Windows 7: Reinstall with OEM key on same system - Not Genuine ?

In that case I don't think we can rule out that you were sold non-Genuine Windows 7 on that Thinkpad.

One way you can find out is to call MS Customer Service to have them validate the Product Key. However they may refer you to Lenovo which may be helpful if you are within the 1 year Tech Support window.

Hold on a minute. You restored an image from a different Lenovo to your "new" Lenovo, and it won't validate. Sounds perfectly normal to me, because that was already validated for the other hardware. It will always come up flagged as not genuine, most likely because your "new" Lenovo doesn't have the required BIOS indicator that the Lenovo OEM OS is looking for, hence you will not be genuine. Install Windows 7 and use your product key - that's the only way it's going to work.

May I suggest this as a way of determining whether the software is genuine?

Click Start and type powershell in the Search box.

Right-click Powershell under Programs then choose Run As Adninstrator and choose Yes when prompted.

Type this command on one line then press Enter to run it.

get-eventlog -LogName Application -InstanceId 1073745925 | Select-Object TimeWritten, Message > $env:userprofile\desktop\logons.txt

Click Start again and type logons in the search box then double-click logons under Files.

The list of messages should say Windows License Validated

My test Fresh format/reinstall with the key that came on this PC activated OK but is now getting the "Windows is not Genuine" pop-up. I guess this means it was a used key from the seller's imaging process. They said they put new keys on all the duplicates of their image . . but I guess not.

The dealer sent me a new Key today . . . It activated OK . . . . Ill try seavixen32 (below) method of seeing if the license is validated . But I'm not sure that means I won't get flagged again by Microsoft. Ill know in a couple of days.

I still don't get why Activation and Validation act as if they are unrelated functions. Why does Microsoft Activate an OEM key already used by someone else ?

Let's hope the dealer has made good.

It's reminiscent of a few years back when TechNet keys which were sold by subscribers were blacklisted, causing them to flag as non-Genuine. But during reinstall these should be Blocked Keys.

Otherwise it's rare enough that it would be good to know the outcome. It will likely be popular in Google searches as well so others may have examples.

ACCORDING TO MICROSOFT:
The CD key that came with the computer was valid. The second key they gave me was also valid.

The problem was, I did a fresh install with OEM media from another Lenovo computer because I did not get a DVD with the computer and the Recovery Disk feature was not "loaded" on the dealers installation of this computer.

Microsoft says the Product Keys for this type of OEM license are tied to the specific distribution media. I used OEM media with a slipstreamed Key for another computer but I changed to the original key before activating and that did not work. It Activated but would not Validate so it came up as not Genuine.

I'm glad I don't have to understand this . . I will try to avoid messing around with OEM installatons in the future. Retail Licensing is simple.

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By the way my Original question was about using the OEM key on an imported disk image orignally installed with a Microsoft Action Pack installation. This would not "Validate" until I made sure the Action Pack installation was at Windows 7 SP1 before I moved the installation to the new computer. Then the OEM key Activated and Validated the Action Pack installation on the new computer. My first effort at this became "Not Genuine" when SP1 automatically installed on Windows Update after transferring the image to the new PC. (others have had this problem)
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You should use the latest official Windows 7 retail installer to clean reinstall either OEM or retail. Everything you need is in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 which steps and ISO link are also good for retail.

Good to Know. I have new retail media too, but didn't know for sure if that would work with an OEM key.

Thanks for your help !