Windows 7 Activation key

Author
Discussion

Fastra

Original Poster:

4,277 posts

208 months

Friday 22nd May 2015
quotequote all
Just found out that the machine I bought from ebay a few months ago hasn't, surprise surprise, got an official version of windows on after all - it came with no install disks.

If I call Microsoft for a key, can I just enter it and carry on as normal or is it a clean install?
It's my daughters and is full of stuff I'd rather not re-install.



illmonkey

18,112 posts

197 months

Friday 22nd May 2015
quotequote all
Just enter the key.

Fastra

Original Poster:

4,277 posts

208 months

Friday 22nd May 2015
quotequote all
Thanks.
Can you expand a little?
So, I can keep the system as it is?

illmonkey

18,112 posts

197 months

Friday 22nd May 2015
quotequote all
It'll currently either be 'non-genuine' or a legit key that's been over subscribed.

Either way, you just change the key, like Microsoft tell you too here:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/windows/help/ge...

You can also try the Command Line to change the Product key:

Click on the Start Button and type: CMD (into the 'Search programs and files' field in the Start Menu)
The Start Menu will show 'CMD.exe',
Right-click the CMD.exe file and select Run As Administrator.
In the CMD window, type: slmgr.vbs -ipk <type your product key here>
To activate windows after changing the key, type: slmgr.vbs -ato

Fastra

Original Poster:

4,277 posts

208 months

Friday 22nd May 2015
quotequote all
Great stuff, most appreciated.
smile

So, just to be clear, I can call them, get a key, enter it, and my system will remain unchanged -apart from now being legit.

illmonkey

18,112 posts

197 months

Friday 22nd May 2015
quotequote all
Yes, or purchase one from amazon or something. The PC will contiune as is, just legally.

Fastra

Original Poster:

4,277 posts

208 months

Friday 22nd May 2015
quotequote all
Wonderful.

many thanks.

biggrin

anonymous-user

53 months

Friday 22nd May 2015
quotequote all
I've just tried to find a way of purchasing a genuine Win 7 key from Google and the Windows website and have hit a brick wall.

MS appear to want to push everybody onto Win 8?

And MS wonder why the world and his wife are running hooky versions of their products, no bloody wonder if you can't find a legit way of purchasing a product.


George111

6,930 posts

250 months

Friday 22nd May 2015
quotequote all
CoinSl0t said:
I've just tried to find a way of purchasing a genuine Win 7 key from Google and the Windows website and have hit a brick wall.

MS appear to want to push everybody onto Win 8?

And MS wonder why the world and his wife are running hooky versions of their products, no bloody wonder if you can't find a legit way of purchasing a product.
Amazon have a number of Win7 products available.

anonymous-user

53 months

Friday 22nd May 2015
quotequote all
George111 said:
Amazon have a number of Win7 products available.
Yes true, but if your looking to get a key today online to make your install legit then MS appear to have made it impossible?

aquarianone

498 posts

176 months

Friday 22nd May 2015
quotequote all
Last time I tried it there was some sort of MS automated telephone number for Activation, was up and running in a couple minutes..

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

Bought the Key from Itrevive.

megaphone

10,694 posts

250 months

illmonkey

18,112 posts

197 months

Friday 22nd May 2015
quotequote all
megaphone said:
Thats OEM, so he'd still be illegal.

Sheepshanks

32,530 posts

118 months

Friday 22nd May 2015
quotequote all
illmonkey said:
Thats OEM, so he'd still be illegal.
It's probably impossible to get Windows7 legally now for an existing machine, unless their are still retail copies kicking around, but they'll be so expensive you might as well buy a new computer.

I know it's strictly speaking not right, but for home use if it works I'd leave it alone.

illmonkey

18,112 posts

197 months

Friday 22nd May 2015
quotequote all
Sheepshanks said:
illmonkey said:
Thats OEM, so he'd still be illegal.
It's probably impossible to get Windows7 legally now for an existing machine, unless their are still retail copies kicking around, but they'll be so expensive you might as well buy a new computer.

I know it's strictly speaking not right, but for home use if it works I'd leave it alone.
Well, if he's going to buy OEM, he may as well do!


Sheepshanks

32,530 posts

118 months

Friday 22nd May 2015
quotequote all
illmonkey said:
Sheepshanks said:
illmonkey said:
Thats OEM, so he'd still be illegal.
It's probably impossible to get Windows7 legally now for an existing machine, unless their are still retail copies kicking around, but they'll be so expensive you might as well buy a new computer.

I know it's strictly speaking not right, but for home use if it works I'd leave it alone.
Well, if he's going to buy OEM, he may as well do!
Exactly.

illmonkey

18,112 posts

197 months

Friday 22nd May 2015
quotequote all
Sheepshanks said:
illmonkey said:
Sheepshanks said:
illmonkey said:
Thats OEM, so he'd still be illegal.
It's probably impossible to get Windows7 legally now for an existing machine, unless their are still retail copies kicking around, but they'll be so expensive you might as well buy a new computer.

I know it's strictly speaking not right, but for home use if it works I'd leave it alone.
Well, if he's going to buy OEM, he may as well do!
Exactly.
So he doesn't buy OEM.

Mandat

3,879 posts

237 months

Friday 22nd May 2015
quotequote all
illmonkey said:
Thats OEM, so he'd still be illegal.
Why is illegal to buy an OEM version?

illmonkey

18,112 posts

197 months

Friday 22nd May 2015
quotequote all
Mandat said:
illmonkey said:
Thats OEM, so he'd still be illegal.
Why is illegal to buy an OEM version?
It's for system builders only, no box etc. You used to be able to buy a cheap mouse at the same time and it be legal, but I'm not sure now.

Sheepshanks

32,530 posts

118 months

Friday 22nd May 2015
quotequote all
illmonkey said:
Mandat said:
illmonkey said:
Thats OEM, so he'd still be illegal.
Why is illegal to buy an OEM version?
It's for system builders only, no box etc. You used to be able to buy a cheap mouse at the same time and it be legal, but I'm not sure now.
Sellers weren't allowed to sell it on its own so you used to have to buy some hardware item with it, but that requirement seems to have gone now.

The limitations are noted in the listing linked to above:

OEM Software Notice:
· To purchase OEM System Builder software, you must be a System Builder and accept the System Builder License. "System Builder" means an original equipment manufacturer, an assembler, a Refurbisher, or a software preinstaller that sells the Customer System(s) to a third-party. OEM software may ONLY be distributed with a fully assembled computer system.
· For a desktop operating system or application software, the software also must be preinstalled on the hard drive of the fully assembled computer system, using the OEM Preinstallation Kit (OPK).
· The system builder who installs the software is responsible for the provision of end-user support.