Is it possible to get a refund for Windows 7 ?

I bought a new computer last month. It is a custom build. I requested Win 7 home premium. When I got the computer, it worked fine for a couple of weeks, then it locked up, asking for a win 7 activation key. In a rush to get my computer going, I went online and bought a key from Microsoft. A couple of days later I contacted the computer builder/seller to see what went wrong. He promptly sent me an activation key. So, now I have a extra key.

Is it possible to get a refund from Microsoft and reactivate the software using the key from the builder/seller?

If Win7 is sold preinstalled then by law it's required to have a Certificate of Authenticity affixed to it which looks like this:



If it doesn't then ask the builder or seller to supply it now as they are selling illegal Windows. They may have given you a bogus key.

Once you have the sticker you can reinstall the OS as often as you want for the life of the machine, if it has OEM version which will have the letters OEM in the Product ID string at Computer>Properties. If it's retail it can migrate to any machine you want as often as you want for life.

You can call MS Customer Service to describe the problem to them to see if they will consider a special exception to give a refund. Otherwise you can sell the key online with a link to this thread so the buyer understands the good faith you have and is reassured the key won't be otherwise distributed.

Or save it to use on another retail machine or give as a gift.

I wouldn't even consider getting a refund from Microsoft until and unless I knew for a FACT that the key from the computer seller was valid.

I'd call Microsoft and have them tell you if the computer seller key was valid to you as an ordinary home user. Maybe it is, maybe it isn't.

I found the OEM Win 7 sticker on the computer case and it had a product key on it. If I had only seen it earlier! I had trouble changing the activation to the OEM key so I called Microsoft. After a long hold and an elevation to a higher tech support, they were able to change the activation. I was also given a number to call to get a refund. I called this morning, gave them my order number, explained what happened and they approved the refund.

Thank you for your help.

In the future just ask back as we could have easily told you to insert the key at Computer>Properties link to Change Product Key, or how to run it using Command Line if that link is not showing.

So glad to hear MS gave you your money back.

MS are generally very good about that kind of thing.