Windows 8.1 on a laptop

My laptop hard drive crashed, went to reinstall Windows 8.1, but it won’t find the cd-key embedded in the bios. It’s not the pro version, is there a trick to make this work other than using a KMStool.
Thank you.
Answer #1
Any recovery partition?
Answer #2
use an ubuntu live cd and try this
http://superuser.com/questions/637971/how-do-i-get-out-my-embedded-windows-8-key-from-a-linux-environment
Answer #3
I’m assuming the installation media does not pick up the embedded key during installation. If so, follow the below to install with a generic key and then activate with your embedded key.
The essence of the guide is to extract your embedded Windows key (known as OEM:DM), download the ISO, write it to a media, use a generic key while installing and activating it post installation with your OEM:DM key.

1. Use a tool like Windows Product Key Viewer to view your OEM:DM key.
http://forums.mydigitallife.info/threads/30363-Windows-9-Product-Key-Viewer
2. Run the below command in a run prompt (windows key + R) to note down your version (e.g, Core, Professional, etcetera). Skip if you know the version your PC came with.
 slmgr.vbs /dlv
3. Download the Windows 8.1 ISO image corresponding to the version as obtained from the previous step from: Direct link:
http://softicle.com/
Magnet link:
http://forums.mydigitallife.info/threads/54558-Paul-s-Magnetic-MSDN-Jukebox
Both Core and Professional are the same ISOs and the version that is installed is decided by the key you use.
4. Use Rufus to write the image to a USB media.
http://rufus.akeo.ie/
5. Note down a generic key installation key from the below link corresponding to your version of Windows (obtained from step 2).
http://forums.mydigitallife.info/threads/28669-Microsoft-Toolkit-Official-KMS-Solution-for-Microsoft-Products/page547?p=792313&viewfull=1#post792313
6. Boot from the USB (you might have to delve into your UEFI/BIOS settings to change boot priority) and install the OS. While installing, use the aforementioned generic key. This key cannot be used to activate and is just a placeholder.
7. Once done installing, it might auto-activate with your embedded key. If so, you’ve successfully reinstalled your OS. If not, open up a run prompt and enter:
slui 3
and type in the OEM:DM key in the box and you’re done. If that does not do it, enter the below command in an elevated command prompt (Windows key + X and then click Command Prompt (admin)):
slmgr.vbs /ipk  XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX
Replacing the X’s with your corresponding OEM:DM product key.

Feel free to cherry pick from the above list based on what stage of installation you’re on.
That ought to do it. Cheers.
Answer #4
there should be a windows sticker on the bottom of your laptop with the key printed on it..
Answer #5
there should be a windows sticker on the bottom of your laptop with the key printed on it..
There was no recovery partition and no recovery media. Unfortunately, with Windows 8.1, there is no sticker on the bottom of the laptop anymore. Many new laptops do not give you a retail Windows 8.1 key, so your key will only work with the recovery disk from the manufacturer.
Since I didn’t have the recovery media or a way to make one, wound up installing Windows 8.1 pro with a generic key then activated by phone with Skype.