Windows 7 Activation key
Discussion
illmonkey said:
nmd87 said:
You can get a key on reddit for a few quid that's said to be legitimate. Did this myself recently and works fine.
No, no you cant.
It doesn't say the key IS legitimate!
If Microsoft was that bothered about it then they'd prevent these keys from validating.
Sheepshanks said:
illmonkey said:
nmd87 said:
You can get a key on reddit for a few quid that's said to be legitimate. Did this myself recently and works fine.
No, no you cant.It doesn't say the key IS legitimate!
If Microsoft was that bothered about it then they'd prevent these keys from validating.
illmonkey said:
But he has a dodgy copy. Why is he going to spend money on an other dodgy copy, or a OEM licence and still be illegal.
Depends where you're starting from.If you've got Win7 and it's activated then I say leave it alone. It's probably impossible to legalise it now.
The poster taking about reddit might have had XP, and downloaded Windows7 (up until a few weeks ago you could download it off the Microsoft site, but it's gone now) but needed a key to activate it.
Fastra said:
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.
How do you know it's not official? Is it coming up with any messages on-screen?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.
If there are no messages, then you can get "backup copies" of the software in case of failure and install them to DVD, but you'd still be without a key for installation. However, as long as it's working, I go by the mantra "If it ain't broken, don't fix it".
At this point, if it's all working ok, I'd create a system recovery disc, perform a full system backup on a few DVD so at least if the OS or hard drive fails in the future you can just restore back to this point in time.
If you are actually getting messages saying "Your version of Windows may not be genuine" then they haven't installed a hookie copy of Windows correctly or you may actually have a problem with a genuine key.
If so, you have three options:
1) As said above, you can generate a code which you supply to Microsoft, they should give you another code to try if your code is indeed genuine.
2) If it isn't genuine, you could try to buy a genuine copy of Windows with a genuine key, but you have to get the correct version for the version you have installed and then go through the process of changing the key.
3) You could install a little (Illegal) program that removes the messages.
The choice is up to you.
Could also install Windows 10 pre-release onto the machine which will 'upgrade' pirated version of Win 7 to fully legal or at least that's what I've read. My Win7 x64 was a legal copy which I used as the upgrade platform to Win 10.
Windows 10 works brilliantly on my 5 yr old i5 570 system with just 4gbs of ram BTW in case anyone's thinking of taking the plunge.
Windows 10 works brilliantly on my 5 yr old i5 570 system with just 4gbs of ram BTW in case anyone's thinking of taking the plunge.
Motorrad said:
Could also install Windows 10 pre-release onto the machine which will 'upgrade' pirated version of Win 7 to fully legal or at least that's what I've read. My Win7 x64 was a legal copy which I used as the upgrade platform to Win 10.
Windows 10 works brilliantly on my 5 yr old i5 570 system with just 4gbs of ram BTW in case anyone's thinking of taking the plunge.
Really ?Windows 10 works brilliantly on my 5 yr old i5 570 system with just 4gbs of ram BTW in case anyone's thinking of taking the plunge.
But wont you then have to fresh install a proper release version of Windows 10 when its released ?
Genuine question BTW
techiedave said:
Really ?
But wont you then have to fresh install a proper release version of Windows 10 when its released ?
Genuine question BTW
Yes, the 'official' version will be released and your copy of windows will either cease to function correctly or gradually nag you more and more to buy a proper copy. I bought a retail copy of Windows 7 when it was released and plan on using it for several more years!But wont you then have to fresh install a proper release version of Windows 10 when its released ?
Genuine question BTW
techiedave said:
Motorrad said:
Could also install Windows 10 pre-release onto the machine which will 'upgrade' pirated version of Win 7 to fully legal or at least that's what I've read. My Win7 x64 was a legal copy which I used as the upgrade platform to Win 10.
Windows 10 works brilliantly on my 5 yr old i5 570 system with just 4gbs of ram BTW in case anyone's thinking of taking the plunge.
Really ?Windows 10 works brilliantly on my 5 yr old i5 570 system with just 4gbs of ram BTW in case anyone's thinking of taking the plunge.
But wont you then have to fresh install a proper release version of Windows 10 when its released ?
Genuine question BTW
buggalugs said:
techiedave said:
Motorrad said:
Could also install Windows 10 pre-release onto the machine which will 'upgrade' pirated version of Win 7 to fully legal or at least that's what I've read. My Win7 x64 was a legal copy which I used as the upgrade platform to Win 10.
Windows 10 works brilliantly on my 5 yr old i5 570 system with just 4gbs of ram BTW in case anyone's thinking of taking the plunge.
Really ?Windows 10 works brilliantly on my 5 yr old i5 570 system with just 4gbs of ram BTW in case anyone's thinking of taking the plunge.
But wont you then have to fresh install a proper release version of Windows 10 when its released ?
Genuine question BTW
I don't know what happens about the key though - they're using a generic one at the moment - if you have to use your Win7 key I guess it might fail if it's dodgy.
That's true I don't know what will happen if it's in a failed activation state. I had an old laptop that I'd used an activation hack on that upgraded no probs but that was showing activated at the time. Although W10 lunched it's self on update after a month or so so maybe not the best advert.
MissChief said:
Where have they said that windows 7 users will get a free upgrade to a fully activated consumer version of windows 10, for free? I haven't read it anywhere?
Here http://www.pcworld.com/article/2873214/windows-10-... for example - and that says it doesn't matter if your existing version is pirated.pardon me if I've mis read this post.
- I believe OP is looking for a key for his version of Win7. I've got discs and a key, but I also have a copy of jellybean keyfinder (https://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/) ,which lists my key as per my cert. Might be a good starting point( run key finder-get key and note it) . At least then he's got a key for his OS. If MS haven't challenged his copy, then I'd suggest it's legit, or legit as far as MS are concerned, as it's been authenticated. I'll leave the bit about getting the Discs/ backup to IT bods to comment on .
- I believe OP is looking for a key for his version of Win7. I've got discs and a key, but I also have a copy of jellybean keyfinder (https://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/) ,which lists my key as per my cert. Might be a good starting point( run key finder-get key and note it) . At least then he's got a key for his OS. If MS haven't challenged his copy, then I'd suggest it's legit, or legit as far as MS are concerned, as it's been authenticated. I'll leave the bit about getting the Discs/ backup to IT bods to comment on .
techiedave said:
Really ?
But wont you then have to fresh install a proper release version of Windows 10 when its released ?
Genuine question BTW
I read that the pre-release will upgrade unregistered copies of Win 7 (no idea about 8) to Win 10 which will then be fully supported and legitimate.But wont you then have to fresh install a proper release version of Windows 10 when its released ?
Genuine question BTW
Having undergone the upgrade process from win 7X64 to it's Win 10 beta I suspect the legitimacy of your 7 distro is the least of Microsoft's concerns. This is about keeping market credibility and viability IMO.
Motorrad said:
I read that the pre-release will upgrade unregistered copies of Win 7 (no idea about 8) to Win 10 which will then be fully supported and legitimate.
Having undergone the upgrade process from win 7X64 to it's Win 10 beta I suspect the legitimacy of your 7 distro is the least of Microsoft's concerns. This is about keeping market credibility and viability IMO.
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows-10/abou...Having undergone the upgrade process from win 7X64 to it's Win 10 beta I suspect the legitimacy of your 7 distro is the least of Microsoft's concerns. This is about keeping market credibility and viability IMO.
Straight from the horse's mouth as it were - the free upgrade offer is in the middle of the page.
Microsoft are moving to an incremental upgrade model, which makes sense really as the monolithic release cycle basically bet the farm on each release.
"People" (non nerds) don't buy Windows - it's bundled with the PC and usually the only time they get a new version is when they buy a new PC. So the market for people actually buying windows is small, and not really that profitable any more in comparison to other business areas. The money is in making sure that people are running Windows at home and at work so they can lock them into Office/Exchange/Sharepoint/Azure on a monthly contract, and the best way of doing that is giving it away or selling it for not a lot of money.
It's a massive change for Microsoft, and a very ballsy move - but I think it's a good thing to do for them and the rest of the world.
davepoth said:
"People" (non nerds) don't buy Windows - it's bundled with the PC and usually the only time they get a new version is when they buy a new PC. So the market for people actually buying windows is small, and not really that profitable any more in comparison to other business areas. The money is in making sure that people are running Windows at home and at work so they can lock them into Office/Exchange/Sharepoint/Azure on a monthly contract, and the best way of doing that is giving it away or selling it for not a lot of money.
It's a massive change for Microsoft, and a very ballsy move - but I think it's a good thing to do for them and the rest of the world.
It's not seen as a good thing by people who make PCs / laptops (sales of which are already in decline). It's reckoned a lot of people will upgrade the OS as it's free and therefore not buy the new machine they might have done with a major upgrade in the past.It's a massive change for Microsoft, and a very ballsy move - but I think it's a good thing to do for them and the rest of the world.
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