Window genuine question

richc46 said:

If you bought the computer with Seven installed the key is also on the computer.
It has 25 digits. 5 groups of 5. There are letters and numbers.

The key on the sticker won't allow you to reinstall because you don't have the media required to use it. It's there more as a courtesy from Microsoft.

richc46 said:

If the computer came with the system preinstalled the key on the computer will work. Many companies include a DVD just for this situation.

Where would the media come from? The key on the sticker is for pure Windows media from Microsoft and you don't get that with a new PC. A recovery disc, which you might get, requires no key.

I've been doing this since Windows 98 and have yet to see a key from a sticker on a PC be usable.

If you buy say a Dell and it comes with Windows 7 pre-installed the product key on the sticker doesn't match the one actually used to install windows. The reason for that is Microsoft allows Dell and other OEM manufacturers to use SLP, System Locked Pre-install. Dell gets its own master product code that is uses on every Dell model X PC. SLP is tied to a SLIC table in the BIOS. In the old days say with Windows XP you would actually get a Dell branded XP install disk. The install disk is modified for SLP. During the install it looks for the SLIC BIOS table to verify its a Dell model x PC. If it is you don't get prompted for a product code and activation is automatic. If it wasn't a Dell model x PC you would get prompted for a product code or the install would fail. Dell would do a complete install on one PC and then image it for use on every other PC of that model they manufacture. They would also include the Dell branded windows XP disk and driver disk etc so you could re-install windows if need be. The same thing is done with windows 7 only you don't get the modified install media. You have to make a system restore set. If you buy a brand name PC with windows 7 pre-installed it uses SLP and a SLIC BIOS table. SLP does not activate on line, activation is solely dependent on the presence of the SLIC table in the BIOS. If you use your own regular windows 7 DVD SLP does not come into play. Thats why you have to activate by phone even if you use the original "master" product code. The Microsoft activation server is set to reject it by default. Same deal with the product code on the sticker, it was never meant to be used. They are going to make you call and explain why you used it before they activate it. They don't want you using it on another PC to try and cheat the system.

EDIT: As far as I know, you can use the key on the sticker to install Windows, I've done it (on windows XP) several times, it just won't activate on line.

MacGyvr said:

richc46 said:

If the computer came with the system preinstalled the key on the computer will work. Many companies include a DVD just for this situation.

Where would the media come from? The key on the sticker is for pure Windows media from Microsoft and you don't get that with a new PC. A recovery disc, which you might get, requires no key.

I've been doing this since Windows 98 and have yet to see a key from a sticker on a PC be usable.

The one on the side of mine works for my Vista disc.

richc46 said:

So it sounds like you are saying that it can be used, but by phone activation.

Yes, thats my understanding. I've done it on Windows XP a couple of times. I would agree to fix a PC for a friend and they would just drop off the tower with no disks. I'd use my XP CD to do the install and it would fail the activation. I just click activate by phone and then explain what I did to the Microsoft Representative on the other end of the phone. XP would give you a hash code you read to them, they check it and then read back another code you type in on that screen. Its not a product its a confirmation code or something. Once thats done XP would be activated. I don't know if you have to do that every time or if its different for windows 7. I haven't had to do it in a long time now.