Restoring pre-installed Windows

Question

Microsoft

The problem for me is unexpected, tk. I'm actually from another world, but I have arisen and I have to decide.

So. A Dell laptop was purchased with Windows 8 preinstalled. It was required to install a second Windows 7 system, which was also additionally purchased.

Due to an error, the contents of the computer's hard drive were overwritten. There are no discs included.

Microsoft tech support said that for pre-installed systems, you need to contact the computer manufacturer.

I got through to the Dell service center at 8-10-800-21561044 (found on their website). The operator found out and checked my service tag and express service code, confirmed that the warranty was still available until April 2014. I presented the problem to him, and he advised me to call the service center about this, for example, a certain Merlion (?) by tel. [phone].

In this service center they agreed to help me for 3000 rubles, but you can’t restore the computer to its original state for free.

Question: actually, why should I buy the system again? Where are the discs that were always included in the kit before? How to behave now?

Answer 1

You have overwritten files identifying your cheap OEM license (C:\Windows\System32\OEM). There is no way to restore them. What you are offered in the workshop is the installation of a licensed copy again.
I speak from my own experience - I recently changed the hard drive on my Dell Inspiron, the Samsung railway began to crumble in three years. A simple installation of an image found on the network did not accept the serial. I also had to copy files from the Windows directory.
Details can be found here asusfans.ru/forum/cat-os-windows-seven/topic-6545.html
Unfortunately, nothing can be done in your case.
Z.Y. The above applies to W7, but with a high degree of probability in W8 everything is the same.

Answer 2

Well, install Windows 8 and then activate it in the usual way. It's always been that way. Why do you need a disk? There must be a sticker / code / coupon / xs on the laptop, or in pieces of paper. As I understand it…

Answer 3

Was the contents of the entire disk or partition with Windows 8 erased? Usually there is a separate hidden partition for restoring the system to its original state.

Answer 4

The key is most likely flashed in the BIOS, so try downloading the version that you had and installing it. Windows should activate on its own.

Answer 5

the sticker may be under the battery, this is often seen in HP and Dell

Answer 6

In Windows 8, the BIOS (SLIC) is not used for activation.
Activation is tied to a small (100Mb) partition on the hard drive, hidden, located in front of the main system C:.
If he got busted, then no way.

Answer 7

You can restore . This requires the same version of Windows that was installed, most often it is Windows 8 x64 for one language, it is easily searched for on MD5 trackers: 2F3EC4EA9F604DF608AC0B1EE4C53CF1. True, Microsoft is afraid that the license is lost in this case. That's why I asked to clarify the model of the laptop, perhaps it will be possible to find recovery disks.