Windows 7: Conflicting Product Keys

Hi there, I bought a brand new Acer Aspire 5741 that came with Windows 7 Home Premium installed. As always I have saved the Product Key from the COA sticker on the bottom. Just out of curiosity I decided to try a Product Key finder program. I tried two (Nirsoft's ProduKey and Glary Utilities' System Information) and they both show a different Product Key to the one on the COA sticker. Why would this be? Thanks for any help.

Could have originally had vista on it and may have been updated to win 7. How old is the comp?


Ken

That is normal and should be the case on most store-bought computers. The installation is done with the manufacturer's corporate key. The sticker is only an individual key for that particular machine. They are rarely, if ever, used.

Indeed, you are correct, McGyvr. Belarc indicates such on its report:

Use the one on the COA sticker for reinstall. It may require the robocall to MS during activation, but not always.

Tips on getting a purrfect clean reinstall with factory Windows 7: re-install windows 7

Until then here are tips for cleaning up a factory bloatware install: HP laptop has used up all four primary partitions

Thanks everyone for your replies. All good, just as long as nothing dodgy is going on.

Hi again guys, Sorry to open this thread again. So I thought I would change the product as mikedl suggested but I have no "Change product key" link in My Computer properties. Any ideas? And now I'm also wondering what is the point of a product key finder at all if it doesn't find the right key that I would need to re-install? The average joe isn't going to know the product key finder is finding the manufacturer key not the COA key (and I would imagine it's generally the average joe that's using a product key finder).

Good questions.

The Product Key finder is useful if you have a retail install.

If you have factory pre-install, most users who are advanced enough to clean reinstall using a Windows 7 Installation DVD will know to use the Product key on the COA sticker. If they use a key audited from HD it will also work, but typically with a bit more difficulty.

May I ask why you are wanting to change the Product Key? There is no need to reactivate unless you are clean reinstalling or somehow lost your activation. If so, you should have an Activate Now link at Computer>Properties. You really only need to Change Product Key if you are changing the activation to another license.

In that case, type in elevated command Prompt: slmgr -ipk followed by a space and Product Key. Then activate at Computer>Properties. SLMgr Commands and Options with Windows Vista Product Key Activation » My Digital Life