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Windows 8 Disk — Parallax Forums

Windows 8 Disk

NWCCTVNWCCTV Posts: 3,629
edited 2014-03-10 11:40 in General Discussion
My daughter purchased an HP Windows 8 laptop a little over a year ago. It did not come with a Windows 8 disk, only the recovery partition on her HDD. Unfortunately her drive just went south and is no longer useable. I can get her a new hard drive but have no Windows 8 Disk. HP wants $50.00 for a disk that should have come with the system on the dirst place. Apparently the Authentication code is built in to the BIOS. So, does anyone know where Windows 8 can be downloaded from so I can reinstall it for her?

Comments

  • MicrocontrolledMicrocontrolled Posts: 2,461
    edited 2014-03-08 19:26
    If you're willing to torrent, I think this is a legit install: http://thepiratebay.se/torrent/9440258/Windows_8.1_Pro_Pre-Activated_Final_Version Be warned, though. I haven't tested it.
    You'll be hard pressed to find an ISO file available for regular download.

    EDIT: Updated link with one that is more popular and doesn't have reported viruses. Still be cautious, though, you never really can be sure what you'll get.
  • RDL2004RDL2004 Posts: 2,554
    edited 2014-03-08 19:35
    I wouldn't trust any operating system that comes by way of a torrent. That's not an official Windows 8.1 .iso, it has a lot of other stuff slip streamed. No telling what else is in there besides what they admit to. I would probably just break down and by an oem disk, at least it won't have any of the preloaded crapware on it.
  • frank freedmanfrank freedman Posts: 1,983
    edited 2014-03-08 21:35
    Is the drive totally dead? Can you put it on a USB-(probably)SATA drive interface (Fry's elex etc) and do a forensic/dd copy of the drive or recovery partition of the drive to an image on say a linux machine. If you can, that would mean the controller is failed not the drive. I can only speak for the Surface Pro in that the windows factory restore can be backed up for later restore to a USB drive to release this space to other uses. Probably preachingto the choir on this one, but===> if at all possible try the forensic copy before doing anything else that could make the drive unrecoverable.

    If it was gotten at best buy, be real leery of going to the geek squad staff, most don't seem to have the highest level of understanding of this sort of thing. While attending an A+ course a few years ago, one student in there with me was taking the course only so that they could join the geek squad and drive around in the cool GS bug..... YIKES!!!
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2014-03-08 21:40
    Your bad HD may be readable or recoverable if hooked up as a slave to another computer, if so you might be able to copy your recovery partition onto another HD.

    Call Microsoft tech support, 888-725-1047. They just helped me tonight (Indian-speaking agent, FYI) to activate a previously-installed Win7 retail license I purchased on Ebay for the wife's computer. Easy, no problems. Your case is different, but that's the direct line to talk with MS about recovery options.

    Also see: $9 repair disk http://www.ebay.com/itm/HP-Computer-Repair-Boot-CD-For-Windows-7-8-XP-/291091904856?pt=US_Drivers_Utilities_Software&hash=item43c66df958

    And more on Ebay: http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid=p5411.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H2.Xhp+windows+8+disk&_nkw=hp+windows+8+disk&_sacat=0&_from=R40
  • TCTC Posts: 1,019
    edited 2014-03-09 11:25
    If you have the product key (could be on the computer, or with the docs that came with the computer) you can go to Windows 8 page and download the correct installer. make sure you select either windows 8, or windows 8.1. After you download the program and run the program,you will want to select "install by creating media". then you can decide if you want it on a DVD, or a flash drive. I did the flash drive option fro my wifes computer.
  • RobotWorkshopRobotWorkshop Posts: 2,307
    edited 2014-03-09 12:07
    NWCCTV wrote: »
    My daughter purchased an HP Windows 8 laptop a little over a year ago. It did not come with a Windows 8 disk, only the recovery partition on her HDD. Unfortunately her drive just went south and is no longer useable. I can get her a new hard drive but have no Windows 8 Disk. HP wants $50.00 for a disk that should have come with the system on the dirst place. Apparently the Authentication code is built in to the BIOS. So, does anyone know where Windows 8 can be downloaded from so I can reinstall it for her?

    You can usually order a set of the factory recovery media for most of the HP systems directly on their site. I wouldn't go anywhere else for that. The ones you get from HP will work with the license key on your system and it will also include the driver disk with all the specific drivers for your system. If you go with their regular shipping option they have always been under $20. If they don't show as available online then call them. I have ordered dozens of sets for various HP systems over the years and never had a problem. Most were done online but I had to call for a couple. Old or new doesn't matter. I've gotten them for older laptops (running XP) and even for more recent systems running windows 7 or 8. The only one that was a pain was for my sons laptop which was so new that they didn't have the recovery media quite ready for it. About a week or so later they called me back and I was able to order it.

    Were you talking to a reseller to get that inflated price? If you called HP make sure that you tell them you want to order the factory OEM recovery disk set. The only way it would be higher is if they though you may have been buying an upgrade to a newer version.

    Robert
  • NWCCTVNWCCTV Posts: 3,629
    edited 2014-03-09 13:35
    Thanks all. The drive is totally dead. I have the USB to SATA/EIDE device for the purpose of testing hard drives. This thing is totally gone. I will probably just break down and buy the disk so she has one for future use. I was just not sure if anyone knew of a legitimate place to download a copy. Another reason to jump to Linux but my daughter is too use to Windoze 8 now. MS and or the computer companies should make it available for download if you have an account and can prove you bought it legitimately.
  • TCTC Posts: 1,019
    edited 2014-03-09 14:05
    NWCCTV wrote: »
    I was just not sure if anyone knew of a legitimate place to download a copy. Another reason to jump to Linux but my daughter is too use to Windoze 8 now. MS and or the computer companies should make it available for download if you have an account and can prove you bought it legitimately.

    The link I posted is legitimate. It is Microsoft's Windows 8 download page. Like I said, If you have the activation code, you download windows 8 from there. Microsoft offers a lot of there programs for download. I have gotten XP, Vista, 7, and 8.1 right from Microsoft.
  • NWCCTVNWCCTV Posts: 3,629
    edited 2014-03-09 14:58
    The link I posted is legitimate
    Yes, I get that. The problem is that I need a Activation code, which with the new HP laptops is embedded in the BIOS. I am going to look around in the BIOS now to see if I can find it.
  • MicrocontrolledMicrocontrolled Posts: 2,461
    edited 2014-03-09 17:36
    So wait, you have no OS disk, AND no activation code? Unless it is readable in the BIOS menu, you're probably either going to have to re-purchase Windows 8 or get a cracked version.
  • FranklinFranklin Posts: 4,747
    edited 2014-03-09 17:53
    Microcontrolled wrote:
    or get a cracked version.
    Not something I would recommend on this site.
  • NWCCTVNWCCTV Posts: 3,629
    edited 2014-03-09 19:13
    So wait, you have no OS disk, AND no activation code?
    Yep!!! Tat I how HP does there laptops now. Activation code is apparently embedded in the BIOS. Really a stupid thing IMO.
  • frank freedmanfrank freedman Posts: 1,983
    edited 2014-03-09 20:23
    NWCCTV wrote: »
    Yes, I get that. The problem is that I need a Activation code, which with the new HP laptops is embedded in the BIOS. I am going to look around in the BIOS now to see if I can find it.

    Actually, if the activation code is in the bios, the odds are good that once you down load and do the install, it may in fact recognize the activation code and start working as it should. ypu may even get lucky and be able to download the HP drivers as well. But you never know what a cracked system puts you at risk for.
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2014-03-09 20:56
    I just did a clean Win7 install this weekend, and I noticed there was a keyless installation option (good for an evaluation period) but that wasn't made available in Win8.

    http://www.zdnet.com/blog/hardware/will-windows-8-require-a-product-key-at-the-point-of-installation/18785
  • NWCCTVNWCCTV Posts: 3,629
    edited 2014-03-09 21:14
    I just went ahead and ordered the disk from HP. $23.00 with 2 day shipping. That way I will have the disk if it is ever needed again and I can install on my daughters laptop and will have all the drivers for it. I do not trust cracked versions and with the link TC posted I need the activation code before it will let me download. Thanks everyone for the tips.
  • RDL2004RDL2004 Posts: 2,554
    edited 2014-03-10 08:38
    For the preloaded oem versions, the "activation code" is in the bios and it activates automatically, it's part of "Secure Boot". To install a purchased version which has a different CoA code, you have to turn "Secure Boot" off in the bios settings. I don't know that the versions you can download from Microsoft work the same as preloaded. They may not activate automatically. It would be worth a try though because it would allow you to do a "clean" install. The disk you get from HP will probably include all the usual preloaded spamware, trialware, and all the other useless garbage that wastes an hour to uninstall.
  • RobotWorkshopRobotWorkshop Posts: 2,307
    edited 2014-03-10 11:28
    NWCCTV wrote: »
    I just went ahead and ordered the disk from HP. $23.00 with 2 day shipping. That way I will have the disk if it is ever needed again and I can install on my daughters laptop and will have all the drivers for it. I do not trust cracked versions and with the link TC posted I need the activation code before it will let me download. Thanks everyone for the tips.

    You're better off going this route. With the factory recovery disks you'll have no issues restoring the system to the way it was delivered and it should have all the required drivers in place. No licensing issues either. I have those factory recovery disks for all of my systems.

    The only issue I ever ran into was recovering an HP laptop that was few years old. It was right at the time when the new AF (advanced format) drives started coming out. The original drive wasn't and AF drive and the recovery software didn't know how to handle and AF drive. I had to find a non AF drive for that one. That shouldn't be a problem with newer systems.

    Robert
  • RDL2004RDL2004 Posts: 2,554
    edited 2014-03-10 11:40
    I do not trust cracked versions and with the link TC posted I need the activation code before it will let me download.

    I didn't notice that part.

    Microsoft sells the Windows license to the PC manufacturers for a very low price, but part of that deal is that the burden of customer support is placed on the manufacturers, not Microsoft. This is probably why Microsoft doesn't provide downloads to repair preinstalled versions of Windows 8.

    I've never understood the practice of having a recovery partition instead of a reinstall disk. I mean really, how much would that disk actually cost them in volume? 50 cents, maybe a dollar?
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