Technet product key windows 7 ultimate headaches
I picked up a computer today at a yard sale. The computer had windows 7 already installed, but I wanted it to be my own, so I retrieved a fresh key from my subscription. I changed the product key and windows refuses to activate it, manually or automatically.
Last week, I had a similar issue and was told on the phone by Microsoft activation that only MSDN can activate these keys, this was right before the long holiday weekend, so I just formatted windows 7 and installed the key and all was well.
What is the problem? Is there an easy fix without formatting my hard drive again?
MSDN is unavailable on weekends so this is really upsetting. This is a major inconvenience and nightmare.
July 11th, 2010 12:25pm
You are asking your question in the WRONG place. If you have a Technet subscription, there is Support there. If you have an MSDN subscription there is Support there. This is an open forum. It is neither Technet Support nor MSDN
Support!
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July 11th, 2010 4:24pm
This is another example of a Microsoft headache, I thought I was in the Technet forums, I followed a link right off the Technet pages....Go figure.....
July 11th, 2010 9:32pm
On Sun, 11 Jul 2010 09:25:24 +0000, allanm1 wrote:
I picked up a computer today at a yard sale. The computer had windows 7 already installed, but I wanted it to be my own, so I retrieved a fresh key from my subscription. I changed the product key and windows refuses to activate it, manually or automatically.
You are playing with fire.
If I acquired a used computer, no matter who previously owned it, the
first thing I would do with it would be to reinstall the operating
system cleanly. You have no idea how the computer has been maintained,
what has been installed incorrectly, what is missing, what viruses and
spyware there may be, etc. I wouldn't want to live with somebody
else's mistakes and problems, possibility of kiddy p0rn, etc., and I
wouldn't recommend that anyone else do so either.
Ken Blake
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July 11th, 2010 10:38pm
Is the existing system a retail system or OEM system? If it is an OEM system, you may not be able to activate it with a retail or subscription Product Key. You may need to reinstall the system.
However if it is a retail version, I suggest you launch “slui -4” and activate the system according to the instructions.Please remember to click Mark as Answer on the post that helps you, and to click Unmark as Answer if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.
July 13th, 2010 12:11pm
The reason you wanted to use the msdn key was so the OS would be your own. When you buy a used computer the OS license is transfered to you so no need to swap the retail key for MSDN key - that retail key is now yours.
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July 13th, 2010 2:17pm
Agreed, when the PC is transferred to another owner, the license is transferred as well. Does it have an OEM sticker on it? If so, you need a retail disc, or contact the PC manufacturer and request a "reinstall" disc.
I too am a Technet subscriber, and I use my Technet portal to find these threads. Whats even funnier is the fact that the URL is :
social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums
So much for being an open forum huh?
Anyone can find these forums, in a number of ways, please do not lambast the OP for posting here when Technet, Answers, MSDN, and others all find their way here for a common goal. KNOWLEDGE. If you dont have the answer, or at least something to try,
leave the thread alone.
Thanks,Network Systems Engineer * Zvetco Biometrics * Windows Server 2008 R2 * Core2 6600 @ 3.30GHz * 16 GIGS RAM * NVIDIA 9400GT * ** " Please remember to click Mark as Answer on the post that helps you, and to click Unmark as Answer if a marked post
does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.
July 13th, 2010 5:30pm