Laptop bios key for Windows query - Toshiba Click Mini

[jimbouk]

Hello,

I've got my lovely Toshiba Click Mini which I was hoping to downgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 8.1. I got the laptop second hand already upgraded, and the recovery partition didn't work so I read up and it seemed all would be rosy if I just installed the right version of Windows 8.1.

It's definitely home as that's what version of Windows 10 I had, I've tried 8.1, 8.1 N and 8.1 single language edition. I'm pretty sure these didn't come with the "with Bing". The bios key isn't auto detected, and I've extracted it but it's claiming it's not valid for any editions. Just put Windows 10 back on and it installed without asking for a key.

Questions:
- I downloaded a MS tool to try and detect what version the key was for, didn't show anything up. Is there any way to determine this?
- Could the previous upgrade to Windows 10 have changed the bios key? Or a bios upgrade somehow?
- I thought all mini clicks were Windows 8.1 out of the box/factory, am I just wrong?

Cheers,
Jimbo

[GoNz0]

As it's an OEM key as all embedded are you will need the OEM version of windows iirc?

Any good? https://www.eightforums.com/tutorial...ad-create.html

[jimbouk]

Don't think I'd seen that exact link before, but had followed similar instructions. From the link re using the media creation tool:

If you have an OEM Windows 8 or 8.1 PC, then you will also be able to use this ISO to install and activate Windows 8.1 if you are installing the same edition of Windows the key is for. The Windows 8 or 8.1 product key embedded in the UEFI firmware of the OEM PC will be automatically detected and used during installation to activate Windows 8.1.

Beginning to think maybe mine was a later laptop which came with Windows 10, would be the simplest explanation. Will see if I can find the old eBay ad...

[Millennium]

Are you able to log in with your MSN account on Windows 8? If so that might do the trick, assuming you used the same account with windows 10

I don't think this is possible though - just throwing it out there

[Lanky123]

I have the Click Mini (L9W-B in case there was more than one model...?) and never upgraded it. OS is apparently Windows 8.1 with Bing 32-bit.

[GoNz0]

If you want to PM me the key I will check it for you to see if we can get to the bottom of this.

[watercooled]

I can't remember how Win8 licensing worked, but isn't there a COA sticker you can use to activate it? If not, just ignore me.

[Lanky123]

I think the Click Mini was cheap because they managed to use the mini-tablet version of Windows (screen size is 8.9"). Microsoft allowed OEMs to use Windows for free in such devices to combat cheap android tablets and retain market share. Not sure where that leaves the end user in terms of a licence though - certainly no COA on mine.

[BobF64]

I think most Windows 8 devices used firmware licence codes, or just didnt need them as they were pre-activated.

But, if it was upgraded to Windows 10, wasnt the free upgrade digital "entitlement" a one way process, unless you rolled back?

[jimbouk]

I have the Click Mini (L9W-B in case there was more than one model...?) and never upgraded it. OS is apparently Windows 8.1 with Bing 32-bit.

Bingo! That explains it. I did read that the "with Bing" editions couldn't be re-installed with the standard Windows installer.

If you want to PM me the key I will check it for you to see if we can get to the bottom of this.

Thanks for the offer Gonzo, sounds like we know what it is now though

But, if it was upgraded to Windows 10, wasnt the free upgrade digital "entitlement" a one way process, unless you rolled back?

Both camera's never did work on Windows 10 so I'd say I'm due a roll back. And the POs Windows 10 install seems to have borked the recovery partition. If it doesn't activate on the correct version of Windows then fair enough I'll stick with 10, it's just a right pain in the behind sometimes...


To google to try and find the right download!

[GoNz0]

Fingers crossed!

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

[jimbouk]

Torrent is the best I can do, link from https://www.pcsteps.com/210-download...ws_81with_Bing. Fingers crossed indeed!

Been a while since I've torrented, booted up uTorrent which was my go-to client a decade ago - when did it get filled with advertising...?

[GoNz0]

Prefer MDL for my ISO's as they are only allowed to host untouched ones that match the official checksums.
https://forums.mydigitallife.net/forums/windows-8.42/

[jimbouk]

Installed without asking for the key and activated. All's well that ends well - thanks everyone!

[layzzzzshin]

Me too facing this problem in my laptop.