11 replies to this topic

[+warwagon]

The lack of Windows 8 product key stickers on the side of new desktop and laptops has me a little concerned. Although this could be a really good thing or a really bad thing depending on how my question gets answered.

In the past with windows 7 when a customer would bring me their PC and if that PC needed a reinstall of windows I would use a windows 7 disc and the OEM product key on the side of the machine and windows 7 activated just fine and all was / is good.

Now my HOPE, with the product key embedded in the bios is that when I go to reinstall 8, it will look for the product key in the bios and automatically find it, use it and activate with out issue. Anything other than this scenario would be a complete NIGHTMARE!

So can anyone clarify this for me?

Thanks.

[ThunderBuddy]

Yes from what I've read it will read the key from the BIOS instead of just checking the SLIC table to verify it.

[~Johnny]

From what I've seen on support forums, it's working fine by just picking up the embedded key, so it shouldn't be an issue - skips the key entry step in the installer and activates itself automatically. A saving grace from Laptops IMO (and other portables I guess), where they'd used to tend to stick the sticker on the bottom and after a while it'd be so worn out you couldn't even read the product key anymore.

[HawkMan]

The lack of Windows 8 product key stickers on the side of new desktop and laptops has me a little concerned. Although this could be a really good thing or a really bad thing depending on how my question gets answered.

In the past with windows 7 when a customer would bring me their PC and if that PC needed a reinstall of windows I would use a windows 7 disc and the OEM product key on the side of the machine and windows 7 activated just fine and all was / is good.

Now my HOPE, with the product key embedded in the bios is that when I go to reinstall 8, it will look for the product key in the bios and automatically find it, use it and activate with out issue. Anything other than this scenario will be a NIGHTMARE!

So can anyone clarify this for me?

Thanks.

But people don't need to come to you for a reinstall anymore. It's built into the OS in the form of refresh and full recovery.

[+warwagon]

But people don't need to come to you for a reinstall anymore. It's built into the OS in the form of refresh and full recovery.

Dead hard drives and such. Plus, believe me. Even though it's there and simple, most people still won't even know it's available.

[HawkMan]

Dead harddrives is not a issue over here. 5 year mandated manufacturer fault warranty(reclamation). So within 5 years you send it in for repairs in dead hdd's for repair.

[+warwagon]

Dead harddrives is not a issue over here. 5 year mandated manufacturer fault warranty(reclamation). So within 5 years you send it in for repairs in dead hdd's for repair.

Most PC"s give a 1 year warranty. You also can't take out the drive and send that in because it's from the OEM. You have to go through them and even that's usually covered under the 1 year.

[osuwildlifer]

Heck, I'm getting behind on tech. I didn't even know a Windows key could be embedded in a BIOS. What specs does your PC need in order for this to be possible? And is it possible for a consumer to edit the information or is it hard-coded in somehow?

[+Chris123NT]

The lack of Windows 8 product key stickers on the side of new desktop and laptops has me a little concerned. Although this could be a really good thing or a really bad thing depending on how my question gets answered.

In the past with windows 7 when a customer would bring me their PC and if that PC needed a reinstall of windows I would use a windows 7 disc and the OEM product key on the side of the machine and windows 7 activated just fine and all was / is good.

Now my HOPE, with the product key embedded in the bios is that when I go to reinstall 8, it will look for the product key in the bios and automatically find it, use it and activate with out issue. Anything other than this scenario would be a complete NIGHTMARE!

So can anyone clarify this for me?

Thanks.

It is embedded in the bios, and during a re-install you don't even get prompted for the key, it automatically reads it from the bios. And the beauty is you can use MSDN/Retail media and it still works just fine on OEM machines with the OEM bios key. And it activates just fine as well.

[n_K]

Dead harddrives is not a issue over here. 5 year mandated manufacturer fault warranty(reclamation). So within 5 years you send it in for repairs in dead hdd's for repair.

You probably live in the only place in the world that offers that then, hard drives are 1 year ONLY in the UK unless you get a business hard drive for a server which has 1-3 years warranty (and you pay a bloody huge premium on the cost of the drive).

Heck, I'm getting behind on tech. I didn't even know a Windows key could be embedded in a BIOS. What specs does your PC need in order for this to be possible? And is it possible for a consumer to edit the information or is it hard-coded in somehow?

Yes you can edit it, that's how everyone was getting 'legit' versions of vista and 7 when they didn't have a key, they added in the activation data from somewhere and reflashed it to the BIOS and windows thought it was genuine when it wasn't. Dell did it years ago with their special versions of windows, 'Dell Windows 2000' etc.

[jakem1]

Dead hard drives and such. Plus, believe me. Even though it's there and simple, most people still won't even know it's available.

Surely you would tell them rather than charging them for a service you don't have to offer.

[+Phouchg]

You probably live in the only place in the world that offers that then, hard drives are 1 year ONLY in the UK unless you get a business hard drive for a server which has 1-3 years warranty (and you pay a bloody huge premium on the cost of the drive).

Not really the only place. Doesn't the consumer law of EU require 2 years for pretty much any hardware you can buy (with rare exceptions and except "consumables" like batteries)? Now, stores do offer 1 year (UK stores, again, not, for example, where I am, where up to three years are being honored), but if manufacturers (where you register directly and send on your own expense) also swindle people like that in UK... fscked up place that.