Windows 8 OEM

Romulus

My laptop is out of warranty and the HDD just stopped working.

 

I thought the cheapest option would be to purchase and install a new HDD myself only to find I don't have the Windows 8 product key. It is apparently embedded on the HDD.

 

Aparently my only option is to hand out another $109 which I don't have for them to re-image it. Isn't this unfare?

Didn't I purchase a copy of Windows 8 when I bought the Laptop?

 

The bloke in the customer care was real rude too, claiming it was all in the small print.

 

Not happy at all.

Sharanji

hi..

 

 

Computers purchased with Windows 8 installed regardles of brand will not have a Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity sticker. This information is now electronically stored in your computer’s BIOS.

 

It is not embedded on the HDD. You have the option to replace the defective hard disk and restore windows 8 using the recovery media, you don't need to hunt for the product key. It's automatically applied and activated.

Romulus

That is what I thought too. 

 

The computer I own is an Aspire E1-571. 

 

I read a thread where it said to use Belarc Advisor and that cannot find the key in BIOS, so I rang ACER. ACER the first time told me exactly what you have said, and I was to ring Microsoft. Microsoft told me it was an OEM copy and it was contained on the HDD and I was to ring ACER. When I rang ACER back the guy told me I needed to pay $109 to have the HDD re-imaged.

 

Which one is it?

 

Without recovery media, I have to have some sort of Key to install Windows 8 from a disk anyway, I used a 'Dummy' key I found online, but Windows is not activated. How do I activate it when both Microsoft and ACER have washed their hands of it?

Cory-Acer

Hi Romulus,

 

So the Windows 8 keys is injected on the BIOS however it writes what I believe is a hardware ID check on the HDD, if that doesn't match it can return the error. I would suggest following these steps and use the automated phone system to correct the activation issue.

 

http://acer.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/29281

 

Hope this helps,

Cory

Romulus

Alright, I am now totally disgusted and have lost all faith in ACER and will not recommend to anyone.

 

My laptop was not long out of warranty.

 

I just got off the phone with an ACER Technician. They have told me that my Windows 8 OEM licence went along with the HDD, not in BIOS.

 

If I send the HDD back and there is nothing wrong with it, to re-image it, they will charge me AU$109

If it is faulty which I know it is, they will charge me AU$219

 

I purchased the exact model HDD for $60 and a copy of Windows 8 is $115 and I get to keep it.

I asked if I could send in the new HDD and of course it is not allowed.

 

Disgusted..