Windows 8.1 pro : Reactivation and Genuine key recovery

Dear Bill,

Thanks for the detailed guidance provided. This is the partial update of the items that I have attempted to regain my product key. But this attempt, gave me a hint where things would have gone wrong with my genuine product key.

Step1:

Went to the link, https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/contactus/ where the virtual assistant popped up. The virtual assistant was useless and senseless; it has its own limited set of response and was not good enough to understand my query L

Step2:

Followed the link https://support.microsoft.com/en-au/help/10738/windows-10-get-help-with-activation-errors, which helped me to land on the link https://support.microsoft.com/en-au/help/15083. But no additional useful information.

My Sony laptop was purchased with pre-installed OS, it was bought in December 2013 and working perfect. I am from India and currently in Germany; no way that I could check if there is any product key related information along with the original package L

Step3: Tried my fortune using Jellybeans:

Installed and generated the key. But activation with the generated key threw the error message "The key didn’t work , try a different key" :-( . It means that the generated key is not the original/genuine key that my system had earlier.

Step 4:Belrac advisor 

Installed the same from https://www.belarc.com/products_belarc_advisor

Running the app, gave the hint  "on what would have happened and where things would have gone wrong with my laptop".  On last October (2018), my laptop stopped responding and then booting up. It  was showing lag and hang fo couple of days before it stopped booting up one day. So I took the my system to a laptop repair shop in Gujarat (I was in Ahmedabad, Gujarat when the system crashed). There they diagnosed it as a hard disk crash; then got it fixed with new hard disk and OS re-installed.

At that point, I told them that my system is having original windows product key license and they confirmed to me that the original product key is restored automatically and everything is perfect.

But the below analysis report by Belrac points that there is less chance for the original product key activated.

Step 5: Associating and retrieving the product key with Microsoft account. However I have not done the associating and linking the product key with my Microsoft account this earlier. So no luck here too. L

Step 6: Went to the partner account link provided and registered for call back from Microsoft global support. https://partner.support.services.microsoft.com/en-us/contactus/windows/tech-services/. I had a discussion with the Microsoft support agent and the agent figured that the current key in my system is not an original but a default one. Agent suggested me to get back/call the original vendor/distributor /shop from where I procured the laptop. So I will try that too and post an update tomorrow.

Thanks and Regards,

Smith

This was the easiest one to use for preinstalled I gave you:

"Windows 10 Embedded Product Key Tool"

https://neosmart.net/blog/2014/windows-10-embedded-product-key-tool/

"We’re proud to introduce the immediate release of our newest utility for Windows users: the NeoSmart Technologies Embedded Product Key Tool. Designed for users of Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10, our embedded product key tool will retrieve and display the Windows setup product key embedded in the BIOS or EFI, allowing you to store it for safe-keeping or use it to reinstall Windows with an official Windows setup image."

Thanks a ton Bill :-) :-)

I could generate/retrieve the original product key using 'OEM product key tool' by neosmart. Thanks for sharing the link -https://neosmart.net/blog/2014/windows-10-embedded-product-key-tool/. The tool was pretty simple and easy to use :-)

I used this 'retrieved key' to activate the windows but received the error - 'That key can't be used to activate this edition of windows. Please try a different key'. It seems like the original windows 8.1 build I had in the system and the reinstalled build versions are different. Could you please help me to resolve this as well. Any simple work around for this?

Thanks and Regards,

Smith

There is no public list kept of what key belongs to what edition.

We are just computer users who come here; the same as you are.

You could contact Sony and ask them what did come preinstalled on that exact model number or look it up online and hope multiple editions or versions weren't offered.

Or trial and error until you found the right one:

"Create installation media for Windows 8.1"

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/create-reset-refresh-media

"Download Windows 8.1"

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows8

A similar Tutorial which may also assist you

"Create Installation Media for Windows 8.1"

http://winsupersite.com/windows-8/create-installation-media-windows-81

In the first screen of this very simple wizard, you need to choose the following:

Language. English – en-us if you're in the United States.

Edition. Windows 8.1 (Core), Windows 8.1 N, Windows 8.1 Pro, Windows 8.1 Pro N, or Windows 8.1 Single Language.

Architecture. 64-bit (x64 ) or 32-bit (x86).

_______________________________________

"How to Create a Bootable USB or DVD with a Windows 8 or 8.1 ISO"

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2227-create-bootable-usb-dvd-windows-8-iso.html

   Warning

_____________________________________

To access BIOS/UEFI - UEFI/EFI configuration:

https://neosmart.net/wiki/boot-usb-drive/

_____________________________________

How to clean install:

"How to Do a Clean Install of Windows 8 or Windows 8.1"

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2299-clean-install-windows-8-a.html

Thanks again.

I will work on the suggestions and revert.

Thanks and Regards,

Smith