activate windows 8.1 using windows 8 oem key

I have a dell laptop that came with windows 8 (OEM) I upgraded to 8.1 and yesterday I had to reinstall the windows so I created a windows 8.1 usb using an iso from the internet (windows 8.1 pro 64 bits which is the same version that I had) but my windows 8.1 installation didn't recognize my windows 8 OEM key so I used the Windows 8.1 default key to complete my install, off course the default key is invalid but my windows 8.1 wont accept the OEM key that I found cracking my bios....

How can I make windows 8.1 accept my OEM key?


  • Edited by F1reStorM Friday, May 29, 2015 6:08 PM
May 29th, 2015 6:03pm

agree with ZigZag3143x

please make sure your Dell Laptop still have backup recovery partition or you still have your recovery CD since you need to do clean install via recovery partition or recovery CD

any further question regarding revert back to Windows 8 (original OEM) I suggest contact Dell

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June 1st, 2015 2:08am

Hi, You first install Windows 8 and do activation after upgrade Windows 8.1
June 1st, 2015 2:29am

agree with ZigZag3143x

please make sure your Dell Laptop still have backup recovery partition or you still have your recovery CD since you need to do clean install via recovery partition or recovery CD

any further question regarding revert back to Windows 8 (original OEM) I suggest contact Dell

Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
June 1st, 2015 6:07am

agree with ZigZag3143x

please make sure your Dell Laptop still have backup recovery partition or you still have your recovery CD since you need to do clean install via recovery partition or recovery CD

any further question regarding revert back to Windows 8 (original OEM) I suggest contact Dell

June 1st, 2015 6:07am

I want to know a way of clean install instaling Windows 8 -> updates -> Windows 8.1 leaves a lot of garbage behind

Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
June 1st, 2015 12:30pm

like I informed you before

Dell have better answer for this since different manufactured have different step to recovery system

June 1st, 2015 10:17pm

like I informed you before

Dell have better answer for this since different manufactured have different step to recovery system

Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
June 2nd, 2015 2:13am

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