Just use the MSI recovery software (Not the one built into Windows 8).

I used some kind of program to extract the key, but I actually never needed it. All I see is Hard Disk - Windows Boot Manager. Also after the clean install on the SSD is done and I reconnect the HDD, how do I set it to boot to the SSD instead? As I also have the issue where I can't see separate drives under hard disk. I'd just like to know how you solved it if I run into the product key issue. I have removed the HDD and the Burn Recovery is currently installing on the SSD. Sorry vindictivegnome, I'd like to know how you solve the product key issue? I have the same laptop and am trying to clean install on a new SSD. Had a bit of an issue with Windows saying it can't be activated because the product key was installed on another machine (the regular HDD), but I figured that out. I took out the HDD, left the SSD installed, and successfully ran the recovery. I called MSI support and he said to use burnrecovery and NOT Windows 8's recovery program. I've never had this much trouble installing a SSD on my desktop. While the regular HDD is installed, I can reset the laptop to factory, but it won't ask me where I want to re-install Windows 8. While I only had the SSD installed (and no HDD), I used command prompt to mark the SSD as active to see if that would do anything, but nothing. I even updated the BIOS, which again didn't help. Also, BIOS won't recognize the SSD (Crucial) so I can't reorganize the boot priorities. When I try to refresh install, it says the hard drive is locked and that I need to unlock it to move on. Remove everything option always ends in the computer telling me I can't do that, there's a windows partition missing. I've tried the re-install while removing everything option and the refresh option. I unplugged/removed the regular HDD and tried installing Windows 8 on the SSD and no luck. Windows detects the SSD under disk management. I made a recovery disk on a 16gb flash drive. I'm trying to re-install Windows 8 on a newly installed SSD. I recently purchased a MSI GE60 Apache Pro 003.

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