Windows 8 Install/ISO/UEFI ???

So I am trying to re-install Windows 8 to get rid of the hideous recovery partition and other crap Lenovo put on my Yoga.

I've started by getting my actual Product Key for W8 with ProduKey.

The next step (according to everyone) is to run the W8 installer, which, after inputting your product key, will let you download the install file. However, when I input my product key, it says "This Product Key cannot be used to install a retail version of Windows 8".

Fine, it's an OEM code -- but it's also the code that's on my machine...

Now, if I were to download a windows 8 ISO from elsewhere, create a bootable USB, and try to install, would I:

1. Even need to input a product key, as my UEFI secureboot BIOS says: "Genuine Product Key"

2. Be able to put in my code...the one that "cannot be used for a retail version"

Any advice is appreciated, as I don't want to be stuck without a laptop, but I also don't want to waste my time talking with Lenovo/MS unless I really have to.

Thanks. And no...factory settings aren't an option, because Lenovo decided the default partition should have 60GB, not 120...

 

- Get a Windows 8 ISO that matches your version (non-Pro or Pro)
- Extract it, dump it on a USB stick of adequate size.
- Convert said installer to be OEM: Windows Setup Edition Configuration and Product ID Files (EI.cfg and PID.txt)
- bootsect.exe x: /NT60 (you of course need a working install to do this) (x: is your USB stick)

Boot USB stick.

 

Ok, I'm fine except for step 3.

I'm not sure what to put in any of the values, or how it should look like.

Code:

[EditionID]
SKU
[Channel]
OEM
[VL]
0

I am guessing Lenovo does not load volume licenses on consumer laptops, so the 0 is fine, but what is the edition ID, SKU, or Channel, I don't know...

I've already tried re-installing once, and except for a Belarc file with some values, I don't have anything from the old PC to compare...Do these values come from my ISO file, or would they need to come from the old install.

EDIT: "Where {Edition ID} must be a valid Windows Edition ID such as Core, Professional and Enterprise"

I found that. I'm going to try leaving the SKU from the example in, and if not, will do Core. I only had the basic W8 edition on the Lenovo, so I hope that's the one...

For the PID file, am I supposed to have [PID] there first? Right now, the text file just says the following:

Code:

Value=XXXXX-XXXXX....

Thanks a lot!

EDIT 2: Did seem to get "core" working in a test...installing now and will confirm. Thanks so much..

EDIT 3: Everything is OK. I installed via a generic CD key (the boot wasn't picking up EI and PID) but then re-ran setup once in the system, which replaced the version with "core", though PID still wasn't picked up. Since it was an OEM Core install though, I was able to say "enter product key" and just enter mine, and it activated fine.

Yay! and 100 GB free!

 

your ei.cfg file will be:

[Channel]
OEM
[VL]
0

That's it. You don't worry about PIDs or any of that.

 

What is this?

"- bootsect.exe x: /NT60 (you of course need a working install to do this) (x: is your USB stick)"

 

How To Use Bootsect /nt60 To Update the Volume Boot Code to BOOTMGR