Forgot password to get into tablet running windows 8.1

Hi Chris -

Your phone and email address were stripped out. It's a bit dangerous to give those out online because scammers will try to contact you and pretend to be calling from Microsoft. In fact Microsoft will never call you as a response to a post on these public volunteer forums.

In any case, you should be able to reset the tablet. You'll need to use a special key combination to get into recovery mode, I have a short video about how on my site here: Reset Forgotten Windows Password. In short you just use the on screen keyboard to "hold shift" while you choose the power/restart option on the lock screen, then use the advanced recovery options to either reset it to factory new condition or boot from a USB drive.

Booting from a USB drive can be frustrating.  I did this with a Dell Venue Pro 8" tablet, and it ran Windows install setup from the USB stick fine, but had no touch drivers loaded, so I couldn't interact with it. I had to get a full-powered USB hub so I could connect the USB drive, keyboard, and mouse, all into the micro-USB plug. But once that's all done it's pretty easy. I eventually even installed Windows 10 on it.  Actually on 4 of them :)

Here are the Key/s to press at Boot to start the Recovery Process back to Factory Settings (new condition). Under each Manufacturer in the list below are the instructions in the respective links for you to follow on how to use their Recovery Partition

Acer – Press Left Alt + F10 Keys.

"Use Acer eRecovery application to restore your system or create recovery media"

http://acer.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/29934/~/use-acer-erecovery-application-to-restore-your-system-or-create-recovery-media

Asus – Press F9

This is how to use the Asus Recovery process.

http://www.asus.com/support/FAQ/1006133/

Dell – Press F8 which will bring up Advanced Boot Options 

"Restore Windows 8 using the Factory image restore method in Dell Backup and Recovery"

http://www.dell.com/support/article/us/en/19/SLN155115/EN

eMachines: Press Left Alt Key + F10

eMachines Support - Answers, E-Mail, Chat - Restore Windows with a ...

Fujitsu – Press F8

restore to factory setting. - Fujitsu Support Forum

Gateway: Press Alt + F10 Keys - As Acer owns them: press Left Alt + F10 Keys as per Acer eRecovery

Using Gateway Recovery Management to Restore Windows 8

HP – Press F11 repeatedly at Boot.

Follow these HP steps to do a Recovery to Factory Settings (new condition).

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c03489643&tmp_task=solveCategory&cc=us&dlc=en&lc=en#N617

Lenovo – Press F11

https://support.lenovo.com/us/en/documents/ht077084#restore

LG – Press F11 at Boot

Packard Bell: Press and hold the ALT key while pressing repeatedly the F10 key. Release the keys when a message displays that Windows is loading files.

““Using Packard Bell Recovery Management to Restore Windows 8”

http://packard-bell-scandic.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/26280/~/using-packard-bell-recovery-management-to-restore-windows-8

Samsung – Press F4 at Boot

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0CiBXuMVGo

Sony Vaio – Tap F10 until the Edit Boot Options screen is displayed

https://us.en.kb.sony.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/36806/c/65,66/kw/windows 8 assist/

Toshiba – Press 12

http://www.mytoshiba.com.au/support/items/faq/776

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

You can contact the Laptop/Computer Manufacturer and order Recovery Media from them for a small cost.

You can download and create your own Windows 8.1 Installation Media to reinstall the Operating System with..

"Create installation media for Windows 8.1"

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/create-reset-refresh-media

"Download Windows 8.1"

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows8

A similar Tutorial which may also assist you

"Create Installation Media for Windows 8.1"

http://winsupersite.com/windows-8/create-installation-media-windows-81

In the first screen of this very simple wizard, you need to choose the following:

Language. English – en-us if you're in the United States.

Edition. Windows 8.1 (Core), Windows 8.1 N, Windows 8.1 Pro, Windows 8.1 Pro N, or Windows 8.1 Single Language.

Architecture. 64-bit (x64 ) or 32-bit (x86).

_______________________________________

"How to Create a Bootable USB or DVD with a Windows 8 or 8.1 ISO"

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2227-create-bootable-usb-dvd-windows-8-iso.html

   Warning

_____________________________________

How to clean install:

"How to Do a Clean Install of Windows 8 or Windows 8.1"

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2299-clean-install-windows-8-a.html

_____________________________________

With Windows 8/8.1 The Product Key on preinstalled Operating Systems (HP, Acer, etc) is embedded in the BIOS in the Motherboard, so that the lost and/or worn C.O.A. Sticker problem is no more.

When you reinstall it will pick up the Product Key and activate the system automatically.

If it does not, follow these steps:

"How to Activate Windows 8 and 8.1 by Phone"

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/24636-activate-windows-8-phone.html

"Get help with activation errors"

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/activation-errors

"How to activate a Microsoft product by using Microsoft Product Activation Center"

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950929/en-us

_______________________________________________

If you do wish to/need to keep a record of it:

"Windows 10 Embedded Product Key Tool"

https://neosmart.net/blog/2014/windows-10-embedded-product-key-tool/

"We’re proud to introduce the immediate release of our newest utility for Windows users: the NeoSmart Technologies Embedded Product Key Tool. Designed for users of Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10, our embedded product key tool will retrieve and display the Windows setup product key embedded in the BIOS or EFI, allowing you to store it for safe-keeping or use it to reinstall Windows with an official Windows setup image."

You can also use:

"Belarc Advisor - Free Personal PC Audit (Version 8.5c)"

http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

Or:

"Product KeyFinder"

https://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/

Cheers.