September 2016. The embedded Windows 8 product key is an Acer OEM one. It will work if you have the recovery media. If you install a different copy of Windows 8, it should automatically ask for the product key, and you will need the product key that the different copy comes with. How to activate Windows 8 and 8.1 a product key Now that you have a Windows 8 or 8.1 product key, you need to activate it. This will activate your system, allowing you to use it to the fullest extent. Let's see how to activate Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 with a product key. Method 1. Use an automated script 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). _______________________________________ It's true that it's stored in the bios. Before upgrading to W10 I used the program Magic Jelly Bean Key Finder on my SP3 to try to get the key. It gave me what looks like a valid key, but I can't be sure, because in the end I didn't need my product key, even when doing a clean install of W10. I'm considering doing a clean install. Update through the store. It's not free if you update using the installation media. The laptop should have a product key sticker on the bottom or under the battery. Most new UEFI motherboards have the product key embedded into it so there would be no sticker. It should pick up the key from the motherboard though. I am planning upgrade new hard drive in my computer soon. How do I deactivate my license Windows 8.1 from my old hard drive? Debugger/Reverse Engineer. English (United States) 1. Head over to the tool’s official GitHub repository and download its zip file. 2. Once the download finishes, extract the contents and head over to the ShowKeyPlus folder. 3. Double-clicking However, two things have happened since then. I had to replace my motherboard and processor, and I had to reinstall windows due to getting a virus. When I had to reinstall windows, it wouldn't accept my Windows 8 product key, which I am assuming is because Windows 10 won't take a Windows 8 key. If Windows 8.1 indeed came preinstalled on your Dell Pro Venue, instead of a product key, it is using Windows Activation Technology 3.0, a Microsoft certificate of authenticity embedded onto your device. Windows 10 installer simply looks at that and never asks a product key question. Even if you extract a product key from Windows, it would be The fastest and easiest way to install Windows 8.1 without a product key is by creating a Windows installation USB drive. We need to download a Windows 8.1 ISO from Microsoft if we haven't already. Then, we can use a 4GB or larger USB flash drive and an app, such as Rufus, to create a Windows 8.1 installation USB. X2T1v.