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I bought a laptop that came with Windows 8 installed. There were problems with my laptop and I couldn’t even use the Windows 8 refresh or restart, so I installed Ubuntu. I now have only Ubuntu on my laptop and was wondering if there was any way I could go back to Windows 8 without paying. In my BIOS, it says my factory installed OS is Windows 8, and I have the sticker on my laptop to prove it in case I have to send it in.

EDIT 1:

I called them and they said it would cost $30 to get another cd.

My sticker looks like the one on the left.

enter image description here

EDIT 2:

  • My laptop is an HP Pavilion g6
  • I have wiped the partition and there is only one with Ubuntu on it.
  • I think I have my win 8 serial written somewhere
  • Nowhere on the PC does it have any key.
  • I have a legal Win XP SP2 cd (with key) if that helps.
user2612619
  • 333

1 Answers1

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I was wondering if there was any way I could go back to Windows 8 without paying.

Yes, you just need your Windows serial number.

In my BIOS it says my factory installed OS is Windows 8 and I have the sticker on my laptop to prove it in case I have to send it in. There's just a sticker with the windows 8 logo on the back.

The sticker should have a code imprinted on it.

Though I used a program to find my code and have it written somewhere (I think)

That will work too (though your sticker should have the code).

I'll call them up, and does this mean that my serial is useless?

No, you only need the code. You will have the opportunity to type in your code either during the install or after booting up. You will then have to activate Windows as normal (either over the Internet or over the phone).

Here’s a Windows 8 COA sticker I found through Google Images. This one has not been affixed to a system yet and part of the key is redacted:

Photo of Windows 8 COA sticker

Here’s another one without the surrounding cardboard and with the key blurred out:

Photo of another Windows 8 COA sticker

Synetech
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