Hi all. Long story short...my cousin's hard drive failed. Installed a new hard drive & wrote down the Win7 product key that appears on the sticker (the sticker is worn, but I'm confident I have the right key).
Since I don't have her Win7 CD, I used mine. Win7 is not accepting her product key, though.
Is this because I am using my own Win7 CD? Isn't it in fact possible to install Win7 using ANY CD?
Thank you.
As DocBrown said, I think that the problem is that her product key is not for Windows 7 Home Premium, which I presume is the edition of the installation disc you are using.
I am pretty sure, but not completely sure, that a product key can be used for both 32-bit and 64-bit.
Okay.
Her PC came with Win 7 Home Premium 64-bit.
I am using my Win 7 Home Premium 64-bit CD - the only difference being that I purchased it with a student discount.
So, it ought to work.
If anyone has any tricks to suggest, I'd appreciate it. I have to get this PC on a plane next week.
MS support gave me a number to call tomorrow (800-642-7676). They may help me get Windows activated (crossing fingers).
Thank you.
YOu may not have the exact digits typed in, or copied down. Always audit the HD to read the key using Belarc Advisor first if there's a question.
Other than that it should work. You don't need the Upgrade verison workaround for an OEM install, and youre using the same version retail installer. Keep trying the key.
If you have a windows.old folder in C root you can even roll back to the old install to audit the exact key from HD using Belarc. How to restore a Windows 7-based computer to a previous Windows installation by using the Windows.old folder
Let us know if MS will help, or refers you to her OEM which prob won't support a clean reinstall. The normal procedure is they verify the key, then if its retail refer you to tech support to get it activated one way or another, but if it's OEM they can refer you to maker.
The student discount disk is an Upgrade disk. If you performed a clean install with it, you may need the workaround as described in this tut.
Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version
Second, the COA key (sticker key) often refuses online activation, so try the phone activation method.
Activate Windows 7 by Phone
You guys were right. The Win7 sticker was a bit worn, and I had one digit wrong.
In case anyone else has this issue, don't get bounced around at Microsoft Support like I did. Call 800-642-7676 (their new number) or the number I originally called (800-936-5700) -- they will remotely connect to your PC to resolve the issue. And, most importantly, they are very familiar with Windows product keys.
Thanks again, guys!
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