Can't get back Windows 8

[hawksway]

If you have Windows10 installed, within 30 days of its installation you can revert back to the previous Windows7 or 8 through Windows Settings. You will find Settings on the new Windows10. Takes about 20 minutes to restore your old setup. After 30 days the Windows.old folder will be deleted and reversion will not be possible.

If your Acer came with a factory installed Windows8 you can alternatively revert to factory state (from the hidden partition which contains a copy of Windows) using the hot key - usually something like ALT + F10 before Windows starts. The Acer Service Centre can tell you what it is. Be aware that this process completely re-formats the C:\ Drive prior to setting up Windows. You will not need to know the product key as Acer does automatic activation. However, if you want to find out what it is, download the free Advisor from http://www.belarc.com . The product key will be listed on the installed programs list.

[connda]

Just contact Acer using their website.

Fill in your details and ask them for the product key. If they don't have it, then you have an illegal installed version.

Normally doing a recovery Windows never asks for the product key !!!

With Thailand's present government agreeing to sign the Trans-Pacific Partnership, retail stores selling systems with pirated copies of the Windows OS will soon come to an end.

The TPP basically allows corporations to completely bypass a country's government and beat the consumer and small/medium business to a pulp using your host country's judicial system, but by having that judicial system enforce laws and sanctions that your host country's legislative branch never enacted into law. And the TPP agreement is completely opaque: You can not read it; you're legislators or MPs, in many cases, can not read it. The only individuals privy to the TPP are upper level corporate executives and upper level government officials within each country's executive branch. This is corpocracy which is enacted to strip the individual in order to enrich the corporate and government aristocracies.

Maybe, just maybe about 5% or less of the population that will be impacted by this trade agreement understand exactly how Machiavellian this truly is. Everyone else: sheep to be sheared. But it's a US corporate wet dream come true. The countries that signed off on the TPP need to build more jails and poor-houses.

So, educate yourself, and start learning how to use legal, free software such as Linux. Get rid of all your illegal software. Stop downloading copyrighted torrents. Big changes are coming down the line.

And educate yourself. Start here to understand more fully how the TPP will impact the computer industry and consumers:

https://www.eff.org/issues/tpp or Google "EFF TPP Issues"

Once the TPP is in effect, clean up your act. Ignorance will not be a legal defense.

Edited October 16, 2015 by connda

[connda]

But in saying that

I have installed Linux Mint 17.2 on all my Computers

to get away from Microsoft steeling all my Data

No need for an Anti virus But I have one install just in case "clamtk"

I have learned recently that Anti viruses on Windows are only 20% efficient anyway

Linux Mint is free easy to install works just like Windows 7 comes complete with everything the Average user would need

http://www.linuxmint.com/

The cool thing about software like Linux Mint is that you can choose what User Interface you would like to use. These User Interface implementations don't radically change over time. I mean really? Don't you just love having Microsoft change the entire Window that you see to something completely new each time they put out a new release of <gag> MS Windows or other MS Software like Office.

Buy a cheap computer and load Linux Mint on it to start. And then research Linux and the different distributions, user interfaces, and software packages. Buy a Linux of Dummies book or use the Internet. Google Linux Mint, go to the official site and read about it.

Or plan to go purchase a legal copy of MS Windows, MS Office, and all the other copyrighted software that your local IT store pre-loaded on your system. Like I said in my previous post, those days are coming to an end.

[connda]

But in saying that

I have installed Linux Mint 17.2 on all my Computers

to get away from Microsoft steeling all my Data

No need for an Anti virus But I have one install just in case "clamtk"

I have learned recently that Anti viruses on Windows are only 20% efficient anyway

Linux Mint is free easy to install works just like Windows 7 comes complete with everything the Average user would need

http://www.linuxmint.com/

clamtk Linux AV. Haven't hear of that before. What's your impression. Has it ever found a virus on your system running Mint 17.2?

[connda]

But in saying that

I have installed Linux Mint 17.2 on all my Computers

to get away from Microsoft steeling all my Data

No need for an Anti virus But I have one install just in case "clamtk"

I have learned recently that Anti viruses on Windows are only 20% efficient anyway

Linux Mint is free easy to install works just like Windows 7 comes complete with everything the Average user would need

http://www.linuxmint.com/

How does this help the OP get his key back....

It give the OP other options for running his computer, especially if he finds out his system was pre-loaded with pirated or illegal software, and continuing to run it is not a good option.

Running a totally free version of Linux is an alternative option.

But if he has a legal copy of Windows 8 and a product key somewhere on his system, then he can ignore this information. If not.....

[gazzasore]

I thought clamtk or clamav was the most popular AV on linux

yes it found windows files it though was virus's

I thought there had only ever been 45 virus's written for Linux

Once Linux does an update those Virus's no longer do anything

The main thing with Linux is to configure the Firewall I use "gufw"

[Wombat6]

More info on this problem. I bought this computer with the pre-loaded Genuine Windows 8.

It works fine. Windows was activated. New computers with pre-loaded Windows don't have

Product Key written on the back for security or copy rights reason.

My mistake was this. I didn't back up or make an Image Copy. Second mistake was that I was

given a month to roll back to Windows 8. But after a month, the option was gone.

Now I am permanently stuck with Windows 10. I tried a program to get the Product Key, but the

Product given was only on Windows 10. The question now is this. Can I ever be able to get

back my Windows 8 ? Please advice. Much appreciated.

Thanking you all in advance.

It sounds like the windows 8 installed on your computer wasn't genuine, if it was, you could have got the free upgrade to windows 8.1.

I upgraded to Windows 10 but due to the bugs (Loss of Start Menu and search function) , I returned to my previous version (Windows 8.1) without any need of a product key. If your computer had a genuine windows 8 installed, the dealer should have supplied you with the original windows 8 disc which would allow you to re-install. perhaps a visit back to your dealer might help

[connda]

Just contact Acer using their website.

Fill in your details and ask them for the product key. If they don't have it, then you have an illegal installed version.

Normally doing a recovery Windows never asks for the product key !!!

What's frustrating is that computers bought in Thailand generally need to be registered on the Thai version of the computer manufacturers site. When I tried to register my Acer on the US site, it didn't recognize the serial number or my compute model (obviously my model isn't sold in the US). If you go to the Acer Thai site, well it's in Thai. Unless you read Thai, good luck on finding a link to an English translation. So trying to contact Acer US for a computer sold in Thailand will probably yield mixed results. If you are able to contact an English speaking Help Desk rep on the Acer Thai site, best of luck. Dealing with any 'Help Desk' in Thailand is about as fun as walking though hot coals and broken glass.

Edited October 16, 2015 by connda

[beerzy]

Why do you want it back?

What's wrong with Windows 10?

Well I have 2 computers running windows 10. both do things differently. Many programmes such as nitro pdf and utorrent wouldn't woulk on older PC. told to buy new Nitro programme as old one not compatible....and there is more

[mikecat]

Somewhere in the registry there will be a copy of all the keys on your computer, i.e windows, Microsoft Office and adobe etc. To get the key for Windows and Office you can use a simple program called Product Key available from freewarefiles.com. Works like a charm. There are a number of free products like this around. You could also use another program like Partition Magic which will find and restore deleted partitions. This works well and will restore your computer to it old state. However, this is quite time consuming and you have to pick the right partition or it becomes even more time consuming. I dont suppose I need to tell you now but always back up your system to to a dvd, or portable disc. You can also use a USB but you need to ensure that your computer cam boot from a USB.

[mikecat]

Even illegal copies have a key, usually generated by a key generator and activation program. If the copy was illegal he would know by now as he would not be able to get his updates and he would certainly know if he tried to upgrade to ten. Windows slyly or craftily whipped in an update that detects illegally installed copies and proceeds to nag you death and blocks any updates or upgrades. There is of course a number of programs developed now that can circumnavigate this update.

[ozyjon]

Click (open) control panel

Click (open) system icon,,

scroll down and see if it displays the key.

Good luck, ps any key will work.

[Pib]

That's the product number; not the key.

[FredNL]

As being a farang there's only 1 rule.

Never ever buy a computer in Thailand !!!

They're way overpriced, many times split up and expensive parts are replaced with cheap rubish. Original software is very hard to get or in Thai only.

When travelling outside Thailand it might be a good idea to purchase one.

[chrisinth]

Why do you think Microsoft give Windows 10 away for free? Think about it for a couple of minutes.

Learn to use Linux. If you need Windows to run legacy Windows applications, learn to use a virtual machine within Linux running Windows 7 or learn to use Windows emulation software. Buy a copy of Windows 7 so you're legal. When support runs out on Windows 7, you can still run your windows software, but it's pretty much in a 'sandbox' and risk and damage from hacks will be limited and repairable.

There in an App in Linux called "Wine"

That allows you to use some Windows programs

l

Seems to be an app in W10 called 'Whine' reading some of these posts.........................................

[chrisinth]

As being a farang there's only 1 rule.

Never ever buy a computer in Thailand !!!

They're way overpriced, many times split up and expensive parts are replaced with cheap rubish. Original software is very hard to get or in Thai only.

When travelling outside Thailand it might be a good idea to purchase one.

Wow.

Thanks for the heads-up Fred.