, I used a key that was for windows 7. It was a clean install, not an upgrade/downgrade.
DELL-Sandeep P
1.5K Posts
0
August 20th, 2013 07:00
Hi gw3of9,
Thanks for providing us this information. It could be an issue with the USB key you have received or the motherboard of the system.
Please contact me through a private message by clicking on my name highlighted in blue. On the next page, click the envelope icon and provide your service tag and contact information so I may access your system records.
If you have any further queries, please feel free to contact us.