So windows 8.1 serial keys for both 32-64 bit are very important part of windows and you must obtain it to get going. Where your windows 8.1 product key will be depends on your mode of purchasing the windows. 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. I tried to update my windows 7 PC to windows 10 and my cd key on my case does not validate. So I grabed my wifes laptop and used a windows 8.1 key to upgrade and that too was invalid then I tried a fresh install of windows 10 on my wifes laptop. It went through and since I dont have a key for windows 10.

• Windows 8 Pro Product Key
• How To Find My Windows 8 Product Key On Hp Laptop
• What If I Lost My Windows 8 Product Key
• How To Find My Windows 8 Serial Number
• What My Windows 8 Serial Key Code

But, when I used the win 8 ISO ( the proper core win 8, with proper hash etc), and when I entered the serial key that I had retrieved, windows/Microsoft wouldn't allow install.stating not valid key. When we download Windows 7 ISOs, we can install Windows without a product key.The installation will go through, and we will get a 30-day trial of the operating system. With the official Windows 8.1 ISOs, though, we can't skip entering the product key during the installation.Let's see how to bypass this restriction and install Windows 8.1 without a product key.

When we download Windows 7 ISOs, we can install Windows without a product key. The installation will go through, and we will get a 30-day trial of the operating system. With the official Windows 8.1 ISOs, though, we can't skip entering the product key during the installation. Let's see how to bypass this restriction and install Windows 8.1 without a product key.

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Table of Contents

The Magic 'ei.cfg' file

We can somewhat understand Microsoft's point of view when they made the product key mandatory for a Windows 8.1 installation. It sort-of makes sense as an anti-piracy measure.

With the Windows 7 30-day trial, one could install Windows and have them for free. Then, once every new moon, they could format and reinstall Windows, and no one would be the wiser.

Also, one would need to have Windows installed if they wanted to run an activator, should they swing that way. So, Microsoft decided to cut the problem off at the root. Mandatory product key equals no trial, equals no activator. Makes sense, doesn't it?

And then, they made it easy to bypass this system. And, when we say 'easy,' we mean 'child's play' easy. That's Microsoft for you.

The only thing we need is to create a notepad file, on any version of Windows.

Inside, we copy and paste the following:

The only 'hard' part is that when we save the file, we don't leave the default 'Text documents' on 'Save as type.'

We select 'All Files' and type the name 'ei.cfg.'

The result is a file ei.cfg that has a type 'CFG File.'

We 're halfway there. With this ei.cfg file, we can Install Windows 8.1 without a product key.

Windows 8 Pro Product Key

We just need to get it in the Windows 8.1 installation medium. There is the easy way and the hard way to do so.

How to Install Windows 8.1 without a product key from USB

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.

After that, it's just a matter of dragging our ei.cfg file and dropping it in the 'sources' folder in the USB.

That's it. Once ei.cfg is within the 'sources' folder..

..we can install Windows 8.1 without a product key. The Windows installer won't even ask for one; it will straight-up begin the installation.

The installation will ask for a product key after the first automatic reboot, but there will be a handy 'Skip' button.

Of course, Windows are not activated. We will need a valid product key for that.

How to Install Windows 8.1 without a product key from DVD

Sometimes, using a Windows installation USB isn't an option. Maybe we don't have a USB flash drive, or an old motherboard might not support boot from USB.

In this case, we need to edit the ISO file so we can add ei.cfg before we burn it on a disc.

For this, we will use the 30-day trial version of gBurner. It's one of the few free apps that can edit a 2GB+ ISO, no questions asked.

We will find the latest version at http://www.gburner.com/download.htm

Earlier versions of Gburner came with multiple unwanted third-party apps, such as Ad-Aware Web Companion

However, the current version as of this writing, gBurner 4.3, seems to be free of such shenanigans.

In any case, we should never blindingly click Next->Next->Next on any installer. Also, apps such as Unchecky can help to ensure a safe installation.

Finally, on the last screen after the installation, it's a good idea to uncheck the option to associate .iso files with gBurner, especially if we will only use it for the 30-day trial.

After gBurner starts, we select 'Continue Unregistered.'

We click the 'open' icon and select the Windows 8.1 ISO.

Once loaded, we select the 'sources' folder, click on 'Add' and choose the ei.cfg file.

How To Find My Windows 8 Product Key On Hp Laptop

After we make sure ei.cfg was added correctly in sources, we select File -> Save As..

It's a good idea to choose a different name for the ISO, so we will have the clean ISO as a backup, in case something went wrong.

And that's it. We can right-click on the new ISO, select 'Burn disk image' to burn it to a DVD, and we 're good to go.

What If I Lost My Windows 8 Product Key

You might have noticed that the new ISO is a bit smaller than the original, even though we added a file. Apparently, gBurner does some slight data compression during the ISO creation process.

This won't matter for the Windows Installation, though. Either if we burn this ISO to a disk or use it to install a Windows virtual machine, it will work just as well.

Did you have any trouble installing Windows 8.1 without a product key?

Did you have any problem with the above and couldn't install Windows 8.1 without a product key? Leave us a comment.

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Windows 8, as well as most operating systems and other software, require the entry of unique product keys, sometimes called serial numbers, during installation. Halfway through reinstalling Windows 8, you must have your product key to continue the installation.

See where you can download Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 if you don't have the operating system yet.

Where the Windows 8 Product Key Is Located

Usually, your Windows 8 product key will be with the email you received after buying Windows 8 for download, or if you purchased it in a box with a disc, with the packaging. If Windows 8 came preinstalled on your computer, your product key should be on a sticker on your computer or with your documentation. It should look a lot like the image you see here.

Fortunately, if you can't find documentation of your Windows 8 product key, you may be able to extract it from the Windows Registry using what's called a product key finder program. It's a quick process that takes less than 15 minutes.

A product key finder program will only find your valid Windows 8 key if Windows 8 is installed and working, and if you've manually entered the Windows 8 product key in some previous installation. See our Windows Product Keys FAQ and Key Finder Programs FAQ pages for more help.

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How to Find Your Windows 8 or 8.1 Product Key

You can find your Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 product key this way, no matter what edition of Windows 8 you're using.

1. Download Belarc Advisor, a free PC audit program with full Windows 8 support that also functions as a key finder tool. Unfortunately, manually locating the Windows 8 product key in the registry isn't possible, so you'll need to use a program like this.

   See our List of Free Key Finder Programs for more tools like Belarc Advisor, but try it first since it's been confirmed that it correctly finds Windows 8 product keys.

   Any product key finder that advertises support for Windows 8 will work for either edition: Windows 8 or Windows 8 Pro, as well as either edition of Windows 8.1.

2. Install Belarc Advisor, following the instructions given during the installation.

   If you choose a different keyfinder, please know that some are supported by optional add-on programs, so be sure to uncheck those options during the program's installation if you don't want them. A few of them require no installation at all.

3. Run Belarc Advisor (the initial analysis may take a little while) and note the Windows 8 product key displayed in the Software Licenses section.

   The Windows 8 product key is a series of 25 letters and numbers and should look like this: xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx.

4. Write down the Windows 8 key exactly as shown for use when reinstalling Windows 8.

   Make sure each and every letter and number is written exactly as shown. If even one digit isn't transcribed correctly, the key won't work to reinstall Windows 8.

More Windows 8 Product Key Ideas

If Belarc Advisor didn't find your Windows 8 product key, you might try a different key finder utility like LicenseCrawler or Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder.

However, if you need to install Windows 8 but wasn't successful finding your Windows 8 product key with a product key finder program, you have two more choices:

How To Find My Windows 8 Serial Number

You can request a replacement product key or you can purchase a new copy of Windows 8.1 from a retailer like Amazon, which will, of course, come with a new and valid product key.

What My Windows 8 Serial Key Code

Requesting a replacement Windows 8 product key is going to be much more cost effective than buying an entirely new copy of Windows 8, but you may have to do that if the replacement doesn't work out.