Upgrade to the original manufacturer's Windows release?
Upgrade to the original manufacturer's Windows release?
You can obtain the product key by visiting Microsoft's download page and following the instructions provided. Once you have it, save it to a 4GB USB flash drive and boot from that drive. A detailed guide is available at the specified link.
You cannot obtain the OEM edition from Microsoft; only retail versions are available.
Look for a method to retrieve your OEM key from your BIOS or system files. Try searching online for how to get the OEM key. After obtaining it, you can install Windows 8 without a key and activate it later using your OEM key. I faced the same situation with my laptop, which ran Windows 7 and needed to switch to Windows 8 originally installed.
Hi, If your OEM machine uses UEFI firmware with an embedded Windows 8/8.1 key, make sure you're ready to download and perform a fresh install of Windows 8.1. Refer to this guide (http://www.eightforums.com/installation-...post330277) for detailed steps.
Everything worked out as expected. Appreciate the advice! I installed an OEM Windows 8.1 from a file-sharing site and the built-in product key activated it automatically.