Windows Windows 8.1 single language activation

yogita

Well-Known Member
Disciple
Hello all,
I formatted my system using windows 8.1 single language and looking to activate my windows. Pls, help to provide links so that I can activate my windows or guide how can I do so.
Thank you.
 

Titokhan

Member
Disciple
@yogita

If your PC originally came with a factory-installed Windows 8/8.1 Core Single Language instance (e.g. this one), then it should have a unique MSDM key in your firmware (commonly referred to as BIOS). In that case, an unaltered Windows 8/8.1 installation media should automatically recognize the key during the installation phase. You just need to be online after installation to be activated. In fact, it is possible to use a Windows 10 media as well, since it can recognize the 8/8.1 MSDM key and apply for the relevant digital license token on the fly.

However, if your PC came without Windows (or a different edition of Windows other than the aforementioned ones), then you need to obtain a valid key.

Can you please post the output of the following command (to be executed from Run or Command Prompt) so that I can guide you better?
Code: 
 slmgr.vbs /dlv
 
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seshu

*
Adept
* path might not include system32 folder. if so one has to change directory to execute the vbs file.
 

Titokhan

Member
Disciple
@seshu

Fair point. But since the person mentioned a fresh installation, I deduced that the PATH settings hadn't been modified at all.
 
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yogita

Well-Known Member
Disciple
Titokhan said:
@yogita

If your PC originally came with a factory-installed Windows 8/8.1 Core Single Language instance (e.g. this one), then it should have a unique MSDM key in your firmware (commonly referred to as BIOS). In that case, an unaltered Windows 8/8.1 installation media should automatically recognize the key during the installation phase. You just need to be online after installation to be activated. In fact, it is possible to use a Windows 10 media as well, since it can recognize the 8/8.1 MSDM key and apply for the relevant digital license token on the fly.

However, if your PC came without Windows (or a different edition of Windows other than the aforementioned ones), then you need to obtain a valid key.

Can you please post the output of the following command (to be executed from Run or Command Prompt) so that I can guide you better?
Code: 
 slmgr.vbs /dlv
Click to expand...
@Titokhan

Thank you so much for your reply. I know my PC came with free DOS.
I was able to manage to install windows 8.1 and I also upgraded to windows 10 now but since I don't have a valid Windows 10 or 8.1 key, unfortunately, I can't activate windows 10 now.
Is there any way to activate windows 10 without buying a key. If so, kindly let me know.

Thank you.
 

kuduku

Well-Known Member
Skilled
Activating from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10 still works .
Its upgrade from 8.1 then 1511 then 1809 then 20h2 . Then fresh install to latest gives permanently activated Win 10 which stays activated after formats
@vivek.krishnan performed this 3 days so it guaranteed works
 

Titokhan

Member
Disciple
@yogita

IMHO, there is no need to stick with Windows 8.1. Since you upgraded to Windows 10 (and hopefully got it activated using the digital entitlement), there is no need to search for another key. Make sure to install the same SKU (e.g. Core Single Language) of Windows 10 again without any key and it should be automatically activated after being online.

Just to be sure, are you still referring to this PC? If so, then it actually came with Windows 8.1.

@kuduku

You can skip the upgrade-to-1809 part and directly jump to any newer version, including 19043/21H1.
 

singenaadam

Well-Known Member
Skilled
yogita said:
@Titokhan

Thank you so much for your reply. I know my PC came with free DOS.
I was able to manage to install windows 8.1 and I also upgraded to windows 10 now but since I don't have a valid Windows 10 or 8.1 key, unfortunately, I can't activate windows 10 now.
Is there any way to activate windows 10 without buying a key. If so, kindly let me know.

Thank you.
Click to expand...
the W10 upgrade uses the W8 key to finish the job.

Check the W10 key and save it.
 

Titokhan

Member
Disciple
singenaadam said:
the W10 upgrade uses the W8 key to finish the job.

Check the W10 key and save it.
Click to expand...

If you opt for Digital Entitlement, then every eligible Windows 10 SKU falls back to the respective placeholder key. The same key is used by the Windows Setup when a user skips the product key prompt on a regular retail media. The generic key alone does nothing, as the Digital Entitlement is based on the unique device signature and it is stored on the Microsoft activation servers.

I'm still waiting for @yogita to post the output, which is an essential piece of information in this context.
 

yogita

Well-Known Member
Disciple
kuduku said:
Activating from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10 still works .
Its upgrade from 8.1 then 1511 then 1809 then 20h2 . Then fresh install to latest gives permanently activated Win 10 which stays activated after formats
@vivek.krishnan performed this 3 days so it guaranteed works
Click to expand...
@kuduku

Thanks for your reply. My windows 8.1 was also not activated as I mentioned in the previous posts my laptop came with Free Dos. It's an Intel Pentium P6200 / 2.13 GHz Notebook.
Do you mean to say even after upgrading from Windows 8.1 which was not activated to windows 10 - 20H2 will activate windows 10? I think windows 8.1 should be activated and then only windows 10 will be activated as well. Pls, let me know if my understanding is correct.

Thank you.
Titokhan said:
@yogita

IMHO, there is no need to stick with Windows 8.1. Since you upgraded to Windows 10 (and hopefully got it activated using the digital entitlement), there is no need to search for another key. Make sure to install the same SKU (e.g. Core Single Language) of Windows 10 again without any key and it should be automatically activated after being online.

Just to be sure, are you still referring to this PC? If so, then it actually came with Windows 8.1.

@kuduku

You can skip the upgrade-to-1809 part and directly jump to any newer version, including 19043/21H1.
Click to expand...

@Titokhan

I am referring to another PC that I have - Compaq Presario Cq42 Laptop that came with Free DOS.
I never bought a windows 8.1 digital key as well but using some keys available on the internet, I was able to upgrade to Windows 10. I cannot activate windows 10 since I am not having any digital key for 8.1 or 10
Pls advise if there is any way to activate windows 10

Also, I am not sure but since today all of a sudden I got the below error on this laptop, and again and again my PC is restarting and I am getting the same blue screen and no desktop. The day I installed windows 10 it was running fine. Is it because of some hardware (Old Pentium processor) or is it because I haven't activated my windows by the time it should be activated and therefore I started getting this error?

Error:



Kindly advise.
 

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kuduku

Well-Known Member
Skilled
Yes windows 8.1 needs to be activated by any mean then only it works
 

yogita

Well-Known Member
Disciple
kuduku said:
Yes windows 8.1 needs to be activated by any mean then only it works
Click to expand...
Ok. Do you know any website where I can buy key for windows 8.1 single language at a reasonable price? I tried looking for it but can't find any.
Pls, advise.
 

vivek.krishnan

If you cant see the green dot, I'm offline :P
Skilled
If your laptop came with DOS, then you can get a key from @Ra.hul here on the forums. Optionally look at ebay. This is the easiest way out.

If you want to go the KMS route as mentioned by @kuduku - you need to install a copy of Windows 8.1 Pro, activate it using a KMS key, upgrade to Windows 10 1511, check activated, and follow up with upgrades to 1809, and finally 20H1/H2. I would not recommend this method as your machine seems ancient. It might be better to do this if you upgrade to an SSD plus at least 8GB of RAM - which is required by Windows 10 for smooth operation. Plus this is fairly technical as well.

For those trying the KMS method, I only prefer this because I am pretty sure most of the keys being sold are not genuine or licensed correctly and could be blacklisted at anytime. And the money does not always go to MS, sometimes, its stolen keys etc which makes me squeamish.