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I have to reinstall an Asus laptop with Windows 8 sticker. It doesn't have a license key sticker, and I assume that the key was stored in the BIOS. The OS had probably be upgraded to Windows 8.1 or 10 as I can see a Windows.old folder.

Currently, the partition scheme is so: 

100 Mo EFI
900 Mo Recovery partition
950 Go not allocated (=RAW), which was in fact the Windows partition.

A previous "technician" had installed a dual boot (Windows/Linux) and the recovery tools of Windows are currently no longer working.

I would like doing a fresh install but not loosing the Windows key. The HDD was cloned and the user data could be saved.

From an other computer, I can create an .iso of Windows using Windows Media Creation Tool.

Questions:

  1. In this case, is the best approach to burn a DVD and try running its restore tools?
  2. Is it better to use a Windows 8 DVD or directly a Windows 8.1 DVD?
  3. Should I rather create the DVD using Windows Media Creation Tool or build some .iso from the Recovery partition?

Thanks.

OuzoPower
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  • The key is saved in UEFI and UEFI is what replaces BIOS. You don't have BIOS. And any Windows 8 or newer version can be used to reinstall. –  Jan 25 '18 at 17:13
  • Thank you. I was aware that UEFI replaces the legacy BIOS. I meant "UEFI BIOS", as opposed to the legacy BIOS. – OuzoPower Jan 25 '18 at 19:30
  • **The Windows license key isn't stored in UEFI, its stored in the ACPI table, there is a huge difference.** – Ramhound Jan 25 '18 at 19:57

1 Answers1

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I have to reinstall an Asus laptop with Windows 8 sticker. It doesn't have a license key sticker, and I assume that the key was stored in the BIOS.

The license key to Windows, on all Windows 8.x+ OEM machines, are stored in the ACPI table. The Windows installation environment, for those versions, is able to automatically detect what your key is.

The OS had probably be upgraded to Windows 8.1 or 10 as I can see a Windows.old folder.

You need to determine what version of Windows came with the machine. While it is possible to activate Windows 8.1 installation with a Windows 8.0 key, one cannot use a Windows 8.0 key to install Windows 8.1

I would like doing a fresh install but not losing the Windows key. The HDD was cloned and the user data could be saved.

You can accomplish this in three steps.

  1. Download the current Windows 8.1 Update 1 ISO from Microsoft.
  2. Boot the Windows 8.1 installation environment and delete all partitions on the disk. 3 Install Windows 8.1 on the disk

Is the best approach to burn a DVD and try running its restore tools?

You indicated that somebody already deleted the restore tools.

Is it better to use a Windows 8 DVD or directly a Windows 8.1 DVD?

  • If the system came with Windows 8 then you should install Windows 8 then from within Windows 8 upgrade to Windows 8.1

  • If the system came with Windows 8.1 you should install Windows 8.1 Update 1

Should I rather create the DVD using Windows Media Creation Tool or build some .iso from the Recovery partition?

It does not really matter what method is used to download the ISO. Just download the applicable version of Windows 8.x that came with your system originally.

Ramhound
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  • I did not quote my linked answer because I didn't want to explain how it was possible to install Windows 8.1 with a Windows 8 key. This was for several reasons, the primary reason, I suspect it isn't even applicable. If the machine came with Windows 8, then update the question, and specify the fact. – Ramhound Jan 25 '18 at 17:37
  • Thank you for this very detailed answer. I have no idea if the computer came with the 8 or 8.1 version. Any way to know it easily? I assume version 8, because that is what is written on the sticker. The restore tools are damaged/corrupted or point to a wrong place because the rEFInd bootloader was installed, but there are usually repair tools on the DVD as well, which allow to run the terminal and call utilities like Bootrec with arguments like /fixboot. I assume that the ability to find the license key while reinstalling will depend on how much the content of the EFI partition was altered. – OuzoPower Jan 25 '18 at 19:42
  • @OuzoPower - Just look on the COA sticker that is attached to your device. – Ramhound Jan 25 '18 at 19:58