Windows 10: WİNDOWS 8.1 PRODUCTION KEY ERROR AFTER MOVING TO GERMANY

I bought a Windows 8.1 version CD in Turkey in 2013 and I have been installing Windows on my computer with this CD since I bought it. However, I moved to Germany and when I run the CD to format the computer and enter the product key, it gives an activation error and tells me to enter a different product key. The product CD is original and I am sure that I entered the product key correctly. How should I proceed in this situation?

:)

 

Lost Product Key for Windows 8/8.1

The website doesn't send you a new Key; why would they as you already have a Key

.

I have advised you whatr to do with contacting Microsoft.

Or go this path of using a generic key to install then change it to the correct one.

_____________________________________

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

Make sure that you read Section 4 about using generic keys

If you have a retail
Windows 8 product key and want to clean install Windows 8.1
or Windows 8.1 Update, then you would need to enter a generic key below to install unactivated with, and change the product key later on in

step 22 below to activate with your Windows 8 key.

If you have a retail
Windows 8.1 product key and want to clean install Windows 8.1
or Windows 8.1 Update, then you are good.

If you have an OEM Windows 8
product key and want to clean install Windows
8.1 or Windows 8.1 Update, then you would need to enter a generic key below to install unactivated with, and change the product key later on in

step 22 below to activate with your OEM Windows 8 COA product key.

If you want to clean installWindows 8 Enterprise,
Windows 8.1 Enterprise, or
Windows 8.1 Update Enterprise, then you would need to change the product key later on in

step 22 below to activate since Enterprise editions do not ask to enter a key at this step.

_____________________________________

 

Windows 8 Product Key

The 8 key is in the BIOS, but you have trouble installing 8.1 when it originally came with 8.

Read though all of this that I put together ages ago:

Support and downloads for 8 has ended.

Do a clean install of the exact same edition of 8.1 as 8 is.

Windows 8 > 8.1 is a free upgrade released by Microsoft.

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

IMPORTANT: Read the part about generic keys

You can download and create your own Windows 8.1 Installation Media to reinstall the Operating System with..

"Create installation media for Windows 8.1"

Create installation media for Windows - Microsoft Support

"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"

ITPro Today: IT News, How-Tos, Trends, Case Studies, Career Tips, More

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

This will not work to install Windows 8 or 8.1 for UEFI. For that, see this tutorial below instead.

UEFI Bootable USB Flash Drive - Create in Windows

_____________________________________

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

Make sure that you read Section 4 about using generic keys

If you have a retail
Windows 8 product key and want to clean install Windows 8.1
or Windows 8.1 Update, then you would need to enter a generic key below to install unactivated with, and change the product key later on in

step 22 below to activate with your Windows 8 key.

If you have a retail
Windows 8.1 product key and want to clean install Windows 8.1
or Windows 8.1 Update, then you are good.

If you have an OEM Windows 8
product key and want to clean install Windows
8.1 or Windows 8.1 Update, then you would need to enter a generic key below to install unactivated with, and change the product key later on in

step 22 below to activate with your OEM Windows 8 COA product key.

If you want to clean installWindows 8 Enterprise,
Windows 8.1 Enterprise, or
Windows 8.1 Update Enterprise, then you would need to change the product key later on in

step 22 below to activate since Enterprise editions do not ask to enter a key at this step.

_____________________________________

With Windows 8/8.1 The Product Key on preinstalled Operating Systems (HP, Acer, etc) is embedded in the BIOS in the Motherboard, so that the lost and/or worn C.O.A. Sticker problem is no more.

When you reinstall it will pick up the Product Key and activate the system automatically (except clean installing 8.1 with an 8 key).

If it does not, follow these steps:

"How to Activate Windows 8 and 8.1 by Phone"

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/24636-activate-windows-8-phone.html

"Get help with activation errors"

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/activation-errors

"How to activate a Microsoft product by using Microsoft Product Activation Center"

Product activation for Windows – online & support telephone numbers - Microsoft Support

_______________________________________________

How to find the Windows 8 product key:

"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."

You can also use:

"Belarc Advisor - Free Personal PC Audit (Version 8.5c)"

http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

Or:

"Product KeyFinder"

https://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/

Cheers.

 

Windows 8 product key problem

It is is a Retail or OEM license, there is a workaround to installing 8.1 with an 8 key:

Support and downloads for 8 has ended.

Do a clean install of the exact same edition of 8.1 as 8 is.

Windows 8 > 8.1 is a free upgrade released by Microsoft.

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

IMPORTANT: Read the part about generic keys

You can download and create your own Windows 8.1 Installation Media to reinstall the Operating System with..

"Create installation media for Windows 8.1"

Create installation media for Windows - Microsoft Support

"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"

ITPro Today: IT News, How-Tos, Trends, Case Studies, Career Tips, More

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

This will not work to install Windows 8 or 8.1 for UEFI. For that, see this tutorial below instead.

UEFI Bootable USB Flash Drive - Create in Windows

_____________________________________

To access BIOS/UEFI - UEFI/EFI configuration:

Booting from a 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

Make sure that you read Section 4 about using generic keys

If you have a retail
Windows 8 product key and want to clean install Windows 8.1
or Windows 8.1 Update, then you would need to enter a generic key below to install unactivated with, and change the product key later on in

step 22 below to activate with your Windows 8 key.

If you have a retail
Windows 8.1 product key and want to clean install Windows 8.1
or Windows 8.1 Update, then you are good.

If you have an OEM Windows 8
product key and want to clean install Windows
8.1 or Windows 8.1 Update, then you would need to enter a generic key below to install unactivated with, and change the product key later on in

step 22 below to activate with your OEM Windows 8 COA product key.

If you want to clean installWindows 8 Enterprise,
Windows 8.1 Enterprise, or
Windows 8.1 Update Enterprise, then you would need to change the product key later on in

step 22 below to activate since Enterprise editions do not ask to enter a key at this step.

_____________________________________

With Windows 8/8.1 The Product Key on preinstalled Operating Systems (HP, Acer, etc) is embedded in the BIOS in the Motherboard, so that the lost and/or worn C.O.A. Sticker problem is no more.

When you reinstall it will pick up the Product Key and activate the system automatically.

If it does not, follow these steps:

"How to Activate Windows 8 and 8.1 by Phone"

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/24636-activate-windows-8-phone.html

"Get help with activation errors"

Get help with Windows activation errors - Microsoft Support

"How to activate a Microsoft product by using Microsoft Product Activation Center"

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950929/en-us

_______________________________________________

How to find the Windows 8 product key:

"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."

You can also use:

"Belarc Advisor - Free Personal PC Audit (Version 8.5c)"

http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

Or:

"Product KeyFinder"

https://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/

Cheers.