how to keep windows genuine

Dear friends

I have to change my laptop hard drive , technician says that im getting such problems with the hard drive because it has some bad sectors in it. so i have to change it and use it as a external hard drive.

So my problem is when i replace the hard drive with a new one can i re-install my Genuine windows for the new hard drive. Im not talking about a new copy of it . But the old windows 8.1 to my new hard drive ?

Windows 8 came with my laptop and i want to install it to my new hard drive.

i have my recovery disks

is this a possible task ??
Please help

 

The key should be in the BIOS and if you use recovery discs, it should auto-activate. If it doesn't, call Microsoft and explain your situation, they should sort it out.

 

another option
have you got the licence key number with the original disc. if not and its not on the base of the laptop it might be on a sticker under the battery.

if you still cant find it then you could also try magic jelly key finder https://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/ that is if your hard drive does actually still boot as i had only 2 bad sectors and it caused no end of problems.

 

This is why one should keep their COA if bought separate from the laptop in a secure place. Mine came in a DVD case and I kept it in a safe location so I can find it should I need it again. Also write down your COA on the bottom of you laptop and save it in a txt file or paper somewhere you can find it should the sticker rub off. And if you don't you can always contact M$ and send them your receipt and they most likely will give you a new COA.

 

No need to even re-install, get the new hdd, attach to laptop via usb adapter and clone the failing drive. Swap old for new hdd and reboot.

Upon re-validation it may holler since Windows detects it's installed on a different hdd, but even if regular online-validation doesn't work there's always the automated phone system. That has worked for me several times, even when transferring valid OEM-install between different systems.

The bad sectors will not make a difference in this; they're known, after all, so no data would've been written to them anymore. May want to run " sfc /scannow" before making the clone, just to be certain it's a clean copy.

 

So you are suggesting to install windows 8 to new hard drive and then use my recovery disk to reactivate it?

I dont have any disc or key with it.
I have my dell ID on the laptop battery. Thats all i got.
I purchased this laptop from Dell online store.

Dear friend please tel me what is the meaning of COA?

 

Windows 8.1 will auto activate (like tijo has mentioned in an earlier post) when you install a fresh copy of the OS on the new HDD. Don't worry about it. Please read this to learn about COA. Doesn't concern you with Windows 8.1 now.

 

So how do Microsoft know that my copy is a original one or not. Because i have to use a copy of windows OS which i download from torrent. I dont have any original copy

 

This is the way that Windows 8.1 OS ISO is built. If you have a a Windows 8.1 Pro ISO and your laptop came with just 8.1, it automatically detects and activates the OS install as Windows 8.1 only. You really don't need to bother about what version of OS installing if you choose the most expensive version of the OS (which also includes the other versions). Please search for that information online. You should be able to find it. I have personally tested it out on my laptop and it has worked every time.

You should be good if you download the 8.1 Enterprise Evaluation copy too (unless there is a conflict with the volume license). I have only tried it with Windows 8.1 Pro on a Windows 8.1 machine.

Please correct me if I am wrong.

 

They have absolutely no idea, and they don't care. The vast, vast majority of Windows installs are done, 100% legitimately, with media that did not come from them. Many Windows installs are done with legitimate, but not-stock-from-MS, images.

That said, by using a torrent, you take chances. What's in the torrent.. besides Windows? Do you know? Are you sure?

 

What is the Windows Certificate of Authenticity?

If you have the Product Key from the Original then your Windows O/S install should still work. And when you activate with M$ they will know your Product Keys is registered or a hacked key and if the later will block any updates and force your O/S to work in limited mode. So they won't know your O/S that you own it but your activation will block you into limited operation.

And this is based on what Science? Very shaking grounds I will say here. Yeah right they have no idea and don't care...might want to cut back on the koolaid here. Why do you think they have blacklist.

And your part is only true...if...

They installed with the same matching O/S version it came with...ie Premium with Premium... not Premium to Ultimate...this doesn't work and requires a different Product Key. So too much koolaid here again.

 

Microsoft doesn't care about the image you install from. The entire corporate world is aware of this. There isn't a 10,000 employee company with 10,000 Windows 7 Professional DVDs locked in a cabinet. Many companies, and many individuals, have custom tailored Windows images they create. Microsoft even provides, for FREE, the very tools to roll your own install image. Businesses have images sitting on servers, that they custom tailor to their needs, that they deploy electronically through Windows Deployment Services and whatever other deployment tool they want to use. The install media from MS is just the starting point for these folks, which I am one of. I happen to run the imaging and deployment systems at my work. Science.

Sure it works. Part of the reason Windows 8 went to individually burned keys in firmware stems from how stupidly simple it was to get a computer with a COA for Windows 7, any version, and through some sleight of hand, poof, the "any edition" becomes "Ultimate." No unique key required, and it's done through MS's own mechanisms. I figured out how do that by accident years ago (Vista had the same problem).

 

My laptop came with windows 8 and i have to reinstall it to another hard drive which replace the old one in the same laptop. I dont have any licence key with me or genuine windows disc.
But my windows is genuine.
So dear friends tel me what to do as the remedy for this situation.

 

If your laptop has windows 8.0, then you need windows 8.0 disc. If you have 8.1 then 8.1 disc.

Install disc will read your unique key from the bios and activate. You cannot mix versions though, 8.1 won't activate in 8.0 computer.

The only real bad thing for downloading install disc from torrent is the possibility of having spyware/backdoor/keylogger infected installation. If the disc is somehow modified, you never really know what there could be.

 

Can't you simply run a checksum to verify it?

 

The actual process you're supposed to do, is talk to whoever you got your computer from. They may have discs they can send you.

The 'other' way, which I have not tested, is:

1. Get your key from the firmware: OEM-DM Key Dumper

2. Get your ISO, from Microsoft: How to Perform a Clean Install of Windows 8.1 With a Windows 8 Key
(I don't actually know if the key from step 1 will qualify here, so you tell me.)

3. ....

4. Profit.

 

yes but in real life i only know one person who does check checksums. he does it on his own files too, when he copies them from computer to another at home.

basically, nobody does that even when told to

 

Told you; clone it, easiest method of all.

Fantastic movie , but recall the quote went a little differently ...