Windows 8 BIOS Keys - embedded goodness

re: Windows 8 BIOS Keys - embedded goodness

Ryan — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 21:30:25 GMT

Now if I could just get the thing to image via SCCM.... :)

re: Windows 8 BIOS Keys - embedded goodness

Ryan — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 21:29:30 GMT

Just an update... I've been struggling to get anywhere with Samsung's tech support. I've made 7 calls where they've said they'll call back (either 24-48 hours for an engineer, or in some cases, 1 hour for the call center person). They have not returned one call yet. I did find out after calling that the Easy Settings requiring local admin rights issue has been escalated, and that they're waiting on word from Samsung Korea to locate a version that doesn't have the local admin requirement.

In the meantime, I couldn't wait. I spent some time with the ACT toolkit and was able to create (by trial and error) a shim that, to my surprise, works in every way, including the brightness fn key controls. The shim may grant more permissions than necessary (the permutations of options in ACT are almost endless), but it seems to work well in testing so far. If anyone is interested, I can provide the shim file.

re: Windows 8 BIOS Keys - embedded goodness

Keith Combs — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 08:44:56 GMT

@James, I am not sure. If the embedded key is Windows 8, and you are using the Windows 8 Pro install, I would imagine setup would provide a way to specify a new key.

My machine came with Windows 8 Pro and I tested with a retail Windows 8 Pro DVD.

re: Windows 8 BIOS Keys - embedded goodness

James — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 08:11:32 GMT

"Keith, any word on installing a different version of Windows 8 on a system with embedded product key? Say Windows 8 embedded and I want to install a retail copy of Windows 8 Pro, or the other way around.

Will the bios key conflict with that?"

I think what Martin wanted to know (as do I) is, what if you bought a system with a Windows 8 key embedded in the BIOS, and then tried to install a copy of Windows 8 Pro (or vice versa)? Would the embedded key interfere with the install or would you simply be presented with a key entry screen if you do this?

re: Windows 8 BIOS Keys - embedded goodness

Ryan — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 16:04:40 GMT

@Dave re comments system:

Hit refresh before copying and pasting your post from Notepad (or wherever). From what I can tell, it seems like a timeout issue. If you type your post and take about 5-10 minutes (or so?) before clicking post, your comment will be lost.

re: Windows 8 BIOS Keys - embedded goodness

Keith Combs — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 20:22:54 GMT

@Martin, could you re-phrase your question(s)? I am not sure I understand what you are asking. The embedded key is specific to a certain SKU.

re: Windows 8 BIOS Keys - embedded goodness

Keith Combs — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 20:21:17 GMT

Flawed is being nice. Sometimes it just doesn't work. Use notepad first.

re: Windows 8 BIOS Keys - embedded goodness

Dave — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 18:41:27 GMT

@KC testing... is the comments system flawed? Just wrote here and nothing, not even a gone-to-moderation message!?

re: Windows 8 BIOS Keys - embedded goodness

Martin — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 08:05:34 GMT

Keith, any word on installing a different version of Windows 8 on a system with embedded product key? Say Windows 8 embedded and I want to install a retail copy of Windows 8 Pro, or the other way around.

Will the bios key conflict with that?

re: Windows 8 BIOS Keys - embedded goodness

Keith Combs — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 01:17:49 GMT

@Steve,

That's a question for the computer maker or the Windows product group.