Open the disk and look in Program files - also x86 program files if it is a 64bit system. There you may find OEM products installed - if any.
Also, how much did you pay for the disk and how big is it (in GBs). Maybe it was a good deal after all just as a HDD because with the flooding in Thailand, the disks got very expensive lately.
Hmm, this is not a clear picture. The Apple update does not count - Apple products are on most systems. 160GB is really small and $45 is OK if you were to buy it from Newegg. There they cost more: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...3.5%22&x=0&y=0
See if it will boot when you set the HD to boot first in BIOS setup, or try triggering it with one-time BIOS BOot Menu key.
If it does immediately look at activation status at Control Panel>System. Does it have OEM in the Product ID?
Then quickly run a Belarc Advisor scan to audit the installed Product Key if it's there. If so, and you have a legit installation which can migrate, you might be able to use the key to reactivate - which will be required soon enough on all new hardware.
Unfortunately all other methods to prepare the HD to boot on new hardware will likely remove the activation and thus the ability to scan the Product Key.
The seller has done something illegal by advertising and selling Windows on a HD without providing a Product Key. You should email him including a link to this thread and ask him to provide at least the Product Key, as we can help you find the installer as long as you have the key.
Last edited by gregrocker; 11 Dec 2011 at 13:32.
when i set the hd to boot first it tries to boot but only gets to a black screen where it says windows and three little colored balls start to appear then it stops and reboots and goes to the screen where you can choose safe boot. it does the same thing after choosing any of the options listed. where is the activation status at Control Panel>System? is there any way to locate it when its installed as a slave drive? btw, i havnt heard back from the ebay seller yet.
Having the startup animation stall means that drivers cannot load because of differences with the new hardware. This is solved by Sysprepping the HD first on the old hardware, or running Paragon Adaptive Restore CD on the new hardware. But both remove activation to prepare OS for new hardware. Without activation you cannot audit the Product Key.
There is no way to audit the Product Key that I know of unless the OS is running as it is a heavily encrypted file while offline. But others may have more ideas.
I would open a case with eBay support. We would like to know how they handle this as we have scores of complaints here about bad keys bought on eBay with little or no resolution reported thus far. Let them know we are watching closely.
Good point Greg. We should not let these buggers get away with those scams.Let them know we are watching closely.
It infuriates me that the EBay CEO ran for California Governor on her huge fortune during a period that site was the leading dispenser of bootleg Technet Win7 keys which were later deactivated with no replacement or refunds reported.
Apparently they do not care how they make their money. No morals when money rules. But as long as there are no strict rules for those people, nothing is going to change - like in the finance sector.
Since you have the drive installed just wipe it. Then you will have to get your hands on an install dvd and a key. They are sold at BestBuy.
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